Installed the new bronze swing arm bushings that came with the bike. Bought the swing arm installation tool
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at the Home Depot where I work. It is 1/2" all-thread 24" long, plus I purchased an assortment of nut, lock and flat washers.
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I had the bronze bushings in the freezer for a day and the swing arm in the oven at 180 for an hour or so. Something I would not have been able to do if my wife were still alive.
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First, gently seat the bushings in the swing arm using a brass mallet to tap them in just a bit. Then clamp the swing arm in a vise and set up the installation tool.
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You need to double-nut one side so when the other side is cranked down to seat the bushing the all thread does not spin.
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Then using a ratcheting box end(makes it so much easier to turn instead of a box or open end) slowly and steadily tighten the nut until the bushing is flush.
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I then removed the nut and washer, installed a socket a bit smaller that the bushing and seated the bushing down to the proper depth.
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Flip the tool over and do the other side, did not take more than 10 to 20 minutes.
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Remember this bike has 75000 miles. The swing arm did not have any freeplay but I replaced the bushing because they came with the bike. Somewhere in the life of the bike the OO must have installed tapered bearings. Here is a photo of one of the races
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. I have an extra set laying around to replace this mess, installation to come at a later date...Larry
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