'93 GS swingarm installation help

[Rbike]

I can't find a good write up in my lousy manual about setting up the swingarm. I pulled it off and need to put it back on. So...

What is the proper method for installing the pivot pins? Preload? Final setting? Lock nut torque? Centering the swingarm?

Thanks in advance...it's been quite a few years since I had a swingarm off.

[GSTom]

I can't find a good write up in my lousy manual about setting up the swingarm. I pulled it off and need to put it back on. So...

What is the proper method for installing the pivot pins? Preload? Final setting? Lock nut torque? Centering the swingarm?

Thanks in advance...it's been quite a few years since I had a swingarm off.

I just re-installed mine on my 92 GS after doing a clutch spline lube and rear transmission seal replacement. I followed my Haynes manual and also the steps outlined in the recent article by Paul Glaves in the ON on the paralever rear end. I am at work and don't have which issue the article was in, but seems like it was within the past year. It was easy to follow the steps outlined in the article.
I used the torque settings from my Haynes manual to tighten everything.
The worst part was installing a new (Stiff rubber) boot between the transmission and swingarm

PS: Note to new Media Department: How about posting past technical articles online, or at least an index?

[Rbike]

I'll dig through the ON back issues tonight. I always seem to own the year of bike or car that only fits into the added section at the rear of a manual. That section sends me around the manual trying to find info...and I don't see why the frame is wider than the swingarm. So I'm really not sure about alignment and torque.

[paulfinney2]

One effective way to center the swingarm is to use two sets of feeler guages, at equal settings, left in the swingarm while alternating tightening each side.

[Rbike]

I still can't come up with a way to squeeze the frame together with the pins in the swingarm. Should I use clamps to squeeze the frame before starting the pins?

[Stuff2C]

www.airheads.org

tech tips...more info than you can shake a wrench at!

http://www.airheads.org/content/view/226/49/

[AntonLargiader]

I still can't come up with a way to squeeze the frame together with the pins in the swingarm. Should I use clamps to squeeze the frame before starting the pins?
I have no idea what you're referring to here.

[GSTom]

I still can't come up with a way to squeeze the frame together with the pins in the swingarm. Should I use clamps to squeeze the frame before starting the pins?

Rbike, There will not be a real close fit between the frame and swingarm when you get it centered. I used a steel rule to measure the gap on both sides as I was tightening the pins, and it was in the neighborhood of 3/8" or so if I remember correctly (it was two weeks ago). I was surprised it was so much, but the swingarm centered up and I torqued the pins to the specified amount, so I assume that is the normal gap. I wished at the time that I had measured the gap before removing the swing arm.

Does anyone out there with more experience have a different thought on the correct amount of gap? This was my first time, so I am no pro.

[sgborgstrom]

I don't remember ever seeing a gap specified, just center the swingarm in the space provided.

Steve

[AntonLargiader]

I used a steel rule to measure the gap on both sides as I was tightening the pins, and it was in the neighborhood of 3/8" or so ...
That's typical. And it's not something that needs to be set to within 0.1mm. Just center it. I do it using an allen wrench as a feeler gauge. If you're too far off one way or another the driveshaft could tap the inside of the swingarm (which isn't a big deal, but will lead to damage if left that way).

[Rbike]

Thanks everrybody for stepping up to help. I ended up doing an Airhead thing and called another airhead that has a GS. He happily walked out to his garage and told me that there will be a gap between the swingarm and frame...just as you all have (yall've) posted here. Sorry I didn't get back to post this sooner, but you know how once you solve a problem - it goes away.

So I just shouuldn't have left it laying apart for a month. But thanks again for everyone pitching in in typical Airhead fashion.

Ride safe!