Swing -Arm, tar snakes & refix again

[Hossamania]

 Yup, they do crack and break. The weld isn't pretty (he only had some wrought iron laying around) but it is strong, lasted 15 years so far. A lowering kit has been on since day one.

[attach=0,msg1378582]

[thumper 823]

OUCH  ^^^

When I bought this thing, it had stock  HD air suck shocks and the lowering tabs.
We had even ridden it to Sturgis that way once.
Luck of the draw I guess?
We are big people with and we load heavy cause I bring 30 lbs of tools with me, plus her stuff and my shave kit...
It never broke.
But-
A couple of years ago I installed *Progressives schocks and bolted them where they should have been to get the geometry correct.
With the load over the axle, I will guess this is safer than it used to be?

* I can't recommend these shocks as expensive they are, as  they suck slightly less them standard HD junk

[Hossamania]

Were I to get a new swingarm, or another bike with that style, I would have some gussets welded at those points as preventative care.
I thought maybe some spokes had broken when that swingarm broke clean through top and bottom. Imagine my shock when I saw the culprit. It was a bit wobbly in the corners!

[thumper 823]

Because I am a weird lightweight fanatic- If I do replace the Swing thing,
it would be with an Aluminum or carbon fiber unit.
Unsprung weight is enemy number one .
I sometimes sit up late at night and dream of CF wheels........about 4K  $$$$$$$$.........
Where is Barbra Eden when I need her?

[Hossamania]

Ah yes, unsprung weight: just money! CF wheels would be nice!
How about sprung weight? I'm robbing horsepower just by sitting on my bike. Way too much horsepower....   

[thumper 823]

You and i both! 
I need to get back to my 18-year-old figure!   LOL

[capn]

I put that CCE kit in my 97 ultra.It is an improvement over stock but I would not call it a game changer.

[thumper 823]

Do you have a 3rd link of any sort too?

[capn]

Yes I also have a Tru Track stabilizer link.I also went with a later 05 swing arm with the I inch axle and bearings front and rear.Plus the twin cam wagon wheels.

[thumper 823]

That should navigate through the turns pretty good?  AND BE STEADY AS A ROCK!

[fbn ent]

I also installed Progressive's Mono Tubes. A bit harsher but I like them.

[thumper 823]

I have Progressive rear shocks, I would say never again.
They work better than the HD air crap but for 600 bills, I think they were, not worth it.

[fbn ent]

Yes, but the mono shocks are the front. My'02 is on rails....

[thumper 823]

What a PIA!
Got the swing arm off, waiting for parts.
Getting that shaft out is a PIA!
This round I am going to drill, tap and install grease zerk so I can squirt a dab of silicone grease in there once upon a time in a while.
I am going to replace the belt, and both pullies whilst there.
I don't want to waste the labor.
Surprisingly, the bushings only had a little wear.
But worn it is .
It was last done about seven years ago.

[Deye76]

Use anti-seize on the shaft.

[thumper 823]

I surely did last time. In fact some still remains in there.
A grease fitting I think is the answer.

[thumper 823]

Installing the CCE  bearing kit-
I will have to say this is more EZ than pushing in the Harley rubber crap.
  With a proper hammer, the old Harley rubber junk can be driven out.
Last time I used all the finite love and finance I could muster and using the press.
I highly recommend in this instance you skip it,  and go direct to caveman!!.
There is no way to get the swing arm square and hold it there for long on the press bed.
If I was doping a few of these a month I would make a fixture ....once every five years ...no
  OK  If you can drive these out then pushing them in is a POC!  as they are a very light press.
In fact, I started to use my ball joint clamp as you can see in the pic.
I ended up doing what the directions said with the Loctite But tapped them dwn in with a small hammer and their special tool provided for the press.






[attach=0,msg1380364]   
 

[Hossamania]

Let us know if you feel an improvement In performance.
Glad the install went well.

[thumper 823]

This will have to be better!
There is less than 0.001 in free play between the through bolt and the bearings.
Plus these are not Gumby rubber crap to give, wiggle, and wobble.
I understand that the newer Harley [attach=0]  went to a design sort of like this?

[thumper 823]

Being there is no provision for grease,
I will now drill and tap a few zerks in the swing arm so this bearing gets a little help.
Also will install in the transmission case so the through-bolt can be lubed once in whilst.
The last time I used lots of anti-seize,  but it still came out HARD!
I think the stuff gets really stiff after awhile?




[attach=0,msg1380367]

[thumper 823]

 [attach=0,msg1380443]   [attach=1,msg1380443]


Drilled/tapped and inserted the grease fittings.
I measured up to the new bearing then backed off so the hole was about a 1/8th away.
The shoulder plug that goes in last is of a smaller dia, so it is not too critical.
On this side of the shoulder, i will JB weld it to the swing arm so the grease will not migrate toward the donut
All and all a 10 min job.
The grease should make it live longer and it seems unreal to do it with no provision for lubrication.
Right or wrong I am going to make grease seals on the inside with 3M 5200 to keep H20 out and grease in.

[thumper 823]

New Through bolt zerk . [attach=0]

[kd]

Thumper, is that a crack where the paint has chipped of on the left side of the pic showing both grease fittings?

[thumper 823]

Nope...but thanks for looking.
AT least i don't think so.......
I did look it all over and will do so again.

The last thing this gets B4 going back together is paint, so I will be scrubbing it hard!

[thumper 823]

For those that care- Where the front of this engine is pointing the rear tire is sure to follow!
  I don't have the donuts installed yet nor the outside nuts on the through bolt.
I will tell you this there is not even ANY axial or lateral
"play" between the swingarm and the transmission.
NONE.
Absolutely none, as it should be and should have been done from HD !