Try our new info resource - "Aladdin's Cave" (Main menu)Just added a separate link to Ash's Dropbox thread (shortcut)
The 550K0 may already be done Kelly, if you have a grease nipple under the swinging arm it's ok. If you have one either end of the swinging arm spindle you'll need to do it.
Paul I recently bought the needle roller conversion kit for the 500/550. It's made by Tourmax, a Japanese company, it's one of the best aftermarket mods I've ever seen, the attention to detail is superb.It cost £120 ish, depending where you buy, ok so that sounds a lot BUT you get a new collar and this one is hard chromed and shouldn't wear like the OE one, the needle bearings look really good and there are special washers for the end gap which rotate internally. Factor in the cost of a new collar, £60 or so, new bushes, another £25 and then also factor in how long these are likely to last, the greasing system for the 500 isn't the best IMO, it goes through the spindle and out through 2 small holes, the problem is the grease exists inside the collar and you really want it between the collar and the bush which is where it always wears, there are 2 small holes in the collar but if these block with old grease very little gets where it's needed and hence the collar ends up being worn away. To me it's a maze inside there that the grease has to negotiate in order to get to where it's needed, you tend to stop pushing grease in when you see it exit between the end of the arm and the frame but there is absolutely no guarantee it's got to where it's needed, it will always find the easiest way out. The only problem with the new needle conversion kit is that the existing greasing system on the 500 (not the 550) isn't suited for it as there are no holes in the new collar so you need to add a new grease nipple onto the swinging arm tube, just done mine and it was very easy to do. Your choice, £120 and virtually forget it except for greasing or £85 (not including new felt washers or the 550 metal end caps) or so for the existing system which can last only a few years unless your lucky and the greasing system works as it should.
So are you suggesting using MolyD grease on the swinging arm if using needle rollers Nigel?Funnily enough, just bought 2 new grease guns, ones for cartridge LM grease and the other I was thinking of filling with MolyD.