Opinions sought on 02 curvy rear suspension

Hi, I have an 02 curvy which came to me relatively cheap, but is cosmetically challenged.
I have started doing a bit of preventative maintenance, as it hasnt been touched for a while. Ive started with the rear suspension, having managed to get the shock and rocker out, they dont look too bad, a bit corrosion but nothing on the bearing sleeves and the bearings have cleaned up well. I then realised, in order to get the swinging arm off I need to remove the exhaust system !.
Everything on the exhaust is solid, I ground down the nuts on the exhaust studs on the front pot, and managed to split them , the underlying threads are good so thats one positive thing. However the retaining collar is not showing any signs of moving.
The joint which joins the front and rear sections isnt playing ball either. I've tried heating and spraying on penetrating fluid but its solid.

I have a few options

1) Leave the swingarm in place put it all back together and worry about the swingarm bearings when they go. The generally gets quite costly becauses the sleeves etc tend to rust and can be pricey. And I will still probabaly end up cutting the exhaust off

2) Cut the pipes off and buy a second hand set from breakers/Ebay.

3) Try and manouver the swing-arm around the pipe so that I can get to the bearings and clean/grease them without taking the arm off (Anyone tried this ?)

If this was a tidy bike I would probabaly do 2) but since it isnt I'm favouring 1), unless 3) is an option

Any thoughts ?


Steve

[dizzyblonde]

you will be able to get the system off its just a combination of patience and brute force and ignorance that will get it off, along with heat, lube, freeze etc etc.
I had my shock off to replace this week, and needed my hi level off to send the sub to powder coat. It was only 18 months ago that the can was taken off to be repacked and it was stuck on the link pipe solid. The link pipe on the system further down we gave up on. In the end a block of wood and tapping with a hammer on the can got part of it loose,along with nearly knocking the bike off the ABBA stand, and a lot of swearing unfortunately (which I'm seething about) the can end got buckled. grrrrr

I also had the full system off my other bike last year....it was a nightmare, especially the studs, but eventually (a long time) it came off

P,s welcome to the org SRX600. Just noticed your name, we have three SRX's. cool as feck!!

[Biker Biggles]

Yes the exhaust is really awkward to get off but it does come off.You need to undo everything first,including the hidden bolt underneath the engine,and wiggle it back and forth and up and down until it comes off.
If you are handy enough to get the shock and linkage apart you can do the exhaust ok.

Ok cheers for that I will persevere and see if I can get it off.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

P,s welcome to the org SRX600. Just noticed your name, we have three SRX's. cool as feck!!

My SRX is on rather a slow rebuild. Hopefully up and running this year, waiting for a camshaft to be reground then back together for the spring.
Are yours twinshocks or monos ?

[dizzyblonde]

twin shocks and kickstart
Ones the winter hack
ones being rebuilt, got a predator pipe for that one waiting to go on, Im Indoors rebuilt the engine on it recently
The other...welll thats under a heap of other bike bits, its used for spares really

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

twin shocks and kickstart
Indoors rebuilt the engine on it recently

Gearbox whining and piston slap when cold ?

[dizzyblonde]

It had an oil leak from the cylinder base gasket. Apparently they all have a bit of piston slap, and the whine is when fifth gear is fudged.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

the whine is when fifth gear is fudged.

How did you fudge it ?. On my first engine the flakes from fifth gear hardening ended up in the pump. Mine looked like the gear faces had loaded of dental fillings

The fifth gear on the SRX is a known weak point as it doesn't have alot of surface area being too thin, lots of motorway miles and not enough oil changes is what kills 'em.