Fitting swinging arm bushes

[Phantom Rider]

Hi All

I've just received some swinging arm bushes from "Frank" - are there any techniques/tricks required to fit these?

Thanks

Steve

[Nurse Julie]

Soaking them in oil for 24 hours prior to fitting can help them last longer. Make sure they are going in the hole straight and the last ones i fitted, I used a flat piece of timber and a hammer and just hit them home.

[paul G]

What type/material are they

[Nurse Julie]

What type/material are they

Good point Paul. I'm assuming if they are from Frank, they are the bronze bushes.

[Phantom Rider]

Thanks.  They are the "normal" ones from Frank, and so I believe they are brass (they look like brass!).

I did think that they would need to be "persuaded" to fit - but thought it wise to check first!!

I will soak them overnight in oil as suggested.

[paul G]

What type/material are they

Good point Paul. I'm assuming if they are from Frank, they are the bronze bushes.

Just had visions of all those little needle rollers everywhere 

[Phantom Rider]

There are definitely no roller bearings involved!!

However you have created an interesting mental picture in my mind!!   

[Laverda Dave]

I bought mine from Frank. I'm think they were phospher bronze (they look like brass!). They were going to be a tight fit so I placed them in a freezer bag and left them in the freezer for a couple of days, no problem to fit afterwards. Just make sure the inside of the swing arm where the bush is to fit is absolutely clear of any old paint or grease prior to fitting.

[K2-K6]

Can you pull each one in individually using the swing arm bolt,  with a washer or spacer at the opposite side to pull against? Perhaps the bolt isn't long enough,  but could be a possibility.

Or a carpenter's sash cramp to squeeze them in.

[gtmdriver]

Not sure of the origin of the bronze bushes I got from the US but after fitting them in the swinging arm I had to ream them out to get the pivot tube in there

[Rob62]

Phosphor bronze would be my guess too, not brass, although pb is a yellow colour and looks a bit like brass. And i don't think it will absorb oil...thats a different material “oilite” which is porous and would be supplied ready-oiled. I used to make oilite and pb bushes but its a long time ago and i might be wrong 

[Nurse Julie]

There was a very interesting thread last year about these bushes. Ian from Orkney, the Engineer (Orcadian) gave a good teaching session about them. I also sell the bronze bushes on Ebay and advise customers to soak in oil for 24 hours but, after Ians input, although it would in no way do any harm, there is no benefit either. Mr Hairy and others who have been fitting them for years also always advise the oil treatment.

[Phantom Rider]

Thanks all for the above suggestions/advice - much appreciated.

[Golfcarmad]

Froze mine.went in easy after that.