Topic: CB750 K0 swing arm bearing conversion?

[jebon]

Is there a bearing conversion kit for the K0 or are bronze bushings the way to go?
Thanks,
Jess

[Prospect]

Are you talking about needle bearings as a replacement? I don't think there is such a kit. Bronze bushings is what most are going with these days.

[Gordon]

If Hondaman is still doing them, I cannot recommend his swingarm rebuild service enough.  He did my K1 swingarm 12 years ago, and his workmanship and professionalism is without fault. 

[Kelly E]

I bought a needle bearing conversion kit for my 74' 550 about 3 years ago from Dime City Cycles. I believe that it was available for the 750 as well. The installation went well and there's no play and no drag at all when moving the swingarm. It moves so smoothly.
It came with the needle bearings, new end caps with radial needle bearings in them and a new collar. You only need to reuse the bolt.

[HondaMan]

Yep, still doing them. I just got another one in the mail yesterday.

[Gordon]

Yep, still doing them. I just got another one in the mail yesterday.

Glad to hear it!  I have no doubt my rebuilt swing arm will far outlast the bike it's on. 

[craz1]

Save your money and go with the bronze bushings

[Kelly E]

Save your money and go with the bronze bushings

Why? We've got four bikes with needle bearing swingarms that are factory stock. Never had a problem with them. Have you had a bad experience with them?

[PeWe]

My CB750 K6 got needle bearings 1983. Worked fine with around 80whp, around 45.000 km including 4 long tours in Europe, overloaded bike, 2 persons, lots of luggage. 6000km each time.

Bearings with grease looked fine when I replaced the swingarm since the chain guard brackets cracked when a snapped chain whipped the chain guard off.

Next swingarm got a new kit. No problem yet after 30.000 km, mostly with around 90 whp, now more.
Many sellers on eBay sell the kit.

[HondaMan]

Save your money and go with the bronze bushings

Why? We've got four bikes with needle bearing swingarms that are factory stock. Never had a problem with them. Have you had a bad experience with them?

Which bikes are you referring to? The SOHC4 bikes all had plain bearings in the swingarms. From 1969-1971 they were Zamac plastic, then they became phenolic. In 1975 they became flanged phenolic. In the 1990s Honda changed their replacement parts to MIMs-metal steel (which eats the collars).

[Kelly E]

Save your money and go with the bronze bushings

Why? We've got four bikes with needle bearing swingarms that are factory stock. Never had a problem with them. Have you had a bad experience with them?

Which bikes are you referring to? The SOHC4 bikes all had plain bearings in the swingarms. From 1969-1971 they were Zamac plastic, then they became phenolic. In 1975 they became flanged phenolic. In the 1990s Honda changed their replacement parts to MIMs-metal steel (which eats the collars).

Let's see, we put an 80' CB 750F swingarm with stock needle bearings on the 79' 750F. The 80' Suzuki GS 1100E, the 82' CB 900F and the 84' Interceptor 1000 have needle bearing swingarms stock. I think the 83' CB 1100F has them too but I haven't taken it apart yet.

[Dunk]

I used a bearing kit from Z1 when I restored my K1. I was leaning towards bushings but couldn't source them when I was at that stage of the restoration. They are super smooth with no resistance, as expected, but the design of the kit I used does not allow for greasing without disassembly. In retrospect I probably could have drilled some holes in the inner shaft the bearings ride on to allow grease to flow. Maybe next time I have it apart for grease.