Author Topic: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings  (Read 5473 times)

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Offline kyle750

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I have new DID wheels, Yamiya spokes, and Dunlop tires ready to install so I will be taking off the back wheel.  While the wheel is off I would like to service the swingarm.  Before removing I would like to order new bronze swingarm bushings and new end caps/dust covers.  I read the threads and watched the videos  and it looks like Kibblewhite and Kenosha Kid in Germany are the favorites.  I can't find KenoshaKid on ebay?  I will post links to the 2 bronze bushings that I am considering.  Any help in selecting the proper bronze bushings for my CB750 K2 (I understand that there are different diameters to the swingarm and the bushings) would be greatly appreciated.

Here is a photo of the swingarm (rusted end cap of course).  Who knows when was the last time it was properly greased. I can imagine that removing the old rusted bushings are going to be a challenge  :)

Thanks in Advance!
« Last Edit: March 28, 2025, 12:26:27 AM by kyle750 »

Offline kyle750

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Offline kyle750

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Germany.  Are these the same that were sold by Kenosha Kid?

Offline CycleRanger

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Yes, the "Kenosha Kid" seems to have disappeared.

Check out this seller.
https://www.ebay.com/str/twowheelsfrank
I've gotten bushings and other items from him.
Do you have a copy of the Honda Shop Manual or Parts List for your bike? Get one here:
https://www.honda4fun.com/materiale/documentazione-tecnica
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CB750K3        '76 XS650      '76 CJ360T

Offline kyle750

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Thanks for the link.  Looking over the seller's items now.  Nice selection, very good quality, and excellent prices.

Offline kyle750

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2025, 02:20:44 AM »
From twowheelsfrank in Germany

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363552691480
« Last Edit: March 28, 2025, 02:23:31 AM by kyle750 »

Offline kyle750

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2025, 02:29:15 AM »
I just bought these  :) but still not sure which bronze bushings to go with?

Honda NOS Dust Caps from NOS PARTS NOW for $22 for a pair

https://www.ebay.com/itm/205104226145
« Last Edit: March 28, 2025, 06:53:34 AM by kyle750 »

Offline kyle750

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2025, 05:32:08 AM »
DID wheels and Dunlop tires and Yamiya spokes and NOS Honda brake shoes laying on the foreground.  #1 pipe cleaned and old rusted exhaust heat shield replaced and new OEM Honda HM 341 baffle diffuser from Yamiya.  I also have a new Yamiya #2 pipe to install. 

 . . .  and just look at that shiny replacement starter motor cover  (no more rust baby) . . .  gone, baby, gone . . .  it costs me a whopping $8 with excellent pliable gasket

hard to see in this photo but the engine front sprocket cover is cracked badly.   I bought a decent (but not perfect) used replacement cover for $25 and will install later
« Last Edit: March 28, 2025, 04:52:39 PM by kyle750 »

Offline Stev-o

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2025, 07:15:43 AM »
Have you checked for "play" on your swingarm?   Personally, I wouldnt assume it was worn unless I knew all the history of the bike.
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Ozzybud

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2025, 07:17:55 AM »
Nice . Are you re-lacing them yourself? There are many forum members on here including myself who do their own
1976 Z50A PARAKEET YELLOW
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1973 CL200 CANDY RIVIERA BLUE
1974 CB350F GLORY BLUE BLACK METALLIC
1973 CB350F FLAKE MATADOR RED
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Offline MRieck

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Kibblewhite

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394776473922
Wow....that packaging in the listing is from long ago. ;D No matter....they don't go bad.
Owner of the "Million Dollar CB"

Offline kyle750

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #11 on: March 28, 2025, 07:26:53 AM »
Nice . Are you re-lacing them yourself? There are many forum members on here including myself who do their own

Me no - remember I'm the Darwin award winner who couldn't figure out how to use the center stand  ;)  I showed the photo to my normal bike tire shop and he said he could lace the spokes,  tubes, rim tape, balanced, trued and install the drum shoes (but will need to inspect the condition of the interior drum). But he has no idea how to replace the swingarm bushings.  I am fairly certain I know another shop that can heat and drive the old swingarm bushings out (same shop that extracted the horribly seized brake caliper piston)
« Last Edit: March 28, 2025, 07:34:12 AM by kyle750 »

Offline MauiK3

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #12 on: March 28, 2025, 07:40:49 AM »
I had to saw through mine to get them out. Need to be careful doing it.
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Offline kyle750

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #13 on: March 28, 2025, 07:45:20 AM »
The good news is I don't have to worry about removing the old bushings until I decide on replacement bronze bushings and have them in hand and ready to proceed.   

Offline bryanj

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #14 on: March 28, 2025, 08:28:31 AM »
Be aware the collar wears more than the bushes and whilst available is expensive
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Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #15 on: March 28, 2025, 08:44:48 AM »
I sell hundreds of the bronze swing arm bushings here in UK. There is only one size and they fit all the Honda CB SOHC 4 models, 350,400,500,550 and 750's.
You don't fit the dust covers when using this type of bronze bush as the lip acts as the dust cover. You just fit the end cap.
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Offline kyle750

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #16 on: March 28, 2025, 03:20:52 PM »
Many Thanks for the very helpful information.  Lots of different vendors offering bronze swingarm bushings.  To my eye they all look nearly the same but I am quessing there are slight differences in fitment. I am also quessing that wear to the existing swingarm will affect which bushings will work best.  Once removed and properly inspected I should be able to get a better idea of the condition of the swingarm and collar. They also might need to be replaced - I just don't know.    Everything takes a VERY long time to get here and I would like to order the bushings in advance so they are here and ready to go when the time comes.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2025, 11:38:22 PM by kyle750 »

Offline HondaMan

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #17 on: March 28, 2025, 04:47:45 PM »
Bushings: my advice for your particular frame is to use the non-flanged bushings. They must be installed 5mm deep into the ends of the tube, followed by the felt seal washer and the phenolic end caps (those comprise the 5mm space and form a waterproof seal). Over the ends go the larger cupped washers to complete the correct pivot width within the frame.

Since Covid I have received several swingarms with these flanged bushings hanging halfway out of them, bent and mangled: this indicates they were too large OD. I've also received 2 arms with those bushings fully installed, but when tightening the swingarm bolt they jammed the swingarm solidly because the flanges were too thick: they must not be more than 2.00mm thick over the outside end of the swingarm, or else they will make the pivot wider than the swingarm collar, and then the frame simply jams the arm in one posiiton when the bolt is tightened. The collar is 0.002"/0.04mm longer than the distance over the assembled (bushings + felt + end caps) width. It must not be more than this or the frame will not be tensioned. This is a precision fitment.

Something else to know: there are 2 different ID sizes in the 750 swingarm where the bushings live: they are NOT all the same, yet bushing-makers presume they are (all that I have seen, anyway). This means if the bushing was made for the 1974-1978 swingarms, they will be too big for the 1969-1973 versions of the arms. Vice-versa will appear to fit, but will become loose after a few thousand miles, in my experience (I see those from time-to-time, too).

Moral of this story: ask the vendor which swingarms their bushings will fit. If they say something like "all CB750" then find another vendor: they are NOT all the same size in the 750.

And, they are shorter in the CB350F/400F arms, by 3mm. In the first-year CB350F they are shorter by 5mm for the first 2 months of those bike builds, too.
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Online BenelliSEI

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #18 on: March 28, 2025, 05:23:35 PM »
Many Thanks for the very helpful information.  Lots of different vendors offering broze swingarm bushings.  To my eye they all look nearly the same but I am quessing there are slight differences in fitment. I am also quessing that wear to the existing swingarm will affect which bushings will work best.  Once removed and properly inspected I should be able to get a better idea of the condition of the swingarm and collar. They also might need to be replaced - I just don't know.    Everything takes a VERY long time to get here and I would like to order the bushings in advance so they are here and ready to go when the time comes.

You can check the swing arm bushings now. With the bike on the centre stand, grab the rear tire/wheel combo at the very back. Hold the bike with one hand on the frame and move the wheel side to side. If the bushings are even slightly worn, you will feel it back there….. If not; dismantle, clean, lubricate and reassemble. Or order parts.

Offline kyle750

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #19 on: March 28, 2025, 07:22:15 PM »
Thanks Mate!  Grabbed hold tight of the back wheel and tried to shake with force from side to side. Zero Wobble - not even a hint of side to side movement.  Solid as a rock.   

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #20 on: March 28, 2025, 07:31:12 PM »


Moral of this story: ask the vendor which swingarms their bushings will fit. If they say something like "all CB750" then find another vendor: they are NOT all the same size in the 750.
I think it depends on which make / type of replacement bronze bushing is being used Mark. We fit the same bush to all model Honda CB SOHC 4's 1969-1978. We've never had any issues on either our own bikes, our restoration bikes or customers bikes and a lot of members of the UK forum also use bushes supplied by me.
I've only ever used or supplied the one type of bushing and over the past 9 years have sold / used about 500 pairs with no issues.
Bryan made a good point earlier, it's usually the pivot bar that wears if anything, especially on the higher mileage bikes, so it's always worth looking at that as part of a refurb.


« Last Edit: March 28, 2025, 07:33:48 PM by Nurse Julie »
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Offline kyle750

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #21 on: March 28, 2025, 07:33:05 PM »
A special teaser photo for @BenelliSEI  Thank You Sir!

Offline MauiK3

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #22 on: March 28, 2025, 07:35:28 PM »
Kyle
Are you ok? Did the earthquake affect you?
Hopefully all is well.
Steve
1973 CB 750 K3
10/72 build Z1 Kawasaki

Offline kyle750

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #23 on: March 28, 2025, 07:44:23 PM »
Aloha Steve,

Thanks Mate. Terrible situation in Bangkok but the Thais have moved quickly into action to help. I'm afraid Myanmar does not have adequate  search and rescue capabilities.   I lived in Hawaii for 2 years and remember once I was hiking in a smoldering crater in  Volcanos National Park on the Big Island and the earth shook violently and rumbled beneath my feet.  I thought the volcano was going to erupt and I was toast! Mahalo!

Kyle

Hoping and praying for the people of Myanmar and Thailand affected by the Earthquake!
« Last Edit: March 29, 2025, 06:31:18 AM by kyle750 »

Online BenelliSEI

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Re: The never ending CB750 visual inspection - swingarm bushings
« Reply #24 on: March 29, 2025, 07:03:53 AM »
Thanks Mate!  Grabbed hold tight of the back wheel and tried to shake with force from side to side. Zero Wobble - not even a hint of side to side movement.  Solid as a rock.

Good news! I was once fooled by one that was so packed with crap and corrosion it felt solid. When you get into the swing arm you’ll confirm the condition. Take it all apart, clean, lubricate and put it all back together to make sure. Good luck!