Swing Arm - advice please

Graham

Joined
Sep 15, 2008
Messages
20
Location
Oxford, UK
It's MOT test time next Monday. The tyres needed replacing soon anyway, so I decided to ring around and get them done. (BT021s F&R ?260 incl)

While the bike was up and the wheels were off, the mechanic called the service manager who called me to have a look at the swing arm. The mechanic reckons it will likely be an MOT failure.

Immediately they quote ?1000 to replace it.

Now I just looked up Parkers and they reckon my 1998 S will be worth somewhere between ?2000 and ?2500.

It's done 72000 miles, had the rear splines replaced 10 months ago, new exhausts 18 months ago, and now new tyres.

Now, I'm trying to decide what to do....

It is already booked in at my usual garage (they couldn't beat the tyre price elsewhere). It may or may not pass the MOT next Monday.

If it does, it'll have 12 months Tax and MOT, and a half-decent trade-in value. I'd feel uncomfortable trying to pass it on to someone privately knowing there's a big job ahead.

If it doesn't, it'll have no T&T, a lousy value, and a big bill ahead.

Are the garage trying to frighten me? Their 'evidence' was a little blistering of metal seen from the rear with the wheel removed.

As you can guess, I'm not that technically clued up. So any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Graham.
 
Graham,
Changing out the swingarm on the 1100 is not that big of a deal. I had to pull mine to do the alternator upgrade and, other than a couple specialized tools needed; it's very straight forward.

I would want to know what the concern is; is there rust holes in it? Blistering may just be the paint with some surface rust under it. A wire brush and some fresh paint can take care of this.

Could you find a used swing arm, if necessary, from a wrecker?? I've seen them on Ebay from time to time, too.

Whatever comes of this, please keep us posted!!
 
If it were my bike I'd try to find a spare swing arm from a breaker's and fit it my self, it's not highly technical to do. Maybe some sanding and painting could get you past the inspection and buy you some more time?
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Wire brush or sand blast the swing arm to get to the actual good metal. If it looks like the corrosion hasn't compromised the integrity at that point, I would paint it and have the bike inspected.
If your missing critical material, it would be best to replace it.
 
Should you decide to replace the swingarm I have several`rust-free`California parts. Postage to the UK may be prohibitive?

I also have supplied a swingarm tool to David Whitley (KOTT/Scotland) should you need it.

Don (freestyle_don@sti.net)
 
re:

Graham said:
<snippage>

Are the garage trying to frighten me? Their 'evidence' was a little blistering of metal seen from the rear with the wheel removed.

As you can guess, I'm not that technically clued up. So any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Graham.
Click to expand...

Take an ice pick or phillips head screwdriver and poke into the "blistering". If it goes through, you may have a problem. If it doesn't - find another shop to service your bike, and just clean and paint the affected area...

As others have said changing your swingarm ISN'T that big a job. I'd go with a used one, preferably from a bike that lived in a snow-less environment (no salt) in it's previous life.

Good luck!
 
Well now, guys! Thank you all so much for your reassurance and amazing offers. I shall try the MoT on Monday and see what happens. It's good to know that it is nowhere near as serious as the tyre changing garage made out. I'll post to say what the outcome is.

Best wishes, Graham.
 
Hmmm!? Well, I now have a full 12 months' MOT. The testing garage had a new technician being trained (for his exam next week) so the bike probably got the most comprehensive assessment it will ever have, and not just once but twice! There was nothing wrong with it, at all. I will admit there were a few moments when I wondered what was going on, but this was usually where the lead mechanic was explaining something to the other one.

SO... now I have to decide whether it is time to sell and get a new bike, or to spend bits on the current one. Oh, the joys of the economics of vehicle ownership!

Thanks for all your help, guys. I don't think I shall ever rely on the advice of the place I bought the tyres from as it really looks to me as though they were simply looking for a mug who'd part with a fortune.

Cheers, Graham.
 
Glad to hear that things worked out! Now, go ride!! Maybe that will help with your decision....
 
You had good advise from everyone,I wire brush my swingarm about once a year and give it a good coat of black Hammerite paint.The Pan does seem prone to a bit of corrosion in that area but keep an eye on it and it won't be a problem.:p:
 
I found rust holes on top of the cross piece on STick's original swingarm, wire brushed, welded a piece of plate across, the repainted. Later aquired a used rust-free unit (from Gunnar's Silver One [RIP]) and replaced her original. It's still setting in the garage just in case.

Total cost? $0. Labor? I've removed/reinstalled about a dozen swingarms while helping with alternators, no sweat.

Follow the advice of others here, wire brush/wheel and fresh paint will prolly keep it whole for years to come.
 
I've never seen an MOT test that would've spotted the corrosion in my swinging arm, it's too just dirty around that area, even if they look. I've got a couple of holes, one in the lower bracing plate, and one in the seam weld right in front of the tyre. I've had two MOTs since I spotted these. Repair/replacement is on my to-do list. I use periodic applications of waxoil to protect against further salt-damage. I wouldn't recommend ignoring the tyre-change people, but equally I wouldn't panic about it either.
 
One of the best products I have ever come across for use in rusty areas is POR15 (Paint Over Rust). A little bit goes along way and it really does work

Take a look

POR15
 
There was a thread regarding swing arm repair on My-Mc which had good photos and description of the repair. Might be worth a look by any UK owner.

HIH

Norm
 
Hello Guys. Thanks again for all your advice and encouragement. One year on, and the MOT this time picked up the swing arm. The guy got me down on the floor to look at it and it was certainly in a mess. The alternator also looks to be in pretty poor condition.

I've managed to get a second hand - rust free - swing arm so I'm planning on getting it replaced. Several of you said that you had done these yourselves. For a competent mechanic, how much time should this take?

Many thanks,
Graham.
 
This is not a definitive procedure but hits the high points. I recommend a Honda shop manual. I'd figure 2 hours, 3 for a novice. While yur in there, clean the alternator and check the brushes.

  • Pull rear wheel as in tire change.
  • Remove rear shock at the bottom.
  • Remove final drive pumpkin.
  • Pull drive shaft toward the rear to disconnect from the tranny splines.
  • Remove left and right swing arm bolts/pins. Specialty tools required (17mm allen and a castle spanner which can be home made.) (Requires some tupper ware removal too.) Tip on this, mark (white paint? Scribe?) the location of the pin heads against the frame, on reinstall torque to those marks. Close enuff for shade tree work, no need for a torque wrench.
  • Pull tabs on the rubber boot to disconnect from the tranny.
  • Pull swing arm to the left (to get it out of its right hand socket) and back. Takes a little twist ccw to get it to clear frame members.
  • Installation is reverse, except ya need to do the final drive pumpkin alignment.
Getting the rubber boot back into place can be tricky, a little plumber's grease (silicone grease) can help with this. If the old one is stiff might be worth getting a new one.

Pumpkin alignment involves getting all the parts back in place INCLUDING the rear wheel before torquing the 4 pumpkin bolts. Ya might have to tighten two or three then reomove the rear wheel again to tighten the remaining bolts. Purpose of this is to make sure the pumpkin is square with the axle to prevent untoward wear on the splines.

Glad ya got another year out of the old girl. Keep us poSTed on progress.
 
I have a swingarm but again shipping my be prohibitive. It's in Montana, was in Kansas. Rust free, as far as I can tell. Soon to Ebay
 
Wow. Thanks VERY much, again, guys. Really helpful information.

A QUICK APPEAL - I wonder if anyone (probably UK-based) has one of the special swing arm tools that I could borrow? I would promise to get it back to you ASAP.

Many thanks again. Graham.
 
Graham* Contact David Whitley over on my-mc.com. There is also some discussion on that site as well.

I sent one over to him for our Brit friends to use.

Don
 
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