Swing Arm Spindle modification questions (2012)

[grandpaul]

It's a whole other animal, but I reverse-engineered Kenny Dreer's "big bearing" swingarm cradle, and I like the results. It can be done with a standard swingarm, but I like the box section unit (also requires new chain adjusters and a solid axle)...

It uses standard sealed steering neck bearings. very nice.

You can even go crazy and monoshock it! Just needs two little tabs welded to the frame that are essentially invisible. ZERO mods to anything else, but you lose the battery tray.

 

[Time Warp]

He was very much a featherbed frame man and he used to make me fall on the floor of his garage laughing when he would exaggerate the "gait" of a Commando in a corner by limping and twisting around the garage.

Although Heinz recognised the simplicity of welding the nuts on the cradle, he felt that the welds themselves were potential weak points, and so he came up with the idea of making aluminium collars to encircle the cradle.

I was doing a search on the clamp mod and now wonder what Heinz Kegler was like, somewhat eccentric, genius, a sense of humour it seems for sure ?

I decided to make my own clamps from 6061 T6, a little wider, a little deeper but notice the swing arm has some play sideways with new bushes (will need shims) and the bush inner thrust faces are not exactly a precision fit to the cradle face when seated.
You could end up chasing your tail trying to find the ultimate fix but it keeps you off the streets.............literally... ??

 

[phippsy]

NYC Norton sell stainless Kriegler clamps $79 well worth the money transformed the handling

 

[Time Warp]

Done, the clamps fit tightly, holes drilled with the DRO.
Its good to get one more thing finished. (After I get some S/S hardware for the clamps)

 

[Time Warp]

NYC Norton sell stainless Kriegler clamps $79 well worth the money transformed the handling

They make some very nice products but wasted on this bike, DIY, $10 for materials and $300 labour.

 

[o0norton0o]

while the result may be a $79 part, having the knowledge and the machinery to make the part yourself is priceless...

 

[Fast Eddie]

Nice work TW.

 

[MichaelB]

They make some very nice products but wasted on this bike, DIY, $10 for materials and $300 labour.

Now that’s funny right thar....

And Yes, nice work.

 

[Time Warp]

Thanks for that, I do ok for a Boilermaker.
One reason to post pictures is that maybe it will convince someone to buy a small lathe or mill.

These clamps are bigger than commercial versions at 17 mm wide and 52 mm OD (Yes the filter oil line will need to be looked at for contact) , I allowed some 0.003" interference fit over the pivot tube and noted this morning that the spindle could not be moved, backing the clamps off and the spindle slid out smoothly so the cradle bore must be in good condition.

I now need to look at the bronze bush inner thrust faces to cradle face, something is not right there, what I do know though is, when I fit the fancy new wheels, they were on centre/center with the forks and frame so close to spot on I check twice so the rim lacing was either very accurate or the gods were smiling.

 

[swooshdave]

Thanks for that, I do ok for a Boilermaker.
One reason to post pictures is that maybe it will convince someone to buy a small lathe or mill.

It just reminds me to never get a lathe.

 

[Time Warp]

Think of all that swarf you could be traipsing through the house or get to pick out of your shoes.

Now what ?
Nearly 0.016" with new bushes, 0.002" would be more like it.
Add it to the to do something about list.

 

[1up3down]

The point of the rings is to fashion a secure manner for a bolt to go through each ring from the rear of the bike so that
the bolt puts slight forward pressure on the spindle inside of the cradle.
Without this setup the spindle is pulled backwards by the rear wheel, wearing an oblong hole.
My eyes are bad with age, do I see the hole facing up instead of facing forward from the rear?
My apology if I make it out wrongly in the picture.

 

[Time Warp]

My eyes are bad with age, do I see the hole facing up instead of facing forward from the rear?
My apology if I make it out wrongly in the picture.

The cradle was mounted vertical on the mill table for drilling so the clamps (backed of in the pic) hole is at the rear as you say when it is back in the bike.
I will have to get some long stainless grub screws and thin nuts when I go down to the city, none available on the island.

 

[Time Warp]

Good to go once again via one fully machined shim 0.3 mm (0.012") thick.
I will remove and fit this under one of the new bushes to get that sloppy 0.4 mm play down to 0.1 mm (0.003"/0.004") and call it good to see me out.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Now your wheel alignment will be miles out. You really should have made 2 x 0.006” shims

 

[Time Warp]

Now your wheel alignment will be miles out. You really should have made 2 x 0.006” shims

I had considered that but thought it a bit over the top.
That shim was to thin so I did another one, I am now going to call it good to go (The thrust faces will get Suzuki branded Moly paste) with smooth rotation, no radial play in the bushes and a shade over a half thou of axial.

 

[Time Warp]

Heinz Kegler must have been a smart guy and his name and ideas will be forever a 'google away.
A remedy to overcome an existing problem or avoid a future problem using a simple but effective idea.
Of course split collar clamps have been around a very long time so maybe it was not that simple after all.

I call these clamps finished including some brass inserts a long with stainless steel grub screws (perhaps the ends could be faced) and half nuts.
I look forward to making the head steady.