Topic: thanks PO!-late mode ("F") pivot collar in early model swingarm

[skishyishy]

Greetings,

I can tell from my research that the swingarm deal has been done to death, but I haven't seen this unique set of circumstances:

Bike is '74 750' with correct swingarm, swingarm bolt, bearings, grease fittings etc...
EXCEPT the pivot collar is the crap late model one with no grooves used 76 on and for the F series.  I know Hondaman has wrote at length about cutting grooves in this late model collar to improve life on the late model swingarm, but can I do this on my earlier model swingarm?

My concern is that, for my current setup, the grease fittings are on the end of the swingarm bolt (early style) without the grease fitting in the middle that the late model pivot collar requires to (half-assedly) grease from the center.

Can I just drill a hole and cut the grooves on the collar to mock the first?  I'm worried the smaller outer diameter at the middle of the collar will not properly fill with grease. I thought about drilling and installing a third grease fitting to like the newer style swingarm to address this, but the powder coat is fairly new and I don't want to muck it up.  Obviously I'm too cheap and impatient to order the correct collar.

advice?  HondaMan?  Anyman?  lovely knowledgable woman?

[skishyishy]

bizump

[bwaller]

I think you can drill and tap for a center grease fitting without any damage to the fresh paint. Do it on the underside if you prefer, but is likely the easiest solution.

[mystic_1]

The center section of the collar, where the diameter is smaller, doesn't NEED grease!  The grease is needed at the ends where contact occurs with the bushings. 

Earlier models greased from the ends of the bolt and the grease only needed to travel a few inches to lube the bushing on that side. 

Later models tried to send the grease from the center of the bolt down to both ends of the shaft at the same time, meaning you had to pump in a ton of grease in the hopes that some of it would make it all the way down to the bushings.

Just cut the necessary grooves into your collar, drill the appropriate holes, and you're golden.

Here's a post from Hondaman about this topic, complete with pics:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=46432.msg488983#msg488983


mystic_1

[bwaller]

Having an extra zert won't hurt.