Swingarm bushes

Mebbo · Jan 25, 2012

This may have been answered many times before, but I'm getting conflicting or "less than clear" directions from various manuals. I have a 1974 Commando in reasonably good condition, but it's starting to get a little "wobble" play in the rear swingarm bearings. Can I remove and replace these without stripping out the motor, primary transmission etc? I really don't want a full down-to-the-frame effort!
John Mebberson

DogT · Jan 25, 2012

You'll need to pull the inner primary cover off, unless you are really adept. You may want to check the cradle to spindle wear while you're there, it's usually the culprit, not the bushings.

Dave
69S

303 fmj · Jan 25, 2012

Just do a search: Swing Arm Bush" you will have several hours of reading and many different ways to go about it.

swooshdave · Jan 25, 2012

not-another-spindle-thread-t5978.html

Flo · Jan 26, 2012

No, you do not have to strip primary.
Swinging arm can be easily pulled awy from engine plates with all the transmission in place.
I have just done two of them.

xbacksideslider · Jan 26, 2012

Usually the bushes are the least part of the problem. They usually don't wear, usually you can re-use them; what wears are the holes in the engine/trans cradle and the outside diameter of the "spindle."

You can pull the pin (or "spindle) out the right side, then the swing arm falls out.

Now, with the swing arm out of there, stick the pin back into the pin's holes in the engine/trans cradle and check for play. Likely you'll find slop; there shouldn't be any.

The fix is an oversize pin but that will require the use of a ream to ream out the cradle holes, as well as the two existing swing arm bushes, to the size of the new oversize pin. The reaming should be done in place and in line, assuming you can find a long enough ream.

1up3down · Jan 26, 2012

OR,

You can buy and install a set of swing arm "rings" than encircle the cradle and have two bolts that keep forward
pressure on the spindle inside of the cradle.

This pretty much solves the problem of excess play in that particular area. I think the cost is under $100.

These rings were originally the idea of Heinz Kegler, who passed away about a year ago, but are sold through
Mick Hemmings for one, and I think some other people now make and sell them but I don't know who.

bill · Jan 26, 2012

I also do the rings for a lot less than $100.00.

DogT · Jan 26, 2012

I'm assuming the rings just take up the slop in the spindle to cradle wear if one doesn't fit a new spindle? I guess that would work, but I preferred to have my cradle reamed and a new SS spindle fit with the Keigler rings or similar. Of course then you need the bushings to fit the new spindle. Mine was loose as a goose and now is tight. I sent it to Nithburg years ago for around $150.

Dave
69S

bill · Jan 27, 2012

yes they do take up the slack and there is no need to ream everything for an over size pin. if you go through the expense of the over size pin the problem WILL return with out the clamps.

DogT said:
I'm assuming the rings just take up the slop in the spindle to cradle wear if one doesn't fit a new spindle? I guess that would work, but I preferred to have my cradle reamed and a new SS spindle fit with the Keigler rings or similar. Of course then you need the bushings to fit the new spindle. Mine was loose as a goose and now is tight. I sent it to Nithburg years ago for around $150.

Dave
69S

cmessenk · Jan 27, 2012

Windy (bill) did the Kegler fix to my bike about 9000 miles ago...absolutely no "play" to this day...tight as a drum.

xbacksideslider · Jan 27, 2012

Yes, I welded nuts onto my spindle tube before the unit was reamed; now the spindle is locked down, can't wobble and wear.

mikie3117 · Jan 27, 2012

1up3down said:
OR,

You can buy and install a set of swing arm "rings" than encircle the cradle and have two bolts that keep forward
pressure on the spindle inside of the cradle.

This pretty much solves the problem of excess play in that particular area. I think the cost is under $100.

These rings were originally the idea of Heinz Kegler, who passed away about a year ago, but are sold through
Mick Hemmings for one, and I think some other people now make and sell them but I don't know who.

The clamps are available through McMaster-Carr and you will need to drill and tap for the set screws. I seal the clamps with YamaBond or something like it.
Good time to replace O with X rings too.
Heinz never really liked Commandos because they "wriggled" too much. He loved to do the "Iso wiggle" to demonstrate.
Mike

1up3down · Jan 27, 2012

Oh Mike!

You had me laughing with my memories of Heinz limping around his garage emulating the gait of a "limping camel",
as Heinz called rubber swingarmed Commandos.

And now, 16 years after Heinz crafted and installed the very first set of his rings on my 850, there still is no movement back there.

Heinz said his rings would be as permanent a fix for this problem as possible, and much faster and cheaper than over sized bushings and spindle and all that hassle. I think he was right.

bill · Jan 27, 2012

the ones I do I also machine a flat for the jam nut before the drilling and taping.

mikie3117 said:
The clamps are available through McMaster-Carr and you will need to drill and tap for the set screws. I seal the clamps with YamaBond or something like it.
Good time to replace O with X rings too.
Heinz never really liked Commandos because they "wriggled" too much. He loved to do the "Iso wiggle" to demonstrate.
Mike

Mebbo · Jan 27, 2012

Thanks folks for all that info - what a mine of knowledge out there. I shall pull the guts out of the right side and also have a look at the frame plate mounts and arm. I guess my way forward from there depends on the results, but looks like there is a reasonable solution to any woes.
Regards
Mebbo

Swingarm bushes

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