linkage photo required please

[fazer6868]

hi

can anyone help please.

I have replaced some suspension linkage bushes on my gen1 but something is wrong as there is still lots of movement that definitely should not be there.

The guilty area is the bit where the lower dogbone connects to the 3 point ' triangle ' as i call it ( sorry i know it's not very technical ).

This is not the bit where the bottom of the shock connects up or the forward upper bit that connects to the frame but the lowest/fattest bit as described above.

I have put in new bearings and spacers ( metal tube) and it looks ok as up against the workshop manual picture but there is upwards movement in the rear wheel , i.e. you can move the rear wheel up and down and see the head of the long bolt that goes through the area in question actually moving, which cannot be right!

If anybody can supply a photo of this area of the bike that would help so as i can check it to mine.

Many thanks

[devilsyam]

[Falcon 269]

Could be wear in the bolt itself.

However, even with all new bearings and spacer collars, it's still common to have around 1mm of vertical movement.  One way to reduce it is to slacken all the bolts slightly, let the bike down onto the suspension (ie, on sidestand) and then tighten the bolts again.

Replace on the centrestand and do the final torque-up.

[devilsyam]

if i recall we had this conversation mike back in 03 i wasn't happy then and changed the bolt only to find was still the same i then had a correct one machined  and 3 bikes on aint bothered mr yam musta known bout it lol

[Falcon 269]

Better memory than me, Luke.   But yes, I remember now you mention it.

[fazer6868]

done everything suggested including buying a new bolt and nothing has changed.

beginning to think problem maybe in swinging arm as i recently greased this.

according to the manual i believe the s/arm has bearings? could these have worn?

how do you totally remove the s/arm as i have no knowledge or experience of this area of the bike?

Thanks as ever

[squitbit]

Try taking it back to bits and stuffing as much grease in there as you can, mine's got play, it's no big deal, passes MOT with just an advisory.

[Falcon 269]

Wear in the swingarm bearings would give you lateral movement. 

Vertical movement in the linkage is common and although the specs say 1mm max, in reality most have more. 

Even when I changed all the bearings, collars and bolts I still had more than 1mm movement in mine and I read something by a suspension specialist shop only recently which reckons this is a common Yamaha issue.

Best way to minimize it is to set the bike on the sidestand to get weight on the wheel before torqueing everything up.

[fazer6868]

thanks all for your input.

Orwell m/c's in Ipswich sorted it for me ( they are excellent by the way) as it was a loose nut on the lower dogbone part of the linkage.

I had checked and re-checked this and can only put it down to trying to tighten with one hand  whilst holding a spanner on the other end with the other hand whilst laying on the garage floor using my weak shoulder strength ( bike accident ) to tighten.

Next time i will eat a tin of spinach first!!

[pinkbikerfzs1]

I agree, had the same problem, just make sure there's plenty of grease in the bearings, maybe someone will find a shop willing to make up some spacer/sleeves a tiny bit bigger in diameter that would cure the problem, by taking out the play between the spacers and the bearings, or am I being too fussy?  :lol 

[jackojet]

I found the same when i cleaned and regreased mine, defo tighten everything up on sidestand . For me this virtually eliminated lateral movement.

its also much easier spannering if you take the end can and linkpipe off, you get much better access to the nuts and bolts, you can see better for making sure you are square onto the thin nuts that are used on the dogbones.

[Gnasher]

I think you are referring to the relay arm in any case all of the bearings used throughout the shock/linkage/swing arm should be loaded needle type all are fitted with oil seals did you fit the seals?  There MUST be some play to allow for the grease but once they are packed there should be only the slightest of play at the bearings I mean slight. If you have more as you appear to there is something wrong check the following: -  1. There is no wear to the spacers. 2. The bearings are correctly packed with the correct grease not any grease will do! That they haven't been damaged during fitting.  Did you use quality bearings or crap Chinese copies?  3. The seals are present and not damaged you should have fitted new one's? 4. The bolts/nuts are correctly torqued too loose or tight they will give you play!