lecap
Bachelor Dog
The bad news is that someone at BMW forgot to source decent shaft seals to prevent dirt and water entering the swingarm pivot needle bearings when they build those bikes.
They fitted some sponge seals which they probably had rotting on a shelf since the 1950's :
This results in most of the bikes by now riding on swingarm pivots which are corroded to bits, seized, have play etc. Telltale sign: Squeak squeak...
Interesting enough the needle bearings in the suspension levers and dogbones have proper shaft seals protecting them ???
To make things worse:
Whilst both the needle bearings and the seals are available from BMW (gasket ring 33 177 650 203 and needle sleeve 33 537 650 093) and as generics - the inner races (bush bearing 33 177 650 205) aren't.
Apparently not even BMW in Germany has stock of the bush, seem to be on back order for months.
Now to the good news:
I will have swingarm pivot bearing kits available soon.
They consist of four generic needle sleeves, four shaft seals and two custom made bearing bushes. Properly engineered, machined from quality steel, hardened & tempered & precision ground.
I have not finalised the price yet but the kit will be not only longerr lasting (thanks to the shaft seals) but also cheaper than the original parts without any compromise in quality.
And they will be available in about two weeks :cheers:
They fitted some sponge seals which they probably had rotting on a shelf since the 1950's :
This results in most of the bikes by now riding on swingarm pivots which are corroded to bits, seized, have play etc. Telltale sign: Squeak squeak...
Interesting enough the needle bearings in the suspension levers and dogbones have proper shaft seals protecting them ???
To make things worse:
Whilst both the needle bearings and the seals are available from BMW (gasket ring 33 177 650 203 and needle sleeve 33 537 650 093) and as generics - the inner races (bush bearing 33 177 650 205) aren't.
Apparently not even BMW in Germany has stock of the bush, seem to be on back order for months.
Now to the good news:
I will have swingarm pivot bearing kits available soon.
They consist of four generic needle sleeves, four shaft seals and two custom made bearing bushes. Properly engineered, machined from quality steel, hardened & tempered & precision ground.
I have not finalised the price yet but the kit will be not only longerr lasting (thanks to the shaft seals) but also cheaper than the original parts without any compromise in quality.
And they will be available in about two weeks :cheers:
