Shock Linkage Wear - Been there? Read this...

[The Fixer]

Out in the garage today pulling the rear Sachs getting reading for the Ohlins coming back from Traxxion Dynamics. (More on that later...) Naturally I did the obligatory search here to prepare and realized that I'd be foolish not to check the linkage bearings while I was in there. I was glad to find the needles all there and still with an amount of red grease and in good shape...at least on the rear. Where the dogbone mounts to the swingarm was a different story. There is a strange lateral wear mark on the side of the right side triangular linkage plate ( the manual calls it a "double connecting rod" ) So how much lateral play is there supposed to be on this linkage? When it's bolted up and torqued there must be at least 3/16" there. I'm suspecting that the bearing is worn enough to allow that bearing to twist and create the rubbing. It looks like the bottom of the race is distorted. Strange thing is that the bearings all felt fine. No marks on the inner spacer...the bearings felt good. Anybody else been here before? Was in a rush today with it...gotta spend more time there tomorrow and look at the parts fische. Isn't there supposed to be a seal there? I'm at just over 20k, BTW.
appy polly loggies for the shite photos...

[kzmille]

The lateral play is normal as is the rubbing on the plate but the lack of seals is not. There should be a seal outboard of the bearings on the swing arm boss and on the dog bone.

I made some shims for my Mille to take up the slop but I don't know if they will fit the Futura.

[windy]

The lateral play is normal as is the rubbing on the plate but the lack of seals is not. There should be a seal outboard of the bearings on the swing arm boss and on the dog bone.

I made some shims for my Mille to take up the slop but I don't know if they will fit the Futura.

for kz's shims...

windy

[Hansb]

O-rings works fine as seals here. Used that on my Futuras.

[bullit in head]

just like to say that when I pulled mine last year ,the wear on the plates were exactly the same...
but that said the needle bearings were seized and red with rust, when putting it bact together I didnt see or notice any rubbing of the plates when all back in one piece...I put it down to the worn and siezed bearings, oh this was at about 40K miles.


bullit

[The Fixer]

If you look at that first photo there is actually a seal there. You'll also notice at about the 4 O'clock position it doesn't look very round, does it? Well apparently they where having a tough time at the factory that day. As soon as I went to pick the seal out it became obvious. There is an imperfection on the swingarm exactly where the seal seats. It looks like a welding blob. (see photo) When they tried to seat the seal the blob prevented it and distorted the seal. I guess standards were low at the factory that day. The strange wear on the side of the plate was caused by the seal rubbing on it. This is all actually good news since all I need to do is dremel down that imperfection and get a new seal.
Think I can get this warrantied?

[RAS]

When i did mine a couple months ago, I sat there and wondered how all that stuff stays centered. My side plates had no wear then. Now that it's all cleaned, relubed(and back together), mine will likely shift off-center and rub. Dang

Those shims are perfect.

[Powerful Pierre]

One of my sideplates has the same wear pattern......at least its good to know its not out the ordinary....I've bought a pair of new plates and might take a look at the shimming option when re-assembling.

Good info on here as always!