Help installing swingarm boot.

[redkats]

Anyone have any tips on installing the rubber boot between the transmission, and the swingarm. I've done it before but this one is giving me fits. Its on a 92 R100GS. Its a new boot, maybe thats the reason its so stubborn.

[Yarddog]

Might have to remove or move back the swingarm...

[AnnapolisAirhead]

You need either an exorcism to remove all bad spirits or 2mm of slack in the band. Its just not an easy or pleasant job. Neither are generally available. Takes a lot of patience.

I used dental floss and a pair of hemostats. The boots is fairly robust, but the clamps are simply too short IMO. Still, with a bit of patience, exhaustion of your inventory of swear words (and the invention of new ones), it can be done.

Just keep chanting: I like bikes. I like bikes. I like bikes. I like @#$%@%$^@ bikes.

[redkats]

Thanks,what is the dental floss used for?

[EBEEBY]

If you're wrestling that boot in anything less than 100F weather, you might want to try using a heat gun (or hair dryer) to warm it up and make it a little less unfriendly.

[beemerguru]

If the swing arm was/is completely off, attach the boot to the swing arm first. Orient the boot with the seam vertically. Strap it down.

Slide the swing arm into position and insert pins. Do NOT attach shock..use strap to hold up rear end so that swing arm is parallel to tranny.

Install 4 drive shaft bolts.

Notice the new boot is easier to slide onto the tranny when the drive shaft is straight on. I've had cases where the new boot literally slid on by itself.

[redkats]

Thanks to all for the advice. Got it on this afternoon. Had to call a fellow Airhead. We removed the battery and battery box, plus the clutch actuating arm, then we could get at it from both sides. Also used some heat. It still was not easy.

[BMWRich58]

Thanks to all for the advice. Got it on this afternoon. Had to call a fellow Airhead. We removed the battery and battery box, plus the clutch actuating arm, then we could get at it from both sides. Also used some heat. It still was not easy.

Glad you got it done but as was explained earlier...disconnect the rear shock from the final and support the swing arm up in a horizontal position.

EZ-PeeZie....a 5 minute job...add 10 more if your tightening up the "4" drive shaft bolts

[GRAHAMM]

The rear is even more fun... OMG I must have attempted it 12 times over 2 days before it finally got on there.... It was so unpleasant that I seem to have forgotten the trick

[MCrenshaw]

A tip I learned is to take one of the air box clips. Insert it under the rubber boot and kind of "shoehorn" the rubber boot over the lip of the tranny.

[moosehead]

Seems you got all the answers...I like to drop them in a pot of very hot water first to soften them up. And having the swingarm stright on by removing rear shock and tying swingarm up is the key for easy alignment!

Hey, the air box clip is a great idea! Got to replace my rear boot this spring...the boot fit doesn't bother me its getting the bloody rear drive back on..O that can be a bugger at the best of times! Buddy showed me his sock/rag trick to keeping the rear u-joint stable...I'll have a go at it that way this time...maybe less than 2 hrs?? ha ha

Good luck