Topic: Swing Arm Bushing Were Easier to Take Out Than Your Sister!

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I was dreading installing the brass bushings on 74 550 after reading all the horror stories of people struggling with hacksaws, special tools, extreme heating, etc to remove the OE bushings. I thought, it's a pressed bushing and has been in there nearly 40 years, the struggle makes sense, right?

Well, I'm glad I decided to try tapping them out as is first Came out with a a few hard smacks working around the bushing; one piece too! Make sure you try the easy way before you go to town with the other measures.

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Double post 

[Retro Rocket]

Nice Plymouth....

[dave500]

are they the plastic bushings?try the steel ones without that flange that back up to a blind back stop,you cant get any purchase on them with a drift/chisel/tool etc,plus they were steel so plenty of rusted adhesion,part number 10 here,these grease through both ends of the swing arm bolt,the later have the one underneath zerk.

yours has the open ended rear axle slot aswell,ive only seen the closed type with those flanged bushings,does your swing bolt have grease zerks aswell as the arm?

[cakey]

I have my swing arm off at the moment. How do I check to see if it's worth replacing the bushings?

Bikes been sitting for 16 years but I am not sure.

[WrenchMonkey]

Luck was definitely on your side with the flanged style bushings.  They are a lot easier to remove than non-flanged kind.  BTW, that's a good looking Barracuda!  Brings back memories.  A friend of mine had a '66 when we were in High School.

I have my swing arm off at the moment. How do I check to see if it's worth replacing the bushings?

Bikes been sitting for 16 years but I am not sure.

IMO, new bushings are about $50 USD and are relativly cheap insurance, especially if the condition of the old ones (originals?) is unknown.  I'd rather replace them and have the peace of mind that everything is tight as it should be, than to risk having slop in the rear end!  YMMV.

[Lostboy Steve]

I was dreading installing the brass bushings on 74 550 after reading all the horror stories of people struggling with hacksaws, special tools, extreme heating, etc to remove the OE bushings. I thought, it's a pressed bushing and has been in there nearly 40 years, the struggle makes sense, right?

Well, I'm glad I decided to try tapping them out as is first Came out with a a few hard smacks working around the bushing; one piece too! Make sure you try the easy way before you go to town with the other measures.

\
So they were looser than said sister as well? Mine came out easy and I re-used them when I had the swingarm powdercoated. I will be installing bronze bushings eventually.

[fendersrule]

Yeah, if those bushings are the plastic one that it doesn't count. Try doing the crappy composite/steel bushings that basically meld with the inner swingarm tube.

Glad to see those bronze bushings in there. Just a single lube is all it needs. Never need to lube again.

[Trad]

are they the plastic bushings?try the steel ones without that flange that back up to a blind back stop,you cant get any purchase on them with a drift/chisel/tool etc,plus they were steel so plenty of rusted adhesion,part number 10 here,these grease through both ends of the swing arm bolt,the later have the one underneath zerk.

yours has the open ended rear axle slot aswell,ive only seen the closed type with those flanged bushings,does your swing bolt have grease zerks aswell as the arm?

Yes sir, there are one piece plastic style. The swing arm bolt and swing arm have the grease cuts. I have yet to pull the swing arm on my bike currently. That one probably has the PITA version of the bushings. haha

Good to hear I lucked out then