Swingarm mount question on my RK

[chopper]

At last i have got round to changing the rubber swingarm mounts on the road king, have had them for months sitting in the garage, i ordered the correct ones for the year (47564-86b) from warrs and they have a slot instead of the small hole in mine, apart from that they are the same as far as i can see and will work fine i think

Any advice on if thats the right or wrong thing to do?

thanks
Neil


Pic (obviously the dirty one is my existing!)

[grbrown]

Hi Neil,

I used a similar replacement set a few years ago. I think the later ones are improved in some way over the earlier ones and suspect the slot is simply a way of telling them apart. Just put the slot where the hole went. Er - does that sound right?!

[chopper]

Originally Posted by grbrown

Hi Neil,

I used a similar replacement set a few years ago. I think the later ones are improved in some way over the earlier ones and suspect the slot is simply a way of telling them apart. Just put the slot where the hole went. Er - does that sound right?!

Hi Graham,

Indeed makes sense and seems to be the general concensus from the searching i have since done on the US forums etc.

have come in now its to cold in the garage even with the heaters on and now snowing heavily so will finish the job another day

cheers mate

Neil

[Barry Boy]

Evening

Had same thing last year when I was fitting a stabilizer link and changing the bushes.

The stabilizer link kit came with a loose key with a pin hole to adapt the link to an newer rubber mount.

Simply made up another key out of stainless for the other side.

There's enough movement down there without having the 3/32" pin trying to locate itself in a 1/4" wide slot.

Andy.

Region 7 Assistant Rep.

[chopper]

Thanks Andy, i have the stabilizer already but no key, i agree though i prefer the idea of them fitting correctly!, will knock up a couple of keys over the next week or so and fit them over the pins i think,

cheers for the input, appreciated.

[grbrown]

We're talking Harley here chaps, not a Moto GP bike! With my recent change of swinging arm (from 1990 to 2007) I have had those rubber bushes in and out a few times and they really will be very happy with their lot if fitted and left in peace. That hole/slot is only there to get them the right way up, not for any truly critical purpose. Don't spoil them....

[chopper]

Originally Posted by grbrown

We're talking Harley here chaps, not a Moto GP bike! With my recent change of swinging arm (from 1990 to 2007) I have had those rubber bushes in and out a few times and they really will be very happy with their lot if fitted and left in peace. That hole/slot is only there to get them the right way up, not for any truly critical purpose. Don't spoil them....

fills the evenings at this time of year though

[Barry Boy]

Evening.

If you look at the handling problems which affect the rubber mount FL's the majority stem from problems with marrying the chassis to the power train and normally boil down to worn, damaged or incorrectly fitted rubber mounts excluding worn, flat and cheap tires.

Pareto analysis shows that 80% of problems come from 20% of causes which is the FL chassis in a nutshell with the 80% of handling problems being caused by the 20% of components i.e. the rubber mounts and tie rods.

This makes the rubber mounts a critical component and whilst of simple design they need to be in good condition and correctly fitted. Try having a weave come on at high speed on a 800lb bike and I'm sure you would agree!

So chopper, you carry on filing, the manufacturer of the missing link kit wouldn't have put one in the bag if he dint want me to fit it.

Andy.

Region 7 Assistant Rep.

[grbrown]

Andy,

You're on the right track, but lets stand back and take a measured look. I stand by what I said, that those rubbers, which we know in Neil's case are new, are as good as it gets and should be installed as I described. Don't baby them, they will do fine.

Now on to handling! The infamous wobble of internet infamy has two origins. One is the cleve block swinging arm bushes that early Evos like mine had when new, but subsequently replaced by steel bushes, possibly in Neil's bike. So late Evos and most if not all TCs are not troubled by them. The second is lack of lateral support to those poor rubber bushes.

All Buells and rubber-mount Sportsters have a rear stabilizer, similar to the front and top stabilizers on our dressers. All those poor rubbers need is a similar one and they will be in hog's heaven! I have a True-Track kit which is marvellous. They do what Erik Buell intended.

THAT is the way ahead for those poor rubbers.

[Barry Boy]

Evening Graham.

I totally agree with you regarding the improved design of later and aftermarket bushes and mounts and also the greatly improved handling which can be had by fitting the rear additional link tying the power train to the chassis and stopping any lateral movement.

My Evo EG certainly squirmed and twisted when heavily loaded prior to fitting a link.

But I don't understand why you wouldn't want to make up some simple keys and fit them, if only for peace of mind.

Perhaps we will have to just agree to dis-agree on this point.

Andy

Region 7 Assistant Rep.