paulj
4th October 2008, 14:05
DR650SE 1997 – This maybe of use … haven't seen it mentioned here recently...
During a rear tyre change, I noted that the back wheel had about 10mm vertical slop when lifted up and down. I could just see the bottom suspension cushion bearing (C) clunking up and down – clearly there was something wrong and it looked like the bearing was stuffed.
A few moments wrenching and you can see the result – when the cushion rods came off, I was met with a pile of rust and some bits that looked like needle rollers (the axle is not bent – an aberration of the wide angled camera!).
This bearing in particular, is amongst the first bearings on the bike to get wet in river crossings etc and from my limited mechanical experience, it seems to have the poorest sealing arrangements (a hard rubber or plastic cover and a couple of ssteel washers under the main bolt).
After I had stripped out the rear swingarm, shock etc etc – it turned out that the other bearings in the set have proper neoprene seals and were still clean and greased, I assume from the original assembly.
Trawling around on the web it seems that this situation is not unusual and many riders fit a grease nipple to the various bearings especially the bottom cushion bearing. After a wet one, slacken off the cushion rods, pump some waterproof grease in and your bearings should last considerably longer. I'm not sure about the nipple being in the firing line for stones etc ... maybe a bolt to plug it when riding would be better ...
Now I’ve got to press in a new set of bearings, finish off the greasing nipple, get the shock down to the local bike shop for a service and we’re back in business.
During a rear tyre change, I noted that the back wheel had about 10mm vertical slop when lifted up and down. I could just see the bottom suspension cushion bearing (C) clunking up and down – clearly there was something wrong and it looked like the bearing was stuffed.
A few moments wrenching and you can see the result – when the cushion rods came off, I was met with a pile of rust and some bits that looked like needle rollers (the axle is not bent – an aberration of the wide angled camera!).
This bearing in particular, is amongst the first bearings on the bike to get wet in river crossings etc and from my limited mechanical experience, it seems to have the poorest sealing arrangements (a hard rubber or plastic cover and a couple of ssteel washers under the main bolt).
After I had stripped out the rear swingarm, shock etc etc – it turned out that the other bearings in the set have proper neoprene seals and were still clean and greased, I assume from the original assembly.
Trawling around on the web it seems that this situation is not unusual and many riders fit a grease nipple to the various bearings especially the bottom cushion bearing. After a wet one, slacken off the cushion rods, pump some waterproof grease in and your bearings should last considerably longer. I'm not sure about the nipple being in the firing line for stones etc ... maybe a bolt to plug it when riding would be better ...
Now I’ve got to press in a new set of bearings, finish off the greasing nipple, get the shock down to the local bike shop for a service and we’re back in business.