Found play in the swing arm bearings

Been suffering from terrible handling since I got my SV a few months ago. The thing just never feels planted and stable in a bend. I've been close to throwing in the towel and just selling the bike.

I've been working through the bike making sure everything is as it should be........ Tires, pressures, suspension in good condition and properly adjusted. Chain not too tight. Head race bearings, alignment etc......All the usual stuff.

Noticed yesterday that the fork legs weren't set in the yokes at the same height. Only a couple of mm but enough. Borrowed a mates aba stand and sorted the fork legs. With the bike on the aba stand I could check all of the front and rear suspension, bearings etc for play. Front end is fine. However, there is side to side play in the swing arm. Probably about a 1mm to 1 1/2 mm.

After looking in the trusty Haynes manual, there is an outer swing arm locking nut and an inner nut that adjusts the free play on the bearings. iirc the inner nut is tightened with a pin socket to 15Nm.

I got the bike with only 6900 miles on it and it's just passed 10900 miles. I'm concerned that there is play on the swing arm on such a low mileage bike. I'm not bad at twirling the spanners and adjusting or replacing the bearings isn't a problem. I've never had this problem before on bikes with 3 or 4 times the mileage on them. It's concerning me that the bike has been dropped heavily at some point and not put back together very well. It's the only reason I can think of that there would be play on the swing arm with such low mileage.

So what do you guys think? Am I being paranoid? Is this normal for the bearings to need adjustment or replacement after 11000 miles???

Your thoughts and experiences would be appreciated.

[maviczap]

Obviously play in the bearings can't be good, so that would be the first thing to sort out.

Mr Suzuki doesn't use a lot of grease (ie nil), so its possible that they could have developed some play.

Once you've checked everthing else then I would start looking at upgrading front fork springs & oil and improving the rear shock, as since I upgraded mine it is definitely more planted in the corners

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by maviczap

Obviously play in the bearings can't be good, so that would be the first thing to sort out.

Mr Suzuki doesn't use a lot of grease (ie nil), so its possible that they could have developed some play.

Once you've checked everthing else then I would start looking at upgrading front fork springs & oil and improving the rear shock, as since I upgraded mine it is definitely more planted in the corners

+1

Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha budget for 1kg each year (between them). I'd swap them if they have play.
Handling issues can be cured for maximum £200.
Linea springs and oil (replacement seals if needed) for the front and a different shock rear.
Look here for the shock options http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=137793

you might be able to take out side play by tightening up the swing arm bolt but if there is play in the bearing you'l most likeley have to replase the needle bearings and bush's,dont know how tight these are but the ones on the bottom of the shock the leaver one with 4 bearings in it are pretty much impossible to get out with out damaging the alloy, even when warmed up and useing a slide hammer with a bearing puller, and as to greese they dont hold bugger all as there is no real room to put extra in

[maviczap]

Swing arm pivot bearing are relatively easy to extract, and replace.

But like Paul says the linkage bearings for the shock are almost impossible to extract without damaging them.

The alloy corrodes and the bearing gets seized in place, even after 11k.

I replaced all the bearings after getting my swingarm powder coated, and used lots of grease on re-assembly

[yorkie_chris]

If it is pointy this is common problem.

Problem is spacer tube inside which is too long.

This is not bearing problem. End thrust on arm is dealt with using those washer/cup/seal things you see either end of bearing tunnel in swingarm (one partly hidden by chain slider). No amount of tightening spindle can cure this.

Bearing pack (left bearing + spacer + right bearing) needs to be same width as the bearing tunnel (less a bit of clearance to let it move), so the thrust washer "bearings" can clamp properly and eliminate play.
So either shorten spacer by whatever amount of play you have, or make a washer to make the bearing tunnel "longer" to match.



It's a lot of work for a factory f*** up that they STILL deny exists.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by suzukigt380paul

pretty much impossible to get out with out damaging the alloy, even when warmed up and useing a slide hammer with a bearing puller,

I use a bit of pipe with ID bigger than bearing, put socket on bearing and press out.

[DarrenSV650S]

You say Suzuki deny the problem Chris, but the suzuki dealer has told me and others that the swingarm is supposed to have play. Not just on the sv.

[yorkie_chris]

That is a complete crock of sh*t and anyone who's ever done anything with motorbikes for any length of time knows this. Ask them "why?"

Leave problem alone; crap grip, worrying feel, instability. All made worse when you sort handling with longer shock and shorter forks.
Fix problem; oh f*** me, we have grip and a relatively decent back end!


If that is deliberate design feature it is one they must have had about half a gallon of sake beforehand as it makes no sense.

[Bibio]

i brought this up when i got my k8. took it back to the dealer as i thought that the bearings were shot or had not been torqued up properly at the factory. i was told that they have built in play to which i replyed 'bull crap' but i was gaven 'free range' to go inspect any bike that was getting pdi'd at the time and every single one of them had the same play in the swingarm. it was not just the SV that had the play but bandits and all sorts had it to.

personally i still think its bull and i think mr suzuki is pulling a fast one.

i still think that it's responsable for the mysterious mid corner head shake that has been on both my bikes.