RSV Swinger hhahaaah!

[Greg]

Bollocks.

I've had the RSV swinger teasing me from its hook on the wall for the last few months, so today I decided to show it who's boss.

However, removal of the Falco item has not been uneventful. I'd managed to get the shock links an bone out, and following Mr Blinkey's excellent narrative he describes loosening the exhaust studs and removing two of the three to allow the down pipe sufficient slack to extract the arm. As no mention of this was made in the Falco manual I wondered if it was feasible to do without removing the down pipe.

I don't think it is.

Arse.

Having suspended the bike on the £39.99 Lidl engine hoist and having partially dismantled the swing arm I need to make up a new Plan B.


*Later*


So - plan B involved pulling the swing arm pivot bolt and putting a bar through the hole to let me use axle stands to support the bike while I dropped it again. Once it was stable I could drop the ramp (until now it was on full up!) to let me get the tank off, but of course I'd filled up yesterday so needed to find receptacles for nearly 4 gallons of fuel.

Fuel decanted I lifted the tank, separated the quick link, undid the rear tank bracket and unplugged the cable to the fuel pump. Then the banjo bolt - but there was still fuel sloshing around in the bottom of the tank - much jiggling later I had removed another couple of litres of fuel but still needed to get that banjo undone... Would it have been better to undo the top end? I took the bottom bolt out while the tank was tilted over - thankfully no spillage to piss the Mrs off (we have an adjoined garage so smells in there seep into the house..)

With the fuel tank off I took the battery off to get to the bolt heads securing the little mud flap - one was so rusted that I broke the end of my key in it - arse again. After trying to pick the end out of the hex I lost patience and just pulled the fucker off. Job jobbed.

I set to loosening the manifold nuts - yes they are awkward but eventually all three were loose. I still couldn't jiggle the swing arm cross member out so throwing caution to the wind I completely de-nutted the manifold and pulled the down pipe off.

With the down pipe off the swing arm just fell out.

That's where we are right now. Slightly pissed off that it's been such an arseache and that once more my garage looks like a blind man's been looking for the 8mm spanner he lost there 7 years ago.

Round two tomorrow.

G

[Tipper2]

Well Done Sir and keep going!

These things are an absolute ball-ache to work on. Mine had been used as a hack and stood for years. Everything I touched snapped, rounded or was generally f*cked.

I've just tidied-up a 1991 FZR1000 exup with twice the miles which had been used year-round and it's an absolute joy in comparison. The only things that sheared were two fairing mount bolts. All the bearings were shagged as expected but the majority of work was cosmetic.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Falco but if I'd known how badly British winter roads kill them I wouldn't have gone near it and bought another VTR.

Or not

[blinkey501]

Bollocks.

I've had the RSV swinger teasing me from its hook on the wall for the last few months, so today I decided to show it who's boss.

However, removal of the Falco item has not been uneventful. I'd managed to get the shock links an bone out, and following Mr Blinkey's excellent narrative he describes loosening the exhaust studs and removing two of the three to allow the down pipe sufficient slack to extract the arm. As no mention of this was made in the Falco manual I wondered if it was feasible to do without removing the down pipe.

I don't think it is.

Arse.

Having suspended the bike on the £39.99 Lidl engine hoist and having partially dismantled the swing arm I need to make up a new Plan B.


*Later*


So - plan B involved pulling the swing arm pivot bolt and putting a bar through the hole to let me use axle stands to support the bike while I dropped it again. Once it was stable I could drop the ramp (until now it was on full up!) to let me get the tank off, but of course I'd filled up yesterday so needed to find receptacles for nearly 4 gallons of fuel.

Fuel decanted I lifted the tank, separated the quick link, undid the rear tank bracket and unplugged the cable to the fuel pump. Then the banjo bolt - but there was still fuel sloshing around in the bottom of the tank - much jiggling later I had removed another couple of litres of fuel but still needed to get that banjo undone... Would it have been better to undo the top end? I took the bottom bolt out while the tank was tilted over - thankfully no spillage to piss the Mrs off (we have an adjoined garage so smells in there seep into the house..)

With the fuel tank off I took the battery off to get to the bolt heads securing the little mud flap - one was so rusted that I broke the end of my key in it - arse again. After trying to pick the end out of the hex I lost patience and just pulled the fucker off. Job jobbed.

I set to loosening the manifold nuts - yes they are awkward but eventually all three were loose. I still couldn't jiggle the swing arm cross member out so throwing caution to the wind I completely de-nutted the manifold and pulled the down pipe off.

With the down pipe off the swing arm just fell out.

That's where we are right now. Slightly pissed off that it's been such an arseache and that once more my garage looks like a blind man's been looking for the 8mm spanner he lost there 7 years ago.

Round two tomorrow.

G

The swing arm will come out with the two bottom nuts removed.

The down pipe needs slightly prying back. There is sufficient flex to allow this, and not allow bending of the flange that bolts to the engine?

Good luck getting the top nut back on though fella, having done a few jobs on swing arms on falco's and mille's it sort of reminds me of working on old mini's.


I adopted this method after dropping the top nut half a dozen times on the first swing arm change/service.


I hope you get it sorted Greg.

[Falcopops]

I replaced a swing arm last year and got away with using a knuckle joint and extension bars to loosen the nuts, but not remove them. As Blinkey says it'll come out with a bit of persuasion and wiggling.

Do yourself a favour and leave the rear header a bit loose to help get the mid-section located with the minimum of cursing.

[Greg]

Cheers guys ..

I'll nip down to my local Thai restaurant and get one of the lady(boy)s with the tiny hands to put the nuts back...

Tipper - don't get me started on FZRs .. I have a Genesis that looked ok-ish on the outside but that was complete shite on the inside. It's still in abut 6 Tesco crates now. Streetfighter fodder I think.

[Dalemac]

Pro tip - When you put it all back together, put the bolts into the dogbone plates from the other side.

This makes it a little easier the next time around, as you can completely remove the dogbone and linkages without having to have already moved/removed the exhaust header.

This them makes it easier to get to the rear header as you have more space to play with.

[Falco Frank]

I keep looking at a newer style (angular) swinging arm as I keep getting ribbed with 'only' having the OEM item...

Blinkey has convinced me NOT to change.

Time for a new lid then LOL!

Cheers

[Greg]

Well, Plan C has been initiated - which is "put the fucker back as it was..."

The RSV swinger's needle bearing was/is/remains rusted/seized/fubarred and is at this moment in time immovable.

I have ordered a new caged roller bearing and a handful of the dog bone bearings, but until I can persuade the needle bearing out of its deathbed the RSV swinger is back on hold as I need the bike for the Welsh Rally at the weekend...

Ah well. At least the Falco swing arm bearings are lovely and greasy. I think that it had been looked after quite well by the PO or his 'man'.

Les mots du jour: "If it aint broke, don't 'fix' it."

[blinkey501]

I keep looking at a newer style (angular) swinging arm as I keep getting ribbed with 'only' having the OEM item...

Blinkey has convinced me NOT to change.

Time for a new lid then LOL!

Cheers

If you are referring to the gen2 swingarm.
You will need to move your battery under the rear seat and extend the cables.
The battery holder has to be removed and plated over to accept the new arm.

[blinkey501]

Cheers guys ..

I'll nip down to my local Thai restaurant and get one of the lady(boy)s with the tiny hands to put my nuts back...

Sounds like a fun restaurant.
Enjoy

[Greg]

I throw 'em and just wait for someone to knock 'em back ..