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Thread: TRX70 King Pins

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    TRX70 King Pins

    I bought a crappy 86 TRX70 that was supposed to be a parts donor for my ATC70 project. I can't bring myself to part it out so it's getting a low budget re-do.
    http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...Project-For-Me

    One of the many problems with this thing is the king pin bushings - the spindles flop around in them and Honda quit making the parts.

    First - does it really matter? I mean, I know it matters but this thing is just gonna putt around the campsite twice a year.

    I can't be the only one with this problem - what have the rest of you done about this?

    I see an Ebay auction for custom made set of upper bushings. They're stainless. Seems like the wrong material - wouldn't that move the wear to the spindles instead of the bushings?

    Thoughts? Suggestions? Solutions?

    Gratuitous pictures:

    TRX_Pre_1.JPG

    WashLeft.JPG

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    ulysses pa
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    are they greasable? i have an 87 and they are. if so i would pump it full of grease and then check it out. i agree with you on the stainless upper bushing. i bet you could find a good machinest to turn them out of something a little softer. look up SWIGIN here on the board, he pretty good with his lathe.

  3. #3
    KASEY's Avatar
    KASEY is offline weee weeee weeeeeeeeeee ! ! ! The day begins with 3WW
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    ARIZONAS BIGGEST TROUBLEMAKER
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    i have 2 frames ,, let me look and see if i have some good bushings,,

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Leander TX
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    Cool - LMK - I'd be surprised if they're any tighter tolerance than the one's I have after 25 years.

    THANKS!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    Since parts are scarce, I decided to experiment with this a little.

    I pounded out the old bushings and measured them. Since my good caliper is not metric, I used my $2 plastic one so don't run out and machine anything based on these measurements

    Upper = sleeve type, no flange:
    OD = 21mm
    L = 15mm
    ID = 15mm (based on spindle, not worn out bushing!)

    Lower = flanged
    flange OD = 26mm
    flange T = 2mm
    OD = 21mm
    L (including flange) = 17mm
    ID = 17mm (based on spindle, not worn out bushing!)

    I took a trip through McMaster Carr's catalog. No bushings for 17mm ID but they have some bronze bushings for 15mm shafts I decided to try:

    for upper: OD = 21mm, ID=15mm, L=16mm
    for lower: FlOD = 27mm, FlT=3mm, OD=21mm, ID=15mm, L=20mm

    They're cheap enough I ordered some and some spares and some thin thrust washers to play with. About $25 to my door and I have enough spares to cover my screw-ups.
    If they fit the frame, I can drill/ream as needed to fit the spindle. Then I have to worry about how the flange thickness affects the stackup at the top.

    More to follow...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Waterloo IL
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    Nice. I think both of my bikes are ok but I'm interested to see how this turns out.
    08 Outlaw 525s
    07 CRF70
    04 Harley FLHRCI
    04 TRX90
    03 XR650R
    03 400EX- XR650R engine
    02 XR100R

    01 Banshee
    00 XR50R
    00 XR70R

    99 PW50
    99 JR50
    96,95 Sportsman 400
    95 Xplorer 400
    94 Indy XLT
    87 Trail Boss
    86,86,86,86,86 Scrambler

    86 TRX70 x2
    85 ATC350X
    85,84 ATC250R

    85 Red Tecate
    85 LT50 x2
    84 XR500R
    84,84,84,84,83,82,80,79 ATC70
    82,79 XL500R

    83 ALT50
    79,78,77,77,76 XT/TT500
    76,75,74 XL70
    72,71,71,71 SL70

    72 Harley FX
    72,71,70,70,70,70,70 CT70H
    72 SL100
    70,69 Z50

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    A little resolution here.

    I was able to use the bronze bushings.

    For the uppers, I used the bushings from McMaster Carr as is.

    For the lowers, I bought a 17MM drill and tried to drill them myself. I don't have a drill press. It was epic failure...

    I did buy enough to have some spares based on previous experience with projects like this.

    I took the lowers and the spindles to a local machine shop and they put them on a lathe.

    Problem solved.

    Front end feels great except for the worn out tie rod ends but I only notice that sitt still in the garage.

  8. #8
    Tomcall's Avatar
    Tomcall is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerFirst time rider
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    This is a great thread. Only wish there were pics to help understand what you did better.

  9. #9
    Tomcall's Avatar
    Tomcall is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerFirst time rider
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    Have you considered drilling holes to put grease fittings for the king pins? Has anyone done this out there?

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Pics would have been great but now the TRXs are sold off and gone.

    Grease fittings could help keep dirt and water out I think.

    However, nothing really cosmic: pound out old bushings, pound in new ones.
    These are the uppers - I used them as shipped:
    http://www.mcmaster.com/#6658k29/=10gsqu1

    These are the lowers I had to have reamed by somebody with skills and tools I don't have:
    http://www.mcmaster.com/#6659k31/=10gsrss

  11. #11
    Tomcall's Avatar
    Tomcall is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerFirst time rider
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    Thanks, this is great information. The tie rod ends should not have been such a problem, as I see them for sale all the time.

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