Author Topic: Swing Arm bushings (Read 13613 times)

gremlin · **on:** October 19, 2012, 04:55:07 pm

I noticed in the service manual that the swingarm bushings are "plastic".... Is this true? if so, how long do they last ? Anybody noticed looseness in their rear ?

TWinOKC · **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2012, 05:07:59 pm

But its high quality plastic (I hope) Maybe Teflon, nylon?

I'll have you know my rear end is just fine thank you.

gremlin · **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2012, 05:47:26 pm

Last time I had bad swingarm bushings was a Trident ...... And it would cause looseness of the stool !

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2012, 06:07:37 pm

They are plastic but I believe the inner bearing surface is lined with brass. I think one person reported a cracked one a long time ago. Hitchcocks sells full metal replacements if you want the peace of mind.

Scott

trimleyman · **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2012, 09:34:20 pm

Interesting. Had wondered this myself. Last bike I had with plastic swing arm bearing was a '72 mototrans ducati 24 horas. They were graphite filled plastic and were good for 15k miles of severe thrashing. But that bike only weighed in at 260lbs wet.

john hut · **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2012, 10:07:34 pm

Had a notification on my British MOT certificate a few months back,movement in swinging arm bushes,not enough to fail but to take notice of.If I had the bike on the center stand and got hold of the wheel at the rear there was a slight movement in the bush,a sort of clunk was felt.After reading that the nylon bushes were prone to premature wear,I had about 5000 on the clock,I ordered metalistic bushes as a replacement..while waiting for them to come I decided to do a a dummy run on removal of swinging arm but not removing the bushes,I found no wear in original bushes and when rebuilding the original problem had dissapeared..the conclusion I came too was that it must have not been tight enough in the first place.I now have a spare set of metalistic bushes from Hitchcocks for possible future use,maybe 15000miles or more...
John Hut

Jack Leis · **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2012, 11:50:34 pm

Thats good to know John, I might check mine tomorrow. Man, that MOT test must be something !

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2012, 12:35:03 am

The torque spec on the swing arm bolt is 56 51.6 ft-lbs. I was just looking at it yesterday.

Scott

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2012, 03:09:35 am

Ugh! It's 51.6, not 56. Same torque for the rear axle nuts. Sorry for the misinformation.

Scott

GlennF · **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2012, 03:27:53 am

The Hitchcock's replacements are brass, see below under "EFI Swinging Arm Bushes" :

http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/accessory-frame-suspension-rear

Potentially this is an item nfieldgear should stock as well.

meph1st0 · **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2013, 06:20:23 am

Got my swingarm bushings replaced yesterday.
I had this handling problem for longtime and I always assumed it was wheel alignment. Finally read somewhere that initially UCE models (mine is 2009 done 33k kms) had a poor quality swingarm bushings. Tried moving swingarm up and down by one hand with the other hand placed at the joint where swingarm connects the frame. There was considerable movement at this joint. After replacing the bushings bike handles really well and feels quite safe around corners.

barenekd · **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2013, 07:56:44 am

My G5 has 16,000 on it and the bushings are fine.
Bare

meph1st0 · **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2013, 08:59:28 am

Bare,
I have done around 20000 miles but the bushings must have worn out quite sometime before. Btw the city roads here in India are horrible with too many pot holes, speed breakers

sparklow · **Reply #13 on:** April 12, 2013, 05:18:01 pm

Is there a lubrication interval for the UCE swing arm bushings? As I don't see any grease fittings, I assume disassembly would be required.

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2013, 05:46:06 pm

Quote from: meph1st0 on April 12, 2013, 06:20:23 am

Got my swingarm bushings replaced yesterday.
I had this handling problem for longtime and I always assumed it was wheel alignment. Finally read somewhere that initially UCE models (mine is 2009 done 33k kms) had a poor quality swingarm bushings. Tried moving swingarm up and down by one hand with the other hand placed at the joint where swingarm connects the frame. There was considerable movement at this joint. After replacing the bushings bike handles really well and feels quite safe around corners.

Just curious, did you get the stock item or go with the bras replacements?

Scott

meph1st0 · **Reply #15 on:** April 12, 2013, 06:19:58 pm

Scott,
I went with the stock item.

gashousegorilla · **Reply #16 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:52:55 pm

I installed the Hitchcock swing arm bushes when I had the bike apart. I also added some grease fittings to keep the pivot bolt and bush lubricated. The stock plastic ones were probably OK though...... Just wanted to try the Hitchock ones, figured they might last a bit longer.

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #17 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:02:23 pm

Nice! Are those just tapped into the empty space between the bushings?

Scott

gashousegorilla · **Reply #18 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:16:01 pm

Quote from: Ducati Scotty on April 12, 2013, 10:02:23 pm

Nice! Are those just tapped into the empty space between the bushings?

Scott

If memory serves Scott ....... There is is no empty space with the Hitchcock bushings. They butt up inside the swing arm tube. I drilled through the swing arm, and the inner bush to the pivot bolt, so it would all get lubed. Just the swing arm tube was tapped.... so the grease will push into the bush and pivot bolt then out the ends...... if you give it enough.

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #19 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:18:19 pm

Thanks. The ones I've seen had an internal spacer to keep the bushings spread apart.

Scott

sparklow · **Reply #20 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:26:51 pm

Well I do love the idea of fitting the grease fittings. When I do get around to removing the swing arm, grease fittings will be installed. Don't you wish the factory would fit a couple on the bikes as standard?

gashousegorilla · **Reply #21 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:27:38 pm

Quote from: Ducati Scotty on April 12, 2013, 10:18:19 pm

Thanks. The ones I've seen had an internal spacer to keep the bushings spread apart.

Scott

Yeah, that sounds right Scott... Those spacer's/ bushings, butt up together inside the swing arm. You have to press or pull them in evenly. The stock arrangement is just a long spacer that the pivot bolt rides in.

Jako · **Reply #22 on:** August 11, 2016, 01:07:21 pm

Quote from: gremlin on October 19, 2012, 04:55:07 pm

I noticed in the service manual that the swingarm bushings are "plastic".... Is this true? if so, how long do they last ? Anybody noticed looseness in their rear ?

Anybody still having issues with the swinging arm bushes ? My 2013 B5 with only 3700 km seems to have excessive sideway movement , with bike on centre stand and pushing and pulling on rear wheel there is noticeable sideways movement in the swinging arm , enogth to see the chain moving , I dont feel any clunking, it sort of feels like its flexing on rubber. On the road I feel a sort of rear steer feeling if I turn suddenly , but smooth cornering is fine and no wobbles or stability issues. Any known issues these swinging arms on these models with such low mileage ?

johno · **Reply #23 on:** August 11, 2016, 04:32:59 pm

You could try torqueing up the swingarm pivot bolt a little.

I had to replace the bushes on my 2012 B5 at a really low mileage after similar problems to what you are having.
I fitted the Hitchcock metalastic bushes to replace the shoddy plastic things.
The tube/spacer on mine was badly corroded scoring and causing rapid wear to the nylon bushes.
Just recently the swingarm pivot bolt snapped whether this was related to the earlier corrosion or poor quality bolt I don't know.

Rattlebattle · **Reply #24 on:** August 11, 2016, 07:06:32 pm

As has been said, Hitchcocks sell replacement metal ones. They refer to the originals as short-lived but premature wear doesn't seem to be a common fault. Draw your own conclusions. I remember T500 Suzukis had plastic bearings that really did wear quickly, but I'll replace mine only when (if) they wear.

Carlsberg Wordsworth · **Reply #25 on:** August 11, 2016, 08:19:45 pm

I've installed the metalastic on my B5. For me, it was a bit of pig of a job using threaded bar. If I was doing it again, I'd use better bar but it was done in the end.

If I'm honest, yes my plastic ones were worn but it IS so much easier to replace with the originals. Those metalastic ones are not coming back out in a hurry and will be just as bad to get them out should they need replacing.

Jako · **Reply #26 on:** August 13, 2016, 01:05:52 am

Quote from: johno on August 11, 2016, 04:32:59 pm

You could try torqueing up the swingarm pivot bolt a little.

I had to replace the bushes on my 2012 B5 at a really low mileage after similar problems to what you are having.
I fitted the Hitchcock metalastic bushes to replace the shoddy plastic things.
The tube/spacer on mine was badly corroded scoring and causing rapid wear to the nylon bushes.
Just recently the swingarm pivot bolt snapped whether this was related to the earlier corrosion or poor quality bolt I don't know.

1/4 turn on spindle nut seems to have reduced movement and improved handling for now, still ordered the Hitchcocks bush kit to improve this area.

Jako · **Reply #27 on:** August 28, 2016, 01:56:43 am

I have now replaced the original bushes with the Hitchcock bush kit , easy job using small press and a few sockets. Closer inspection of original bushes and sleeve revealed very minimal wear , most of the movement was the inner sleeve moving on the bolt and not the bush to sleeve clearance , so it is important to keep the swinging arm bolt torqued to spec even using the Hitchcock bushes. I have new found confidence cornering now. Very positive outcome.