SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550
Swingarm play?
Kelly E:
I have done the Tourmax needle bearing swingarm conversion on my 74' CB 550K0. Between the needle bearings and the radial needle bearing end caps swingarm motion is so smooth now, there's absolutely no drag or play felt at all. Oddjob's grease fitting idea is a good one, I'll be doing it soon.
Oddjob:
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.
Kelly E:
--- Quote from: Oddjob on April 15, 2022, 09:00:31 PM ---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.
--- End quote ---
Nope, it's a early 74' 550 #449 and it came with the grease fittings on the end of the bolt.
Trigger:
--- Quote from: Oddjob on April 15, 2022, 02:15:29 PM ---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.
--- End quote ---
There are a couple of problems with the needle roller system. First is a needle bearing was designed to spin and not to just move back and forth. I have taken lots of these apart with notching problems and found the the needles in the bearings have gone flat, no problem you may think just get some new bearings. But, the bearings are a weird size and are under licence and are only available in the kit :o I have a number of shafts in good condition ( which never seem to wear ) from the kits but, can not get the bearings.
The second problem is the end caps are a two part turn system that need to be packed with grease. The road grit gets in them so, it is best to remove them once a year , clean them out and repack with grease again ;)
Lobo:
An interesting observation Trig wrt that the bearing doesn’t actually spin, but rather ‘rocks’.
That said, I note my MotoGuzzi rear suspension (mono shock) uses needle rollers, which barring insufficient factory grease seem to be reliable enough once ‘properly’ lubed with a water resistant grease. (the unit is directly in line with the rear wheel, not good)
The bike has a couple of Achilles Heels, but this isn’t one of them. My guess is it boils down to quality of maintenance.
As an aside, would the ‘rock’ logic not also apply to steering head (ball) bearings if it were correct?
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