Did the swingarm and driveshaft maintenance.

**Jared** · 06-19-2010, 02:07 PM

I have be a little nervous about doing the swingarm and driveshaft work, but I finally convinced myself it was time. It honestly wasn't nearly as much difficult as I was expecting. I read the gadget explanations and Macs explanation and was able to do it without any problems.

dougster · 06-19-2010, 02:14 PM

Good job, Jared.

hammer · 06-19-2010, 03:00 PM

Good for you Jared. A lot of this kind of maintenance is just having the confidence to finally take the plunge.

cactusjack · 06-19-2010, 03:23 PM

Nah, it isn't hard, just time-consuming. You could pay a shop $80/hr to do it, or you can do it yourself and learn a little about your bike. I prefer to learn about my bike and the payoff is knowing what work was done and that it was done correctly.

Good job!

poppy · 06-19-2010, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

I have be a little nervous about doing the swingarm and driveshaft work, but I finally convinced myself it was time. It honestly wasn't nearly as much difficult as I was expecting. I read the gadget explanations and Macs explanation and was able to do it without any problems.

Did you install a zerk fitting?

**Jared** · 06-19-2010, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

I have be a little nervous about doing the swingarm and driveshaft work, but I finally convinced myself it was time. It honestly wasn't nearly as much difficult as I was expecting. I read the gadget explanations and Macs explanation and was able to do it without any problems.

Did you install a zerk fitting?

Nope.

AlabamaNomadRider · 06-20-2010, 09:24 AM

Good job Jared. What year is your bike? What is a Zerk fitting?

poppy · 06-20-2010, 10:00 AM

A zerk fitting and a grease fitting are the same item. On Gadget's page it explains how to install a grease fitting to provide grease to the swing arm bearings. Of course, installing the fitting will not take the place of visual inspections at the recommended intervals. When I recently tore down my bike to install a darkside tire, I went ahead and performed the swing arm service and installed the grease fitting. It worked fine. I did have to have the center spacer machined but a friend had that performed for no charge.

A question for Utah, how was the supply of grease when you dis-assembled? I found that I still had some grease but it was getting close to needing some installed. I had 33K when I performed the service.

AlabamaNomadRider · 06-20-2010, 07:41 PM

Thanks Poppy I thought that might have been what it was. A grease fitting was the only thing that came to mind.

**Jared** · 06-20-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppy

A zerk fitting and a grease fitting are the same item. On Gadget's page it explains how to install a grease fitting to provide grease to the swing arm bearings. Of course, installing the fitting will not take the place of visual inspections at the recommended intervals. When I recently tore down my bike to install a darkside tire, I went ahead and performed the swing arm service and installed the grease fitting. It worked fine. I did have to have the center spacer machined but a friend had that performed for no charge.

A question for Utah, how was the supply of grease when you dis-assembled? I found that I still had some grease but it was getting close to needing some installed. I had 33K when I performed the service.

I have 17K+ miles on my bike. There was still some grease felt, but not enough to visually see any. I'm glad I opened it when i did. I put quite a bit of grease and I don't plan on doing it again until I change my rear tire.

It was easy enough, once the tire is off, that I will probably do the maintenance each time I replace my rear tire.

AlabamaNomadRider · 06-20-2010, 09:47 PM

Thanks for the update Jared. I only have 9600 on mine bike guess I will have to do that sometime this fall.

06-19-2010, 02:07 PM	#1
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Did the swingarm and driveshaft maintenance. I have be a little nervous about doing the swingarm and driveshaft work, but I finally convinced myself it was time. It honestly wasn't nearly as much difficult as I was expecting. I read the gadget explanations and Macs explanation and was able to do it without any problems. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President) Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

06-19-2010, 02:14 PM	#2
dougster Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Crete, Nebraska Posts: 679	Did the swingarm and driveshaft maintenance. Good job, Jared. __________________ Doug Witzke - "Dougster" 2003 Nomad 1500 VBA# 740
	0

06-19-2010, 03:00 PM	#3
hammer Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,329	Did the swingarm and driveshaft maintenance. Good for you Jared. A lot of this kind of maintenance is just having the confidence to finally take the plunge. __________________ Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad
	0

06-19-2010, 03:23 PM	#4
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Did the swingarm and driveshaft maintenance. Nah, it isn't hard, just time-consuming. You could pay a shop $80/hr to do it, or you can do it yourself and learn a little about your bike. I prefer to learn about my bike and the payoff is knowing what work was done and that it was done correctly. Good job! __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

06-20-2010, 09:24 AM	#7
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Did the swingarm and driveshaft maintenance. Good job Jared. What year is your bike? What is a Zerk fitting? __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

06-20-2010, 10:00 AM	#8
poppy Advanced Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Utah; 2004 Nomad 1500 Posts: 510	Did the swingarm and driveshaft maintenance. A zerk fitting and a grease fitting are the same item. On Gadget's page it explains how to install a grease fitting to provide grease to the swing arm bearings. Of course, installing the fitting will not take the place of visual inspections at the recommended intervals. When I recently tore down my bike to install a darkside tire, I went ahead and performed the swing arm service and installed the grease fitting. It worked fine. I did have to have the center spacer machined but a friend had that performed for no charge. A question for Utah, how was the supply of grease when you dis-assembled? I found that I still had some grease but it was getting close to needing some installed. I had 33K when I performed the service.
	0

06-20-2010, 07:41 PM	#9
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Did the swingarm and driveshaft maintenance. Thanks Poppy I thought that might have been what it was. A grease fitting was the only thing that came to mind. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

06-20-2010, 09:47 PM	#11
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Did the swingarm and driveshaft maintenance. Thanks for the update Jared. I only have 9600 on mine bike guess I will have to do that sometime this fall. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Swingarm maintenance	markw	1500 & 1600 Nomad	39	05-30-2010 07:56 AM
Need Swingarm help	recumbentbob	1500 & 1600 Nomad	8	04-17-2010 09:14 PM
Swingarm/driveshaft maintenance...yea or nay?	billz410	1500 & 1600 Nomad	35	12-13-2009 02:29 PM
Swingarm/ Driveshaft Service	damark115	1500 & 1600 Nomad	8	01-12-2009 03:26 PM
Zoom's Tires, Swingarm & Driveshaft projects	zoom45	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	15	08-10-2008 07:11 PM