Is my swingarm original?

[alexdecker]

Hey all

Rather late in my disassembly, I realise that my swingarm look rather different than what I've seen on other pictures. It was also chrome and not black. Is this not an original CB550F 1978 swingarm?

[Nurse Julie]

It looks about right if yours is a F2 but, they were never chromed as standard.

[Oddjob]

Yep that's an F swinging arm, massive closed loop rear brackets with the left hand one having the drilling for the chain guard stay.

Shame they didn't bother keeping the chrome cleaner.

Needs new bushes. Fit phosphor bronze ones instead of the OE fibre ones.

[alexdecker]

Yep that's an F swinging arm, massive closed loop rear brackets with the left hand one having the drilling for the chain guard stay.

Shame they didn't bother keeping the chrome cleaner.

Needs new bushes. Fit phosphor bronze ones instead of the OE fibre ones.

Still working on getting the old ones out  Where can I source the bronze ones? And why are they better?

[Bryanj]

Nurse Julie, then sit down, take out a second mortgage and buy a new collar as well.
You can use an earlier collar(easier to get but still expensive)  as long as you fit the 500 bolt with grease nipple at each end

[Oddjob]

Alex your in Europe yes?

If so lots of German sellers sell the bronze bushes.

As Bryan says, check the internal collar, which is just the big tube running through the arm, check the ends where it sits inside the bushes, most are worn and will show that wear, some are rusted (which is odd considering they are supposed to be covered in grease). If it's worn your going to have to decide whether to reuse it or replace it, post a pic of how it looks and we'll advice.

As for the old bushes, they are just fibre, a quick run with a small hacksaw blade (like the centre stand pivot pin) and they'll just fall out usually. Once you get one out you can sometimes find a socket exactly the right size to fit inside the arm and use that to drive out the other.

Other alternative is to fit a needle roller conversion kit which comes with it's own collar, they are around £125 which sounds a lot but a set of bronze bushes is £30ish, new collar is £70 or so so not that much dearer and they stiffen up the arm much better or are supposed to, never tried one myself but I'm thinking about it right now.

[alexdecker]

Alex your in Europe yes?

If so lots of German sellers sell the bronze bushes.

As Bryan says, check the internal collar, which is just the big tube running through the arm, check the ends where it sits inside the bushes, most are worn and will show that wear, some are rusted (which is odd considering they are supposed to be covered in grease). If it's worn your going to have to decide whether to reuse it or replace it, post a pic of how it looks and we'll advice.

As for the old bushes, they are just fibre, a quick run with a small hacksaw blade (like the centre stand pivot pin) and they'll just fall out usually. Once you get one out you can sometimes find a socket exactly the right size to fit inside the arm and use that to drive out the other.

Other alternative is to fit a needle roller conversion kit which comes with it's own collar, they are around £125 which sounds a lot but a set of bronze bushes is £30ish, new collar is £70 or so so not that much dearer and they stiffen up the arm much better or are supposed to, never tried one myself but I'm thinking about it right now.

Thank you, I will scour some German parts site for them My center stand is still stuck, so fearing the worst with these bushes as well. The internal collar has some grease on it, but it is stuck in there really bad. Trying different things to get it out. Center stand and swingarm is the last thing, and then she is completely in pieces (finally!).

[Sesman]

Alex. Julie sells the bronze bushes. Much better than the original solution and will outlast the bike if maintained correctly.

[K2-K6]

"Other alternative is to fit a needle roller conversion kit which comes with it's own collar, they are around £125 which sounds a lot but a set of bronze bushes is £30ish, new collar is £70 or so so not that much dearer and they stiffen up the arm much better or are supposed to, never tried one myself but I'm thinking about it right now."

The bronze bushes are definitely good and significantly change the lifing of this pivot compared to original, very worthwhile.

For pure performance (the arm is essentially flexy on many of this era bikes) the needle roller will outperform the other solutions.  It's this pivot that contributes most to the "hinge in the middle" comments so often used in contemporary road test descriptions of the bikes. Most current bikes of any decent quality will use this or tapers (which won't fit in these) to make the suspension work well.

[alexdecker]

If doing the needle roller, are you guys talking about something like this?

[Bryanj]

Er What?

[Oddjob]

Like this Alex, search ebay for a european seller, they'll be some I reckon.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153413131982

Bronze bushes, I've bought 4 pairs from Frank but now he doesn't sell to the UK.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363414668187

[alexdecker]

Er What?

Sorry, forgot to insert the link, but it was the exact eBay link Oddjob just posted! 😊 So yes would be the answer to my question! Thanks!

[Oddjob]

Found another seller slightly cheaper.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284533794663?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D54b2c5d5ec6c482ba975264bdc0d7f72%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D284533794658%26itm%3D284533794663%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DTour+Max&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A41083ef3-9cac-11ec-9d7f-f204a5b0f92c%7Cparentrq%3A5b31167c17f0a7b1f032d976ffef526a%7Ciid%3A1

Trouble is the postage to the EU is ridiculous, they are charging import duties as well and I don't think they are due.

Better to get someone to buy it for you, unpackage it to component parts and send it in a jiffy bag as a gift. Even put in a happy birthday post it note to fool the customs 

Where are you in the EU Alex? I could get a postage rate as I ordered one for myself so I'd have the weight.

[Bryanj]

In all honesty i dont think the needle rollers are worth it for a stock street bike, especially when you can get the bronze bushes from Frank so cheap and if you grease regularly they will last you out.