Rear Swingarm Play

[David]

Folks,

I've finally reinstalled the rear swing arm on my bike. There is about 1 to 2 mm of lateral play...I can't seem to drive the pins any further in (and have 2 broken pairs of needlenose pliers to prove it)..Can the swingarm stay as is ot do I need to get the right tool to tighten it even more?

Thanks in advance to all! (more questions to come shortly...)

David

[Tom Hagan]

David,

There should be no side-to-side play in the swingarm. Buy the tool. Ed Korn makes one, I believe.

Tom

[Allan Atherton]

The swingarm pins must be turned in to a high torque to preload the swingarm bearings (drive them home and take all play out). Then the pins are backed out and turned in with a lesser final torque that the bearings can operate under. Needle-nose pliers produce very little torque, so you need to buy a special pin tool from Ed Korn that accepts a socket or torque wrench. If you don't have a manual giving the two torque figures, or don't have Korn's address, I can send them. If you don't have a torque wrench, very tight and lightly tight would describe the feel of the torques.

[David]

Tom/Allan,

Thanks -- The tool came from Ed in the mail today...what a difference! Took all of 10 seconds and the swingarm is now properly centred and tight...Thanks again, David