Swing arm bolt won't budge - RMX250

[rok-the-boat]

I am pulling my 1991 RMX250 to pieces and the swing arm bolt just wont come out.

According to the manual it looks like an ordinary bolt.

Any tips?

[unstuck]

Big hammer and a new bolt. Make sure the new one gets plenty of regular grease.

[schrodingers cat]

Try lots of CRC or WD40. Even lie the bike on its side to help the stuff get in.

Heat the bolt with an LPG torch (or Oxy acetylene) being careful not to burn rubber seals etc

Heat, CRC, Cool down. Repeat

A BIG hammer and a drift of about the same size. Be really careful not to 'rivet' the bolt end larger than the hole and make things worse.

Good luck

[Katman]

Brute force and ignorance.

(And a heavy hammer).

[rok-the-boat]

OK - thanks. That's what I thought. Just curious if there was something else (the front wheel axle screws in, for example).

I've taken everything off except the engine - if I can get some help I'll see if I can man-handle it into my ten-ton press.

[rok-the-boat]

I bought this thing recently as a do-upper. There is barely anything on it that is good. It's gonna be a real challenge to get it sorted.

[tigertim20]

for a start, can you get the bolt to rotate in place? it could be threaded.

Id check that first, then I would douse the cunt with crc and leave it over night, then try loosening it in the morning.

If that doesnt work, heat, and a long screwdrive, and bash the cunt out. take care not to slip and fuck the thread though.

[rok-the-boat]

It's not a rotating bolt because one end is rectangular and it slots into the frame - no way to put a spanner on it or to turn it.

The swing arm is loose but the bolt is stuck fast. There are some inserts and needle rollers in there. I suspect the inserts are siezed onto the bolt. If I twang the frame apart a tad with a piece of wood or something I might be able to saw it off if all else fails. Either way, I'll be needing a new bolt and new bearings, along with a zillion other bits. It will not defeat me - I have several hundered $ of bits for it coming via Ebay. Will need some more now.

[hayd3n]

could it be pressed out with a hydraulic jack?

[rok-the-boat]

Well, after 20 mins it started to move - big hammer and a 25mm drift. Pushed it maybe a cm then oiled it up and tightened it. Repeated that a few times then it came out, after about an hour, along with a lot of grit that used to be be needle bearings.

Sorted. Now I can get the frame blasted and painted.