Oiling the swingarm bushing.

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Oilite bushings work for years with minimal lubrication in all types of applications from light duty in alternators to locomotive and marine drive systems.

The issue that it seems to me is often ignored in so many of these "corrections" is that these are 50 year old machines yet we act like something was wrong in their design because a 50 year old swingarm (or whatever) has play/the spindle is rusted. IT'S FIFTY YEARS OLD! Plus, many of these bikes have simply sat somewhere and that's the worst thing for any mechanical part. And we further ignore the fact that many people put the wrong lubricant in because they "knew better" than the designers. AND THEN, we invent all sorts of "solutions" to a problem that only occurred because of improper maintenance in the first place. Bizarre! :rolleyes:
 
MexicoMike said:
"


Oilite bushings work for years with minimal lubrication in all types of applications from light duty in alternators to locomotive and marine drive systems.

The issue that it seems to me is often ignored in so many of these "corrections" is that these are 50 year old machines yet we act like something was wrong in their design because a 50 year old swingarm (or whatever) has play/the spindle is rusted. IT'S FIFTY YEARS OLD! Plus, many of these bikes have simply sat somewhere and that's the worst thing for any mechanical part. And we further ignore the fact that many people put the wrong lubricant in because they "knew better" than the designers. AND THEN, we invent all sorts of "solutions" to a problem that only occurred because of improper maintenance in the first place. Bizarre! :rolleyes:
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In my bike the pin was around 12 years old
It's a 5 thou over size I bought from RGMs
I'd guess I neglected to oil the the swing arm pin for 2 years
In that time the drive side of the pin rusted
I had been using 140 oil filling through the centre bolt although since fitting the remote oil feed I've been using 90 wt
This works for me
 
So what 140 oil, available in USA, would be best ?
I don't think I have purchased recently.
small quantity container.



LubeChartSwingarm.jpg
 
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People are likely to freak out at this, but I use John Deere corn head grease in mine (go ahead - Google it). It works. How can I tell? It leaks out past the top hat O-rings. In fact, it leaks out everywhere!! Slightest bit of heat liquifies it, and it works like 140 weight.

Easy to find, relatively inexpensive and easy to use. I have a small grease gun that I load up with just enough to fill the cavity - put any more in and it will leak out of the grease gun too - LOL. Push the lever slowly with one finger and stop when you get the slightest amount of resistance. Not a job for the ham-fisted.

Works for me. FWIW.
 
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FWIW, standard Oilite bushings are impregnated with 20/30 wt engine oil at the factory. The primary purpose of higher viscosity oil in this application is most likely because it leaks slower! :)
 
For those of you that have installed swingarm spindle clamps I'd consider loosening them prior to adding your favorite lubricant to the spindle housing.

Best
 
RoadScholar said:
For those of you that have installed swingarm spindle clamps I'd consider loosening them prior to adding your favorite lubricant to the spindle housing.

Best
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Why?
I thought the oil travelled along the bore of the pin and out of the bleed holes into the bushes?
Also don't forget when people fit those clamps they drill 2 holes in the cradle tube
Surely the oil would run out even quicker with them slackened off?
Cheers
 
baz said:
Why?
I thought the oil travelled along the bore of the pin and out of the bleed holes into the bushes?
Also don't forget when people fit those clamps they drill 2 holes in the cradle tube
Surely the oil would run out even quicker with them slackened off?
Cheers
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The clamps push the spindle against the bushes, if you slack the clamps the oil is more likely to get between the spindle and the bushes, if it leaks out so much the better; at least you will have some empirical evidence of the level, no?

Best.
 
RoadScholar said:
The clamps push the spindle against the bushes, if you slack the clamps the oil is more likely to get between the spindle and the bushes, if it leaks out so much the better; at least you will have some empirical evidence of the level, no?

Best.
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The clamps push the pin against the gearbox tube not the bushes
 
RoadScholar said:
the oil is more likely to get between the spindle and the bushes,
Click to expand...

I've lost count of how many times it has been said in this thread and others that oil does not have to be fed directly to the bearing surfaces as the lubricant is held within the porous structure of the Oilite bush.


"Oilite is a metallic sponge with the lubricant stored in the interconnected pores of the bearing. Capillary action holds the lubricant in the bearing and prevents it from dripping. Pressure and/or heat applied to the bearing brings the lubricant to the surface where it forms a protective oil film or optimally a hydrodynamic wedge between the bearing and the shaft."
 
I presume this arrangement requires the felt disc to have a hole through, and the felt plug removed from that side of the swing arm? otherwise, how does the oil find its way to the drive side? I like the idea of oiling the swing arm bearings via the centre bolt, maybe there is a possibility for one of the parts manufacturers to make a special drilled bolt with a spigot on the top for a rubber hose? (for those of us that dont have access to machine tools)
 
daveforty said:
I presume this arrangement requires the felt disc to have a hole through, and the felt plug removed from that side of the swing arm? otherwise, how does the oil find its way to the drive side? I like the idea of oiling the swing arm bearings via the centre bolt, maybe there is a possibility for one of the parts manufacturers to make a special drilled bolt with a spigot on the top for a rubber hose? (for those of us that dont have access to machine tools)
Click to expand...

Yes.
Yes.
The hose goes to the center. It was easier, didn’t weaken the bolt (not saying it’s a problem) and keeps rust away.
Felt, is wicking, by design.
 
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