Driveline/Swingarm service

[redjay]

Hi All,

I did the driveline/swingarm service this weekend on my 05 Nomad with 37,000 kms. There was no grease on the rear wheel splines, no grease in the swing arm bearings, no grease on the transmission output gear, no grease in the top of the rear air shock needle bearings. The driveshaft u joint appeared to be okay so I did not replace that.

The whole job is daunting when you do it for the first time but really not that difficult for the average wrencher once you get into it. There was some wear on the transmission output gear and some oil from the gear case in the driveshaft housing (swingarm). I will now fill the oil on the gear case to the oil level hole when the bike is on the sidestand and not upright from now on. I am hoping the gear case seal is okay and I was just overfilling it.

I had to let the air out of the new Avon Cobra in order to get it past the gear case housing and swing arm. It was too wide when inflated by about a quarter of an inch (180-70 tire).

You have to cut the rear brake line loops on the swingarm with a hacksaw to remove the brake hose before you can get the swingarm out.

Because I had the stock exhaust system on the bike I had to remove it to get the swing arm bolt out as the rear cylinder exhaust pipe covers the bolt. After I had the bike altogether I found a bushing in the rags under the bike. The bushing had fallen out of the frame where the one of the goat belly bolt fits.

I had to take the exhaust pipes off again to remove the goat belly and put the bushing in the frame. I could not move the goat belly enough with the pipes in place to get the bushing in the frame.

I will be a lot quicker doing the job next time but seeing as I just fitted a new rear tire that should not be for a while.

[refugio]

Sounds like you got it all done................Good Job

[redjay]

Thanks Refugio.

[VulcanE]

Good going RJ, once you get in there and doing it, it's not that bad. I too had to deflate my new Cobra (180/70) to get it to fit between the ring gear hub, and the other side of the swing arm. I was going to do my swingarm maintenance while changing my tires, but noticed that the rubber boot that covers the gap between the transmission and swingarm was cracking. So, since you got to remove the swingarm to replace it ???, I decided to wait until I had my new one in my hand. I just covered the cracks with black silicon until then.

[macmac]

Well ok and pretty good, but there was no need to cut the loops, and that seal is probably going to leak, so next time at 7,500 on the clock have that seal on on hand.

The grease was never there, so it didn't go away either.. We all share this flaw. When you get to the steering head bearing you will also find no grease.

In the mnean time when you change engine oil, also change the gear oil, or risk none in the gear case.

The swingarm is supported on a large bucket in this shot, and the loops are not cut.

[redjay]

Hi macmac. Done the steering head bearings and yes, there was no grease there either. I was tempted to do the gear case seal but needed the back wheel in the bike this weekend to get it to the shed for winter storage. I might do it in the Spring I think. Have you ever done the gear case seal ? Is it a difficult job ? Are there any other parts needed other than the seal itself ?

[macmac]

My seals were fine when I did the swing arm, so no, but the seals are right there easy to see.

I have a tool made for foreign cars and seals which pops them out quickly, but with care , a rag, and a good screw driver poping out the seals shouldn't be hard to do.

You don't need to pull the whole swing arm either. Just raise the rea wheel, and un do the 4 acorns, and the shock, plus pull the axel.

When you pull the axel a like size wood dowel will help keep the spacers in line.

The main thing is get every thing clean before you pull the seals, so no crud can get in places you don't want crud.

Grease the seals on the inside with a good moly grease, and pack the hollow full and level with no bubbles. Smear a traces of grease on the side of the seal that holds it in place, and drive it in nice and evenly.. Install the case.. If you take yer time you would be done in 2 hours or less, easy.

I hear ya on that winta' thing.. I git in 100 yesterday just by going to town and then to the height of land to have a smoke, with my wife. Fall is ending here in New Hampsta.. The snow in the Presidential range was gone, as there had been some a week or so ago.

I might get in a few more shorties, and then it's done till salt washed off... My reggi runs out Nov 30th so i guess that will end it for me.

[nomad]

i recently did the swingarm lube....not bad. looking at the steering head it seems it would be a nightmare!!! i may have to pay someone to do this one......congrats on your successful job:)

[redjay]

Hi. I bought the steering head bearings ahead of time but did not actually change them. When I had the front end apart the bearings looked fine so added a grease nipple to the frame neck (gadgets website) and greased the bearings and reinstalled them. The hardest part of replacing the bearings appears to be getting the old outer races out of the frame neck. There is not much to get a drift on to knock them out. Also a brake hose passes through the lower triple tree (duh) so in order to get the lower bearing off the triple tree and take it to a vice (or a shop with bearing pullers) it looks like you have to disconnect the brake hose and deal with the hassle of bleeding the brakes afterwards. I am only going to do that when absolutely necessary ie when the bearings have to be replaced.