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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:40 pm
by Honda92
Wistech and I tried to come up with a better system for the swingarm pivots. After having no luck at the local bearing store we decided to make a bushing system. I made some bushings up today to see if it would actually work. I installed them this afternoon and sure enough, there is zero side play and the swingarm pivots freely. I reused my outer seals, I wasn't going to put any seals on but I figured since they were there why not. Here are a few pics.
The new bushings
The old complicated mess
Without the seal
With the seal
Inside, that black part is the bushing you see. not the small seal
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:23 am
by cannondale27
Very nice! You have access to a C.N.C. Lathe? Going to make more? You could make the plastic bushing a hair shorter and stick a o-ring on the inside for a nice seal.
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:12 am
by Honda92
Yeah I have access to a couple CNC lathes and mills. I'm not sure if I'm going to make more at the moment, I kind of want to see if they are going to hold up. I could make the bushing shorter for a inner seal but I don't know if it is needed, that bushing is a tight fit.
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:37 am
by wistech
The center sleeves have been donated by Brad Oakley. They are prototypes cannondale pieces that never made it into production. The tag on them said they had 500,000 cycles with no wear. If the bushings hold up they could be made out of stainless steel and be permanenlty lubed or greased through the hollow updated swingarm bolts. Good work.
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:43 am
by jesshamner
If you want another tester send me a set. I have my swingarm off and changing out bearings right now. Are you using the needle bearings at all? Just a sleeve and bushing? I don't like the way the needle bearings fit in mine. One side is tight and doesn't seem like it rolls very well.
Or maybe you could send me some specs on it. My uncle has his own cnc and lathe. I'm sure he would love another project.
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:56 am
by 2000ex
I would be interested in a set. My Walsh swingarm has the old winky bushing setup and works great. I wanted to see if I could source those parts, however if this works I may take several of them.
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:25 pm
by thedeatons
Delrin may be another idea, and it is somewhat of a self lubricating material....
This is good, I'm all for improvement!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 3:22 pm
by peterock
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:12 am
by Happyboy
nice work, thats very cool and i would jump on a set. i wear out my pivot bearings more than i like.
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:09 am
by TricityCdale
nice work, thats very cool and i would jump on a set. i wear out my pivot bearings more than i like.
Amen to that. I'd also take a couple of sets. Let the testing begin!