Stuck swingarm shaft

[josh_oj]

Anyone got any tricks on how to get a swingarm bolt out of my YZ125?
Im guessing its seized. Have tried soaking it in CRC for the last week and a bit and bashing the fuk outta it with a hammer but no luck. Seems to have moved a tiny bit.
Last resort would be to cut it out. The funny thing is that if i get some pliers on the shaft i can twist it a small amount?! The head of it is a rectangular shape in a rectangular recess so wont allow you to twist much.

[FJRider]

It wouuld have been pressed in ... so will need pressed out.

Does it have bearings or bushes ... ??? why does it need removed ... ???

[unstuck]

Get a bigger hammer.:yes:

[dafydd roberts]

You can get this freeze stuff from Repco can't remember the name, that and a big hammer is what I had to use.

[theblacksmith]

Do you have any heat? I had to heat up the ends of my swingarm-it will be those needle bearings stuck on the shaft-hence why you can twist it a bit.Its an awkward job cos the engine casing is in there as well, but with perseverance you'll get it.

[B0000M]

It wouuld have been pressed in ... so will need pressed out.

Does it have bearings or bushes ... ??? why does it need removed ... ???

someone let a road biker in here again.....

it needs to come out to lubricate / replace the swingarm bearings that get coated in mud / water / shit whenever the bike is used.

or to get the engine out if the cases need to be split for any reason - eg gearbox work or a bottom end rebuild. common work on mx bikes.


as for advise, try the above

[josh_oj]

yea like B00000M said. Swingarm bearings are gone.
Gonna take it to a mate in a engineering shop to press it out. Have already wreckd the bolt by smashing with a hammer, and i dont a the right sized pin to hit it out with:angry:

[FJRider]

yea like B00000M said. Swingarm bearings are gone.
Gonna take it to a mate in a engineering shop to press it out. Have already wreckd the bolt by smashing with a hammer, and i dont a the right sized pin to hit it out with:angry:

Why didn't I suggest that ... :innocent:

If you are going to "smash" bolts at the threaded end ... put a nut on it, to try and protect the thread.

There is a threaded pulling tool which may do the job. Your engineer mate may have/make one for your specific purpose ... which may be handy next time ...

[unstuck]

Do you have any heat? I had to heat up the ends of my swingarm-it will be those needle bearings stuck on the shaft-hence why you can twist it a bit.Its an awkward job cos the engine casing is in there as well, but with perseverance you'll get it.

Just be careful with heat and alloys,can all go pear shaped rather quickly.:yes:

[Ocean1]

Just be careful with heat and alloys,can all go pear shaped rather quickly.:yes:

+1

Do not, under any circumstances heat the alloy swingarm. At all.

The needle rollers are cam-locked on the shaft. The easiest solution is not to have allowed the bearings to have gone this long before replacing them. But it's hard knowing that eh?

The press will help, just be carefull, you can easily get enough force on the swingarm to fuck it. Make up whatever packers are needed to support the upper side while you try to push the shaft out. Keep a close eye on both sides while you're doing it, at the slightest hint that one side's moving but the other isn't STOP. Turn it over and push it back a bit. Apply more CRC and try turning it a bit, try pressing it again.

If you keep at it long enough it'll come, just be careful.

[CRF119]

Ok been there done this on a poorly maintained race quad. Bearings rusted to shaft it would rotate all day but not move. I had to make a special jig in the 50 tone press at my mates work to make it move but the end the bolt was rooted and had to get another one.

Before moving to the press i had tried the following.

Soaking for weeks
Freze and releace stuff
Blow torch (Just rooted the seals more)
Angle grinder couldn't get into the space with out damaging the frame or swing arm and you would need to cut both ends.

I spent a few months trying to get it out i tried slide hammers sledge hammers you name it.

You may as well go and order a new swing arm bolt because it is probably x japan. along with all seals and bearings.

Good luck

[josh_oj]

Ok been there done this on a poorly maintained race quad. Bearings rusted to shaft it would rotate all day but not move. I had to make a special jig in the 50 tone press at my mates work to make it move but the end the bolt was rooted and had to get another one.

Before moving to the press i had tried the following.

Soaking for weeks
Freze and releace stuff
Blow torch (Just rooted the seals more)
Angle grinder couldn't get into the space with out damaging the frame or swing arm and you would need to cut both ends.

I spent a few months trying to get it out i tried slide hammers sledge hammers you name it.

You may as well go and order a new swing arm bolt because it is probably x japan. along with all seals and bearings.

Good luck

Bearings and seals ordered. Bolt is shagged so ill order a new one. Have been trying today with a bigger hammer and a pin but still has only slightly moved couple mm. Gonna either cut it out or press it out next weekend

[noobi]

Iv heard that loosening the engine mounts can help with stuck a swingarm bolt, it releases the tension on the swingarm, might make it easier

[Jay GTI]

It's times like this that makes you realise that preventative maintenance pays dividends... bet you'll be stripping the swingarm and throwing grease at it every second ride once you've sorted it...

Agreed on the be very careful when trying to press out the shaft, happened to my old RM with the new owner. I'd done the bearings once already, but he'd been playing on the beach and in the salt water a bit too much without a proper strip down and the shaft was stuck. Nothing worked and trying to press it out was just bending the frame (be very careful when pressing!!). In the end he had to cut the swingarm off, extreme measures, but got a 2nd-hand one from the 'States to replace it ($1500 new here). His new bike gets stripped and greased a lot now...

[CRF119]

So i just had a thought. Failing the press idea you could make a puller and tap the inside of the swing arm bolt as a point to pull from. I cant draw so i hope you can figure out the rest of what i am thinking. :facepalm:

[josh_oj]

Finally got the fucker out with brute force!:woohoo:
Just used a mini sledge and pounded away untill it finally started to give. Doesnt even look like it was siezed.:shit:
Has got to be the worst thing to ever work on on a bike.

Some pictures of the bearings and the engine out! :yes:

[Ocean1]

Has got to be the worst thing to ever work on on a bike.

They can be a bitch. There's some debate as to whether to fit grease nipples or just strip the swingarm more often for a clean and re-grease. Dunno, I've done both. I've also done it your way. It's not as good as the other two options.

[josh_oj]

. Dunno, I've done both. I've also done it your way. It's not as good as the other two options.

How do you mean my way? Ive only had this bike 3 months so i havent neglected it lol. I will DEFINATELY be stripping it and greasing often now. Thanks for all suggestions guys:yes:

[Arronduke]

Great job.. takes guts to hit that hard... or deperation!!!
Let me know if you fit greese nipples... I'm thinking of doing the same..

[Woodman]

I always pack the bearings with grease then use heaps of coppercote on the shafts when I put them together. I also use the coppercote on axles and threads as well. Everything just comes apart beautifully.

[CRF119]

Make sure you use a good marine grease. My old bike from way back had grease nipples but im not sure id put them on a full on mx bike. Ive seen a few swing arms give up with out holes in them.

Its good you got it out tho :)

[theblacksmith]

Good on ya for getting it out mate. Your swingarm looks nice and strong around those bearings-heaps of room for a grease nipple. Ive got grease nipples on my steering head and linkage bearings. Sick of buying bearings and seals, give bike a wash and then a cpl of short pumps of grease and its good to go for next ride. Im thinking of putting a nipple on the steering head bearing on my road bike too-they re known to be heavy on head bearings cos of the 33 degree rake.