
Mille swingarm swap
Moderators: Aladinsaneuk, MartDude, D-Rider, Moderators
Re: Mille swingarm swap
Hi SimonTwinNut wrote:I'm looking to do the swingarm swap next weekend as I've now managed to source one in reasonable nick and have a few Q's:
1. I'm looking to borrow a castle-nut tool is there anyone out there who'd be prepared to lend me one?
Easiest way for the castle nut tool is to go to Halfords or a cycle shop and buy a Shimano Freewheel Tool

I reckon Revs Racing would be able to sort you out -he refurbed my Ohlins forks a few weeks ago and fitted new springs.TwinNut wrote: 2. The spring on the Mille shock has corroded a little after it's lengthy stint outside so I'd like a new spring fitted, can someone recommend somewhere that can supply and fit a new Ohlins spring at a reasonable price and speed?
http://www.revsracing.co.uk/
I had to buy a new socket for the non-castle nut end of the swinger pivot - it was a size I didn't have 26 or 27mm - I don't rememberTwinNut wrote: 3. I've got a set of 3/8" extensions with a universal joint but is there anything else I should know.......![]()
Need more information.TwinNut wrote: 4. I've got a Mille Ohlins fitted (with ride height adjustment, don't know the number) and can't remember which triangles/dogbone I need to suit the Mille arm. This is a photo of what's currently fitted, can you anyone shed some light on this?
What year bike is your Ohlins from?
It looks like they started fitting Ohlins on the MilleR from 2000. The parts book shows the same linkages as per the Falco for that year (part AP8135916).
From 2001 onwards they use a different linkage (part AP8146409). Guess the Ohlins are different too (didn't check the part numbers but I guess it will be sprung and damped differently.
You need the same linkage when used on a Falco as the shock used on the Mille - it doesn't matter which of the Falco and (pre04) Mille swingers are on there - they give basically the same geometry.
The one in the picture is a Falco/pre2001-Mille Linkage.
Do a bit of searching and you'll find plenty of info on the forum.
PM me your email addy and I'll send you the very helpful guide that was on C-Plus' website before that disappeared into history (I've most of the content in pdf form)
BTW - I'm presuming you've changed the bearings and seals in the swinger? It's up to you whether you do but personally I wouldn't go through the hassle of changing the swinger without doing this.
I posted up the part numbers of the actual bearings so that they can be sourced from bearing suppliers at better prices than from Aprilia. A search will find that post.
The only difficult ones to get are the "full compliment" bearings for the linkages. Maybe if yours are in good nick, you only need to repack them.
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein
-- Albert Einstein
The Shimano tool costs less than a fiver .... by the time someone's posted one to you and you've sent it back, there's not much to be saved IMHO.
Without more to go on re the shock, I can't tell you which linkages are the ones - however if you look on the AF1 falco forum, there's a sticky there that might help.
The bearings weren't too bad to fit but getting the old ones out took some effort. I haven't got a suitable puller so I attacked them with a dremel type of thing and cut them out.
Without more to go on re the shock, I can't tell you which linkages are the ones - however if you look on the AF1 falco forum, there's a sticky there that might help.
The bearings weren't too bad to fit but getting the old ones out took some effort. I haven't got a suitable puller so I attacked them with a dremel type of thing and cut them out.
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein
-- Albert Einstein
I've got a .pdf of what was posted up on C-Plus' site (but is no longer). It's a good guide.dyzio wrote:IF you are doing the swingarm swap, could you please (please, please) take a few pictures as a step by step instruction?
Or maybe someone has seen something like it? I couldn't find it :/
Cheers
send me your e-mail address and I'll send it to you.
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein
-- Albert Einstein
- Aladinsaneuk
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Well, yes, would not have a problem in lending mine - just seemed by the time i'd found it, parcelled it up, found time to take it to a post office and then posted it with no certainty of it getting there in time for the weekend, it might be easier and more reliable to pop in to your local cycle shop and pick one up for very little cash.
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein
-- Albert Einstein
I'm just wondering if we're seeing things differently due to a misunderstanding over what you mean by
Had a "debate" with the Mrs ages ago .... in the end I lost the will to "discuss" this any more and settled on her interpretation as what must be correct.
She was adamant that "next weekend" is the next one to arrive - i.e the day after tomorrow. If you've ever experienced Coventry's post you'll understand why I was of the view that posting tomorrow (which is the earliest I could do this) would leave an extremely great risk that the tool would not get there until next week .... which would be too late .....
..... however, it's just occurred to me that you may have been working under my old understanding of what is "next weekend" before that time I was "corrected".
I used to think that the weekend just about to happen is "this weekend" with the following one being "next weekend".
Now I'm just totally confused.
Which weekend are you aiming to do the swap?
If it's not the one that's coming the day after tomorrow then, had I understood that, sending it would have been more realistic?
If it is the weekend that's over a week away, I am quite happy to send you mine if you can cancel the ebay one.
Sorry if I've misunderstood.
I'm looking to do the swingarm swap next weekend
Had a "debate" with the Mrs ages ago .... in the end I lost the will to "discuss" this any more and settled on her interpretation as what must be correct.
She was adamant that "next weekend" is the next one to arrive - i.e the day after tomorrow. If you've ever experienced Coventry's post you'll understand why I was of the view that posting tomorrow (which is the earliest I could do this) would leave an extremely great risk that the tool would not get there until next week .... which would be too late .....
..... however, it's just occurred to me that you may have been working under my old understanding of what is "next weekend" before that time I was "corrected".
I used to think that the weekend just about to happen is "this weekend" with the following one being "next weekend".
Now I'm just totally confused.
Which weekend are you aiming to do the swap?
If it's not the one that's coming the day after tomorrow then, had I understood that, sending it would have been more realistic?
If it is the weekend that's over a week away, I am quite happy to send you mine if you can cancel the ebay one.
Sorry if I've misunderstood.
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein
-- Albert Einstein
- mangocrazy
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Re: Mille swingarm swap
Hi Simon,TwinNut wrote:4. I've got a Mille Ohlins fitted (with ride height adjustment, don't know the number) and can't remember which triangles/dogbone I need to suit the Mille arm. This is a photo of what's currently fitted, can you anyone shed some light on this?
If you're in a position to measure the distance between the bolts on the triangles and the length of the dogbone (in which case you'll probably be lying on the floor), then this post tells you what you've got:
http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/show ... stcount=17
To me, it looks like you have the Falco triangles and dogbone. The distances between the mounting points on the triangle appear pretty much equidistant, which points to Falco triangles. And the RSV dogbone is much longer than the Falco one, so this again points to the Falco dogbone.
My setup has RSV 2003 triangles, dogbone and Ohlins shock, and the dogbone actually rubs on the NWS hugger, it's that much longer than the Falco item.
So it may well be that you have one of the rare Ohlins shocks made to fit the early 1998-2000 RSVs. I presume that the ride and handling is what you'd expect? If so, it sounds like you can just swap over the swingers and won't need to change anything else. As far as I was aware, as long as the triangles, dogbone and shock are all swapped over as a matched set, then you're good to go, irrespective of swingarm.
However please don't just take my word for it...
Last edited by mangocrazy on Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.