2002+ Swingarm Adjustment

[Steppenwulf]

Originally Posted by grbrown

Steppenwulf, did you have a brake fluid issue to deal with when you did your upgrade?

I flushed the system with DOT 5.
EXPENSIVE! but worth it in my book.

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by Steppenwulf

I flushed the system with DOT 5.
EXPENSIVE! but worth it in my book.

True, but not as expensive as spoiling the entire system, as I have found in the past to my cost! I can flush the 'new' calliper while its off the bike and before I rebuild everything.

[Steppenwulf]

I attached the caliper to the rear brake line and drew the brake fluid from the master cylinder through to the banjo bolt using a MityVac. I did consider splitting the caliper and going for a full strip down and clean by hand; I hope never to regret that shortcut.

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by Steppenwulf

I attached the caliper to the rear brake line and drew the brake fluid from the master cylinder through to the banjo bolt using a MityVac. I did consider splitting the caliper and going for a full strip down and clean by hand; I hope never to regret that shortcut.

I don't plan on dismantling it, just flushing it out with new DOT5. That should remove most traces of what was there before. Bleeding yours as you did probably achieves the same thing!

I am just a bit neurotic about fluids, having not been aware of the incompatibility of the various DOTs during my early ownership of this bike, which caused serious corrosion in both master cylinders.

I ended up with a jelly-like yuk in them both, which I found by chance when doing routine maintenance. I was getting strange traces in the fluid when bleeding from the callipers. If you are using DOT5 exclusively there should be no such problems. And I will put blind faith in that!

Thanks for your ongoing input. When the wheel arrives I plan on doing a 'dry build', after sorting out my bronze swinging arm bushes, then getting the new wheel painted to match my front before putting it all together. Probably won't make a serious start until after the weather turns.

[grbrown]

Snap! No apology for apeing Steppenwulf's photo. Now the bold adventure can begin....

[Steppenwulf]

No apology required Graham,
you may already know but just in case...
The new axle enters the swingarm from the opposite side of the bike to the old, it took me a bit of head scratching and a visit to a dealers to confirm this.

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by Steppenwulf

No apology required Graham,
you may already know but just in case...
The new axle enters the swingarm from the opposite side of the bike to the old, it took me a bit of head scratching and a visit to a dealers to confirm this.

Ah! Looks as if the learning curve is going to be steep! From which side does one put it in? I can do a dry build on the floor, as the wheel and swinging arm have only just met for the first time. Should be a touching ceremony! I hope they get on......

[Steppenwulf]

Insertion of the newer 1" axle is from the drive side.

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by Steppenwulf

Insertion of the newer 1" axle is from the drive side.

Many thanks Jon! They are now united for the first time (I'm just wiping a tear from my eye, sniff ), just to satisfy me that they really do fit together! I take it the spindle goes in this way for some reason related to the cam adjusters (they are not in the bike)?

[Steppenwulf]

Yeah, inserted the wrong way around and the cam adjuster looks like it could be forced to slacken off under load. The cam only seats properly on to the swingarm tabs if put in the right way.

Are you planning on painting the wheel still? I don't notice the difference between my cast rear and spoked front, but I'm still on the look out for a cast front to match as and when a cheap one comes up on Ebay. In the meantime I'm just enjoying the difference in the bends the upgrade makes. Hope it goes well for you, it's definately worth the effort, keep us up to date and let us know how you get on.