Quick Bearing Question

[Yorick]

Took all the shock mountings apart to grease everything. Nice clean bushes and simple caged roller bearings for 2 of the bushes. But the third was different. When I put my finger in to apply grease, about 5 of the roller pins came out. I put them back in and the bush fits snugly but it all makes me uneasy. Never seen one like this without the pins held in place

Is it safe to just put it back ?

This is the new bearing



This is the bearing in situ

1.jpg (1.12 MiB) Viewed 1006 times

This is the swingarm bearing.

2.jpg (305.78 KiB) Viewed 1006 times

Shock bearing. This also looks like loose pins

3.jpg (574.89 KiB) Viewed 1006 times

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Looking at the new one, it looks like to rollers aren't held in by anything, what bike is it for and how difficult is it to ask a dealer?

[Yorick]

Looking at the new one, it looks like to rollers aren't held in by anything, what bike is it for and how difficult is it to ask a dealer?

It's the GSXR1000 .

[mangocrazy]

They're known as 'full complement' bearings and Aprilia use them on the Falco/Mille linkages. Ideally you'd farkle them all out with a screwdriver or some such, clean all the bearing rollers and the housing, pack with new grease and painstakingly put them all back in and worry that you'd lost one (you hadn't). Once you're that far into the job you might as well do it proper, like...

[mangocrazy]

They're a bearing type that is ideal for suspension linkages/shocks as they are very good for heavy loads but low speeds, whereas standard needle rollers are designed for higher speeds but lighter loads.

[Yorick]

They're known as 'full complement' bearings and Aprilia use them on the Falco/Mille linkages. Ideally you'd farkle them all out with a screwdriver or some such, clean all the bearing rollers and the housing, pack with new grease and painstakingly put them all back in and worry that you'd lost one (you hadn't). Once you're that far into the job you might as well do it proper, like...

If it was a loose bit I'd do it on the bench. But can't undo this bit easily but I'll have a go.

Glad to know I'm not going daft (er)

Thanks

[mangocrazy]

Just take your time, make sure you've got all the rollers out of the bearing and put them somewhere they can't roll away from. Then give them (and the bearing housing) a good clean with brake cleaner or some such. Do one bearing at a time so you know which rollers came out of which housing, and the rollers will be very slightly loose (i.e. not jam-packed) in the housing when you replace them.

Top tip is to slather the (cleaned) housing in grease so the little rollers stick to it when you put them back in.

[Yorick]

Do the bearings housing push out of its location ? Or do you sort of build them in situ ?

[mangocrazy]

The housing can be pressed out, but I don't think that's what you were asking. When I re-grease mine I grease the inside of the housing well, then add the rollers back in one by one and just slide them up towards the top, adding bearings in at the bottom. If there's enough grease all round the housing the rollers will stay in place as long as you're steady moving them upwards. It's a bit of an exercise in patience (which I'm not blessed with). Before you put the pin back in, run your finger gently round the rollers, making sure they're all seated otherwise there's a danger of pushing some of them out as you introduce the pin.

[Ant]

The pins are held in place by what they'll be rolling against. At the moment they can only come out because there's nothing going through the inside.

[Yorick]

Huge thanks to @mangocrazy . I am a competent mechanic, but if I'm not sure what's going on, my anxiety kicks in a stops me doing anything. If I'd needed the bike tmrw, I'd have been in a mess. But sat down and had a sarnie and went back to the man cave.

The pins came out as expected and I cleaned them all up.

Refitting was a pain as it all had to be done by my left hand due to the position. Even more fun in latex gloves. Lots of grease everywhere kept it all in place. Grease was everywhere when I'd finished. Just noticed grease on my foot and ankle

All done now and quite enjoyed it. Will be trying the new tyre in the next few days

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

That rear suspension linkage is an interesting set up.

[Yorick]

That rear suspension linkage is an interesting set up.

I think it's similar to my previous ones.

[mangocrazy]

That rear suspension linkage is an interesting set up.

I think it's similar to my previous ones.

It's very similar to the linkage on my Falco. Glad it all worked out OK in the end. Taking it slowly and having a 'think and drink' break is always a good idea.

[MrLongbeard]

They're known as 'full complement' bearings and Aprilia use them on the Falco/Mille linkages.

What he said, Triumph use 'em too for their suspension / drop linkage

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

That rear suspension linkage is an interesting set up.

I think it's similar to my previous ones.

Probably is, I've not seen one like it before, my Suzuki has the conventional dog bones and rocker arm set up, like my 35 year old FZ750, I've not seen that arrangement before.

[Yorick]

That rear suspension linkage is an interesting set up.

I think it's similar to my previous ones.

Probably is, I've not seen one like it before, my Suzuki has the conventional dog bones and rocker arm set up, like my 35 year old FZ750, I've not seen that arrangement before.

I sat and looked at it, but still not sure how it works

[v8-powered]

Reminds me that I need to grease the bearings and linkage on my Triumph over the winter! Bit cold here at the moment.....

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I think it's similar to my previous ones.

Probably is, I've not seen one like it before, my Suzuki has the conventional dog bones and rocker arm set up, like my 35 year old FZ750, I've not seen that arrangement before.

I sat and looked at it, but still not sure how it works

I'm glad I'm not the only one, I think as the swingarm goes up the triangular plates must rotate anti clockwise, compressing the suspension

[mangocrazy]

Aprilia have been using that design since the last millenium...