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Adding zerk fittings to rear swing arm?

  • Thread starter Thread starter surviverguy
  • Start date Start date
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surviverguy

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I'm thinking about drilling two holes and tapping to 1/8 NPT to add two zerk fittings to the rear swing arm. I am thinking about putting these fittings about 2/3rds of the way back towards the rear axle on both sides. I figure after pumping two tubes of grease in the fittings the entire swing arm would be full of grease and the bearings would get lubed. My swing arm bearings are in good shape (no play and smooth action) and I want to keep 'em that way the easy way. Every couple of months add a couple shots of grease to each side.
Anybody tried this? Beats complete teardown for cleaning and greasing and then reassembling....Would also help keep water out. Bearing might last forever?
 
I think you'll find the forks do not open into the shaft area so your grease will do nothing.

The bearings last for donkeys years anyway - if yours are shot, do the job properly and replace them.
 
The swin arm looks hollow as one "n" shaped assembly....?View attachment 16501 The bearings are in good condition. No play...a little extra work now could save a lot of trouble/time/money down the road...
 
It would add a pound or two to the weight of the bike though.

Eric
 
I'm about to start de-rusting/painting there...thought I'd kill two birds while I'm there...rust/paint and swingarm lube
 
I am thinking of doing the same thing, having just had to do a rebuild the hard way. Someone must have added grease nipples, and can tell us how they did it and how it works?
 
I've put grease nipples on a few swinging arms over the years. For example, those steel-rubber-steel jobbies that BSA used were bloody awful for seizing up and the movement would be all through the rubber rather than on the shaft. And the Bakelite lookalike stuff that the Japs used quite commonly could also be prone to rapid wear (replace with bronze, fit a grease nipple and they'll last forever).

With needle bearings however, the key is to pack the things well when you are putting the bits together. Other than dirt bikes that get powerwashed off every Sunday evening, the maintenance demands are virtually nil and, like Tom says, regrease every 20 or 30 years and they'll be ok.
 
tkent02 said:
Whoa! People wash dirt bikes? WTF?
Click to expand...

All part of it Tom. Ride your DR / DT / XL / XT / XR or whatever through a farmyard (bonus points for dropping it while you are there) then when you get home bring out the Kercher and wash all the encrusted horse and cow crap off on the pavement. Leave said crap on pavement to dry.

Don't wait for the bike to dry before storing it under an anti theft plastic sheet to encourage rust before next Sunday's repeat.
 
You would have to drill and tap directly in to the bearing housing part of the swing and into the bearing itself for it to ever get any grease. From the rust on your frame and swing arm, I would say your bearings are shot big time. The rust probably has them locked all together is the reason there isn't any play in them.
 
hampshirehog said:
All part of it Tom. Ride your DR / DT / XL / XT / XR or whatever through a farmyard (bonus points for dropping it while you are there) then when you get home bring out the Kercher and wash all the encrusted horse and cow crap off on the pavement. Leave said crap on pavement to dry.

.
Click to expand...

I washed my DR just the other day...

WashingtheDR.jpg
 
I decided the grease fitting idea could wait for another day as I couldn't find the right drill bits/taps/fittings....I wanted to get something done today...so I pulled the swingarm, did some rust removal, added some grease to the swing arm bearings + primer and some paint and reassembled while still wet. Did a little work on the frame rust and the battery box. Voila-I wouldn't call it a paint job..it was more of a rust inhibiting coating...View attachment 16506 to help it from rusting away between now and a real paint job....
 
I just cant believe your actually SERIUOSLY contemplating this. Just replace the rusted up bearings and pack them well with grease. As was said earlier...done for the next 20 years or so.
 
I don't think the bearings are bad. I doubt the bike was ever riden after the battery explosion and wiring meltdown the PO's did before I bought it.View attachment 16508
The bearings got lots of PB Blaster and grease while I had the swing arm off.
Still considering adding a couple of zerk fittings. It's hard to really pack those bearings...
 
chuck hahn said:
I just cant believe your actually SERIUOSLY contemplating this. Just replace the rusted up bearings and pack them well with grease. As was said earlier...done for the next 20 years or so.
Click to expand...
Hey- I'm a Newbie and as such I contemplate lots of non-practical solutions for minor problems and annoyances...
 
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