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Thread: my head is about to explode from frustration

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    QCR77's Avatar
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    my head is about to explode from frustration

    i ordered new bearings for my swingarm and am convinced that either i dont have a 350x swinger or they didnt send me 350x bearings. if anyone has ever done this, i'd love for you to tell me how hard/easy they go in. ive already destroyed one of them (i have 2 more showing up tomorrow) and am just at a loss here. i have even been honig the pivot hole with a pipe grinding stone.......

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    p26575r16's Avatar
    p26575r16 is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerAt the back of the pack
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    I just did mine two weeks ago. What are you having problems with?
    '86 350x
    '05 sportsman 500 (the couch)

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    p26575r16 is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerAt the back of the pack
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    I took mine out with my small slide and put them back in by tapping them in with the old bearings and a soft face . They should go in relatively easy.
    '86 350x
    '05 sportsman 500 (the couch)

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    p26575r16 is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerAt the back of the pack
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    Just measured one of my old bearings for you. The outside diameter should be roughly 1.0 inch (26mm), inside diameter should be roughly .7 inch (19.85mm), and approx. 1.18 inches long (30mm).
    '86 350x
    '05 sportsman 500 (the couch)

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    QCR77's Avatar
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    ok thanks . i measured the new bearing and its almost exactly 1 inch. the inside diameter works with the pivot rod so thats good to go. there weren't any bearings in there (or bushings) and i guess now i know why. the hole must be misshaped or something. anybody know of a good tool to use to hone the hole out easier. the little grinding stone with my drill isnt gonna cut it.

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    QCR77's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by p26575r16 View Post
    I just did mine two weeks ago. What are you having problems with?
    the new bearings refuse to go in the hole. i bent one bearing up by trying to use the swinger bolt to pull the bearings in. with the nut on the bolt, but outside the bearing on one end and the bolt run through the swinger and tightening the bolt with rachet. does that make sense? any way it wont go in

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    They must go in square, if they cock even a little, they will jam going in. Be careful, I wouldn't hone it out unless you are taking measurements and know what you are doing.

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    p26575r16's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by QCR77 View Post
    the new bearings refuse to go in the hole. i bent one bearing up by trying to use the swinger bolt to pull the bearings in. with the nut on the bolt, but outside the bearing on one end and the bolt run through the swinger and tightening the bolt with rachet. does that make sense? any way it wont go in

    I know you are not going to want to hear this, but if the swinger is that messed up you may want to look for a good used one. They seem to be pretty easy to find and inexpensive. If you are dead set on getting yours repaired you may want to find a 1" metal drill bit and just use that to make the hole the size you need. I think it's wierd that the holes are not the correct size though, they should be bigger if it was run without bearings. Are you sure there are not any bearings in it? In one of my older trikes the swinger bearings were so rusty and crap fiiled it appeared that they were part of the swinger. I had to drill them out because they were rusted solid into the swingarm.
    '86 350x
    '05 sportsman 500 (the couch)

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    ,I have done this many times over the years. Do not "tap" them in. You have to press them in. Do you have a bench vice? I just put bearings in my woods bike this past winter and the bench vice works great. Put your bearings in the freezer for a couple hours to shrink them a little bit, then take them out one at a time and position the swingarm, bearing and a socket that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the swingarm in the vice. Square it up as best as you can, and start to press the bearing in. You can use a little lube to help the bearing in if you'd like. DON'T PUSH IT IN TOO FAR!! The bearing will crush if you push it past center.

    Hammering your bearings in will dent the bearing and lock it up. Use a press or bench vice.

    The bearing is a tight, precision fit. You cannot simply slide it in. The outer casing of the bearing is aluminum so you cannot it in like a steel bearing race.

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    QCR77's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by p26575r16 View Post
    I know you are not going to want to hear this, but if the swinger is that messed up you may want to look for a good used one. They seem to be pretty easy to find and inexpensive. If you are dead set on getting yours repaired you may want to find a 1" metal drill bit and just use that to make the hole the size you need. I think it's wierd that the holes are not the correct size though, they should be bigger if it was run without bearings. Are you sure there are not any bearings in it? In one of my older trikes the swinger bearings were so rusty and crap fiiled it appeared that they were part of the swinger. I had to drill them out because they were rusted solid into the swingarm.
    winner. upon further inspection i noticed that what i have been "honing" is the leftover case of the old bearings. there is no bearing or lip or anything besides the very outter shell that is rusted to the swinger. if you think i can drill the rest out with a one inch bit, i'll go get one. i just dont want it to make too big of a hole

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    p26575r16's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by QCR77 View Post
    winner. upon further inspection i noticed that what i have been "honing" is the leftover case of the old bearings. there is no bearing or lip or anything besides the very outter shell that is rusted to the swinger. if you think i can drill the rest out with a one inch bit, i'll go get one. i just dont want it to make too big of a hole
    You would be better off trying to pry it out. I would not drill it unless it is a last resort. You should be able to split the bearing case or bent it up a little and it should come right out.
    '86 350x
    '05 sportsman 500 (the couch)

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    Don't mess up the swinger! The bearing is an interference fit, it has to be perfect.
    ChrisD is correct.

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    well, no 1 inch bit at home depot and the 3/4 ones were like $20 so thats outta the question. anybody think i could melt the old stuff out assuming it was aluminum? it looks like alumium

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    Whatever you use to pull/push it in, it has to be just a few thousandths smaller than the bearing OD. To small and it crushes the cage..............

    You can use a vice/ press or 3/8 threaded rod etc etc/ Freezing them does help.......

    The swingarms are almost always useable. But a small hunk of crap will screw up the new bearings.

    The biggest problem is the seals outside diameter that pops into the swinger. If thats all chewed up, then more water will get in there etc etc.

    Sounds like your on the right track
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    I am with DC on that, you could just get allthread, nut it, lightly heat the swinger and throw the bearings in the coldbox, It would make a great press. Good idea DC!
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