Swingarm pivot

Having searched for my answer I can see why this forum may be a bit sensitive to spindle questions, I hope mine is non controversial.

So here goes:

I am trying to separate an engine cradle and a swingarm, the center fixing bolt is out and I have made a puller with a threaded bolt and a large 1/2" drive socket. I have put enough "beef" in the puller to make me wonder if I am stretching the bolt and nothing budges. My next thought would be to add some heat, but I fear un tempering the steel or warping the assembly.

Can anyone help me beyond this point?

With many thanks,

RS

RoadScholar said:

Having searched for my answer I can see why this forum may be a bit sensitive to spindle questions, I hope mine is non controversial.

So here goes:

I am trying to separate an engine cradle and a swingarm, the center fixing bolt is out and I have made a puller with a threaded bolt and a large 1/2" drive socket. I have put enough "beef" in the puller to make me wonder if I am stretching the bolt and nothing budges. My next thought would be to add some heat, but I fear un tempering the steel or warping the assembly.

Can anyone help me beyond this point?

With many thanks,

RS

Click to expand...

Heat is acceptable here. That and some sort of penetrating oil/concoction. I doubt you're stretching the bolt. It's 1/2in. Spindle is probably a lost cause so don't try to be nice to it. It some tension on the puller and tap from the other end.

Is there a bolt in the middle of the cradle into the spindle? 1/4 20 or what ever they used.

See #23

pvisseriii said:

Is there a bolt in the middle of the cradle into the spindle? 1/4 20 or what ever they used.

Click to expand...

1/4-28 and he mentioned that it's already out.

Thanks for the knowledge; I think my strtategy is going to be to load the spindle with the puller, hard as I dare, heat the swingarm tunnel and then to start adding force by well placed blows with appropraite drift and 6# hammer; once the spindle gets going the rest will be cake.

I believe that I will consume my daily ration of Kettle One martinis first to dulll the pain at hitting an old firend so hard...

More later, the sun has a ways to go before it sets over the main yard-arms...

RS

Load up the cavity with penetrating oil through the top opening for a few nights with the puller on there. The spindle rusts terribly with huge pits in it. The penetrating oil should soften up the rust and make it easier.

Bill, your plan sounds fine but if you're not in a hurry, consider as an alternative - apply penetrating oil, load puller, apply heat, then...walk away and have that martini! Leave overnight. Next day, a little more oil and see if the puller will take just the slightest bit more pull. More heat if you like but probably overkill.

Repeat.

You'll walk out one morning to find the sucker moved. Then, as you say, it's all downhill.

I got it!!!

Howdy Folks.

Last night I got the martini part accomplised, did an excellent job, so good, in fact that I totally avoided the spindle.

This afternoon I got the cradle/swingarm mounted in the vise, put the puller in place and torque loaded it to my personal limit. Next I fired up my MAPP gas torch and started heating the cradle where the spindle lives, after about 3 minutes I heard a very faint crack. I got back on the puller and, sure enough, it took more torque.

Back and forth between the puller and the torch won the day, each time the puller got easier until I was able to comfortably drift out the spindle.

Pullimg the spindle has to a candidate for the hardest job on a Norton...

RS

Hardest job?

Maybe getting the fixing bolt back in that spindle?

Rewiring the horn in situ?

Anything a BFH won't handle....?

I was going to say something about the horn, but wiring it, in situ, is impossible. When mine need to be re-connected I had my grandson, age 8, with his very small hands, give it a try with no success.

So save yourself the frustration and just devote an afternoon/evening to dissambling the entire rear end to get at the horn-----or mount it somewhere else...

Getting the fixing bolt back in the spindle is easy, if you have lapped the spindle in the cradle. (I think?)

RS

Ha! I done it. So there! (the horn I mean.)

I'm still recovering, and I think it was pushing two years ago?

As Ben Gurion would say, NEVER AGAIN!

Would never bother again. Only did it to pass inspection, and then realized I could cable tie one of those freon horns to the bars and meet MA spec (or maybe get one of those Amsterdam-ish "ch-ching" bicycle bells - now that would be cool!)