Today we’ll be servicing the swingarm and linkage area.
Using our standard under-tube stand gives excellent maintenance access.
Without a chain block on the ceiling like we have here, this is the only option.
Width and height are completely adjustable. I hope stand makers will start selling something like this.
The dirt is pretty light. The mileage might be from actual riding.
For its year, the condition is relatively good.
The chain slider wear is also minimal.
The grease has become sticky, but having it versus not having it makes a huge difference.
The rust prevention effect improves dramatically.
A discontinued Suzuki puller. It’s a bit awkward to use, but it makes all the difference. You definitely can’t remove something like this with a slide hammer.
If you can secure the swingarm cleanly and firmly, a slide hammer would work too.
It comes right off with a soft pop! When you have the right tools, the work proceeds smart and smoothly, and you won’t be embarrassed showing the process to others.
If it’s anodized, it basically won’t conduct. This one is bare.
So let’s polish it and finish it beautifully before reassembling.
We’ll pack it thoroughly with Newtech NC100 grease.
Checking the pivot width. If we replace parts and reassemble, performance should improve accordingly. If we fine-tune the details a bit, maybe we’ll gain about 1 percent.
This is the state where the swingarm internals have entered the frame.
We don’t have a shim that fits at 0.5 mm, so we’ll go with this.
More recent bikes have adjustable pivot widths, which makes things easier.
Even when tightened to spec torque, quite a few bikes have play here.
“Lots of gaps = the frame is being squeezed inward,” which isn’t ideal. You need to watch out for this.
When you think about it, you start wondering what chain line even means.
We’re replacing the bearings on the swingarm side too and packing it well with NC100.
We’ll smooth out the dust seal a bit. Older bikes can be stubborn about this.
We wouldn’t do this on an off-road bike that runs in mud, but on a street bike it’s no problem.
A new chain slider feels really nice.
There was a suggestion from the shop, so we’ll check it near full stroke.
There’s only about 20 mm of clearance… that won’t work. Too bad.
