Swingarm Problem

[chuck]

I'm rebuilding a 1972 125 Six Day. I replaced the swingarm bushings and mounted the swingarm back on the frame. When I tighten the swing arm bolt the swingarm movements get very tight. It feels as if the rubber sleeve on the bushing is dragging. Is this normal. Other vintage bikes I own, the swingarm moves freely.

Thanks for the help.

[TGTech]

Chuck,

   As I remember (it's been 28 years since I assembled a Penton) the way that you are experiencing the swing arm bushings, is normal. You don't have bearings there, thus you are depending on the rubber to flex as the swing arm moves.

   My rememberances of setting up the swing arm, was to put the shocks on the bike without the springs on them and move the swing arm to the midpoint of its travel, and then tighten up the swingarm bolt at that point. That way, you aren't trying to flex the bushings as far as if you would if you tightened the bolt with the shocks at full extension.

Dane Leimbach
Penton Imports Co., Inc.

[Chakka]

Dane is right, there is a posting from last week that discussed how the rubber part of the bushing flexing is what provides the movment for the swingarm. Not the swing arm bolt sliding in the sleeve as you would imagine a bushing would work. My Six Day is the same way.