Topic: remove my swingm bushing before powdercoating?

[jondalesaid]

i am powdercoating my swingarm on my cb550f my swing arm bushings are in great shape  but have been sitting in the arm for over 30 years (previous owner bought it brand new and road it like twice a year,only put 2k on it the parked it). should i remove them before powdercoating it or will they withstand the heat just fine?


thanks
jonathan

[Oddjob]

Depends on the type.

Excuse my rust here but it's been a while since I did these bearings. However the early type were made of metal, like little tubes which were damned hard to remove and just as hard to reinstall without chipping them. This type would be fine. 500-4 had these and I'm not 100% sure but the earlier 550s as well. However Honda changed the design of these bearings on later 550s, they went to a fibre bases bearing which looked a little like a top hat. The rim part of this bearing sits out the swinging arm and it very easily damaged when the bearing cover is removed, due to it being a fibe composition it may be damaged by the bead blasting, definetely by sand blasting.
I'd replace them either way, can't harm the bike and may improve it a lot.

[flybox1]

yes.
install them too, and then mask them for powder.

[Elan]

I accidentally left my cb750 PLASTIC bushings in while powdercoating, the wierdest thing is, they held up! BUt yes, i replaced them anyway..

powdercoating is only about 3-400deg. the bushings should be fine unless obviously if they are plastic.

THey are also really easy to remove..with a rod,  just tap them out from the opposite side. I would reinsert them in the exact placement the were in though.

[jondalesaid]

thanks!   yea they appear to be steel so they should be fine   no need to replace them for im the second owner and i got the bike from the original owner with only 2K miles on it  the guy never ever road it   i have only owned the bike a year

[Elan]

oh, just had a thought, the grease could pose more of a problem...