Author Topic: pulling swing arm bearings  (Read 6083 times)

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Offline mbrouk

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pulling swing arm bearings
« on: June 23, 2013, 06:18:41 AM »
So I've decided to overhaul my bike since I have the engine out and split. During the process I've come across a problem, I'm kinda confused on how to pull out the needle bearings on my 2007 KX 250 swingarm. I've got the seals and washers and everything pulled out but it looks like there's a machined aluminum ring on both sides of the needle bearings. Am I looking at something wrong?

Offline Foxx4Beaver

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2013, 06:34:19 AM »
are you sure you're not just looking at the sleeves?....if so,they'll just press/push out.
Excuse me, ma'am...but you've got extremely nice legs!!!...what time do they open???                                                                                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8tCgN3aryQ

Offline mbrouk

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2013, 08:55:29 AM »
I already pulled out the sleeves, washers, seals, and the washer style needle bearings. I'm trying to get the main needle bearings now.

Offline Foxx4Beaver

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2013, 09:06:10 AM »
huh...Kawies OEM parts diagram does'nt show any kind of "aluminum ring" in there....I've had an 88,93,97,04 and now a 2000 250,and I've never had any "ring" in mine,I always just pressed them out and pressed the new ones in....now that does'nt mean that some time after 04 Kawie did'nt change it....but again,the parts diagram does not show anything.
Here...go to OEM parts and check it out....just scroll down to "SWINGARM"


http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/oem-schematic/5
« Last Edit: June 23, 2013, 10:48:45 AM by Foxx4Beaver »
Excuse me, ma'am...but you've got extremely nice legs!!!...what time do they open???                                                                                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8tCgN3aryQ

Offline mbrouk

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2013, 03:13:08 PM »
Yeah I checked out the OEM parts diagram before I posted this thread. When I didn't see it I was confused and decided to come here and ask about it. Yeah I got on YouTube and seen tons of videos of people just pressing them out with ought comming across what I see in my swingarm. OK so if there's no aluminum stop in the swingarm for the bearing to rest against then how do you know how far to press the bearing in?
 

Offline Friar-Tuck

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2013, 04:28:50 PM »
Well, I don't have a newer bike than my 2k.
 However I can tell you that the cage/race for the needle bearings should center in the ends of the swing arm. Then the sleeve the Main Bolt rides through.
  There should be a "Collar" on both sides of the needle bearing followed by dust caps (seals) that sit flush with the outsides of the swingarm ends.   The bearings will stay in place by simply being "sandwiched" (for lack of a better term) by the bolt head on one end and the nut on the other.
  Does that make any sense? 
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Offline sandblaster

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2013, 05:45:07 PM »
And.... If all else fails.... measure yours BEFORE you press them out...  :lol:
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Offline don46

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2013, 02:07:29 AM »
on the outside the is a flat needle bearing, it has a plkate on either side of it, and it is the diameter of the swingarm. once you pull the sleeve you should be able to get in there and work it out, then just a matter of removing the bearing. I've replace alot of them and I can tell you, HEAT is your friend, the bearing is steel and the swingarm is AL so with the different expansion ratios the bearing will come out easier.
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Offline stig

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2013, 06:48:45 AM »
Ive just done the swingarm bearings on a H2 model. I too thought the outer was part of the arm..its NOT it is in fact what remains of the outer race of the needle bearings. 20 ton press soon sorted them out  :wink:

hope it helps

Offline Foxx4Beaver

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2013, 08:11:14 AM »
OK so if there's no aluminum stop in the swingarm for the bearing to rest against then how do you know how far to press the bearing in?

Sandblaster answered that question perfectly....."measure yours before you press them out"!!

....and if it's already too late for that....make sure once you have everything together,that your seals are seated the same amount on each side....it's not as accurate,but will work.
« Last Edit: June 24, 2013, 08:16:06 AM by Foxx4Beaver »
Excuse me, ma'am...but you've got extremely nice legs!!!...what time do they open???                                                                                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8tCgN3aryQ

Offline jBernard

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2013, 08:58:40 AM »
just did my 250f bearings, and i bet they are the same, so hopefully can give some tips....

first off is to start with the right tool, i used a socket and a big C-clamp to try and press them out but just broke all the needles out, which left the race in.

local shop had a motion-pro swingarm bearing toolkit which is pretty rad. just uses a heavy duty acme thread, with perfect-fitment sockets on each side, then you just use an impact wrench to drive them out. i tried my C-clamp with a breaker bar and it didnt budge the bearings out.
got lucky that the tool pressed the broken bearing out without scarring the inside of the swingarm bearing mating surface.
a press would work well too.

going back in, stick the bearings in the freezer overnight, then heat swingarm area with a torch a bit, will have to work fast with the bearings cause they will warm up fast and slow down on how fast you can press them in.

on the 'how far do i drive them in' question, check out this drawing, its probably similar to yours.

http://www.kawasakipartshouse.com/oemparts/a/kaw/500b6e96f8700223e47980fd/swingarm

on the outward facing direction on the opening, you see it steps down. so the area the bearing sits in is actually a smaller diameter than the outside area with the seals and collars.
i used an old collar, part #92152 in that diagram, to help push the new bearings in, what this will do is let you push the bearing down to the correct depth by letting the collar to not push in past the lip of the deeper area if that makes sense. so when you cant tighten anymore, then the bearing face should be flush with that lip, thats proper bearing fitment. if you used a socket or something that was same size as the outer diameter of the bearing, then you could push the bearing all the way thru to the other side. but with that collar, it will only allow you to press the bearing flat to that face, right where it should go.
hope that wasnt confusing.

and make SURE you are straight with the bearing as youre starting it. i usually sit it flat on top. then gently tap it with a mallet until it gets started, then press it in a bit by hand with a clamp, then move on to a press. thats being paranoid, but if you press that thing in at an angle you can warp the bearing and scar up the surface.
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Offline mbrouk

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2013, 03:20:57 PM »
I appreciate all the wonderful tips! I'm getting my swingarm powder coated so when I get it back I'll give it another shot!

Offline Kawa_Mark99

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #12 on: July 06, 2013, 11:01:42 AM »
Im havin gthi svery same problem , I have all the washers and seals out but there seems to be a sleeve tightly fitted inside the swing arm , I too thought this was the outer race but I have put loads of pressure with sockets / pullers and neither side will budge , I will try and do a diagram below just to see if this is the same thing .

Is the inside of the swing arm alloy right through? or do they have a sleeve inside then the bearing outer casing? 


Offline Kawa_Mark99

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Re: pulling swing arm bearings
« Reply #13 on: July 08, 2013, 08:23:19 AM »
I managed to work it out eventually ! The steel outer bearing casing was that old it was almost infused into the swing arm , I made up a wee tool using screwed rod and a couple of sockets and out it came !! I have used the same method for all of the suspension bearings afterwards.



the steel like swing arm insert {the bearing outer casing}

and below , a simple effective removal tool.