Rear Swingarm Removal and Lube

[3dogs]

I have 24k on my 05 and I have lubed the rear suspension linkage. I did not have the time to do the swing arm and the service manual is somewhat vague about what's involved (of course). Has anyone actually preformed this task? If so, do you need any weird sized sockets to get the swingarm off? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks, Tracy...

 

[jestal]

I have 24k on my 05 and I have lubed the rear suspension linkage. I did not have the time to do the swing arm and the service manual is somewhat vague about what's involved (of course). Has anyone actually preformed this task? If so, do you need any weird sized sockets to get the swingarm off? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks, Tracy...

I did the swing arm pivots over the winter so it was some time ago. Nothing sticks out as odd except the nut on the left hand side that requires a 35 or 36 mm socket....can't remember which. I used an "inch" equivalent socket from my "industrial" sized socket set that fit close enough. To remove the swing arm remove the obvious rear wheel, suspension links, brake bracket, etc. Pop the bearing cover off the right side by gentle turning/prying with your fingers. Remove the final drive, drive shaft assembly (4 acorn nuts) on left side. Remove the front u-joint cover.....you'll see you need to remove the foot peg mount, side stand bracket, too. Slide the u-joint off and see the need for lubing the splines on the front of the u-joint as well as the oft-mentioned splines on the drive shaft. Now you will see the large nut you need to hold to unscrew the swing arm shaft. It is pretty obvious how to take apart and put together once you get the outer most pieces off.

I put a grease zerk on the right hand bearing for future maintenance but the left bearing is a large sealed bearing that you can just pop the "sealed" bearing seal out and pack with water proof grease for good.

 

[3dogs]

Thanks for the description. I will do it next winter. Tracy...

 

[yamaha1300rider]

jestal

I've never seen a sealed bearing so can you please clarify:

1. Is the seal you refer to part of the bearing?

2. What tool do you use to remove the seal?

3. Any problems refitting the seal?

4. What should we use to clean the bearings -brake cleaner?

Cheers

 

[Bounce]

https://www.bikes-n-spikes.org/maint/sa/sa.html

 

[jestal]

You've seen a sealed ball bearing but didn't realize it maybe. It is a bearing inner and outer race with an elastomer seal covering the balls/rollers and preventing dust and dirt from getting into the bearings. The seal just prys out and is pressed back in with your fingers. I use a small screw driver with the tip rounded slightly with sandpaper to eliminate any sharp edges. Just slip it under the edge of the seal and apply gentle pressure. It will slowly slide the seal out so the bearing can be repacked. Brake clean is probably good to spray any old crustly grease out and then just pack in new, waterproof grease. Personally, I do not use any solvent. I just put a rag over the bearing to catch the flyoff and blow the old grease out with compressed air. I like the salt water proof BelRay grease you find in bike shops. Dirt bikers love the stuff.

Look at the pictures here www.ntnamerica.com/Engineering/PDFs/2200/dpgroove.pdf and you can see an example of a sealed ball bearing set.

 

[yamaha1300rider]

Thanks jestal, I appreciate the usual detail you've provided.

I've used your link to also read up on needle roller bearings as these feature on the underside of the fjr. Is there any chance of the needles falling out when cleaning them in situ?