Swing arm spindle removal

As a newbie with a 1970 Mk11 just bought, I need help ! The RH end cap is missing off the swing arm and the small spindle (5BA?) appears to have been sheared off almost flush with the inner bush. What is the best way to get this out - should it just unscrew ? I am assuming the other end locates in the LH end cap ?

Yes, it is just a very long thin bolt and screws into the LH cover. But how are you going to get it back on without taking the primary chain case off?

Dave
69S

If the primary chaincase where off, I believe you would be able to just lift the LH cover free with the rod still threaded into it.

Please tell me theres away to do it without stripping the primary drive !

In theory, and if you can get ahold of the end of the broken rod, you could just unscrew it. You could then even pulled the swingarm spindle, clean it, lube it up and put it all back together after buying a new RH cover and threaded rod. As long as the primary is intact the LH side shouldn't fall off and if you are lucky the rod would thread into it without it spinning.

With that said, if the bike has been riden around much without a cover and any lube in there then you are probably due to take it all apart and check bushings, etc. The O-rings are probably toast so you wouldn't be able to keep any lube in there after reassebmly (there are those that would argue it is futile anyway). If you don't want to tear it down that far, then you might be better off leaving the cover off as it is and squirting oil in there before a ride. If the break and missing cover are fresh and the parts are in good condition I would try it without removing the primary. What do you have to lose?

Russ

You would have to be very lucky to get a new bolt threaded back into the LH side. It takes a lot of guessing where to hit that little hole with the thread and likely you will end up pushing it off to fall down behind the primary. Maybe you could jam something in there between the primary and the LH plate until you get the bolt and RH plate. It would have to be stuck on the LH side and there is no bet on that, plus how would you know if it is on straight?. Not saying it is impossible, worth a try, but you would not be sure what your o-rings look like either. I'm not sure there is room to put the LH plate back with the primary on, but then I have done more magical things, magnets can do wonders. Just not very often. Besides taking off the primary is so much fun and it's good practice.

Good luck
Dave
69S

YES! It IS possible. I have done it without removing the primary, with much self introspection, beverage, patience, and staring with a flashlight...

You can slide a piece of wood or whatever between the inner primary and the left had side spindle end cap to try to keep it from rotating while you unscrew the long bolt with a needle
nosed pliers from the right side.

Once you get it unscrewed and have purchased a new long thin bolt and proper right side end cap and O ring, keeping the wedge in place on the left side, again with a delicate touch
and patience you can feel the long bolt make contact and begin to thread into the left side cover, keeping the bolt supported so it does not drop down going into the spindle tube.

You have nothing to lose by trying, and taking off and putting back together the primary is multi hour job to avoid if possible.

If you don't want to fool around with all this, then ride the bike until the snow flies, then get a slide hammer with the right spindle thread and take off the swing arm and clean everything up
and check the spindle to bushing fit to see if you want to replace the bushings. Don't forget to remove the top centering bolt prior to removal! If the fit is just a little loose, then you could install a pair of the Heinz Kegler (now deceased) type rings.
These keep the inner spindle flush against the forward parts of the bushings and can buy you a lot of time in not having to replace the bushings if not far to worn out.
Plus, its just a good idea for firm swing arm handling anyway.

Lots of debate about first just the "necessity" itself of keeping some lube in the spindle. The holes at each end are really tiny for any oil to find it way down the holes and then get between
the spindle and the bushings anyway. Some say use a light oil like a fork oil to give it the best chance of getting down the holes, and other say use a really heavy oil like 140 weight so it
does not leak out the end caps as rapidly as a lighter oil. Personally, I prefer to remove the spindle annually, clean everything, and reinstall with some antiseize coating the spindle, and then not use any lube in the tube. Annual inspections show this is working out quite well.
The whole idea is that after some 40 years any oil injected by heat into the bushings is likely all gone, so some way to have a lube or grease type between the spindle and bushings is good to
slow the wear and galling process.