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Swingarm Maintenance
Posted: 11:54 pm Jan 30 2008
by paceyman
Have an 06 200, did a year of hare scrambles and hear a squeak when I compress the rear suspension. I cannot tell where exactly it's coming from.
Can you provide a link to a post already submitted or give me the skinny on doing the job?
Thanks.
Bill
Posted: 01:05 am Jan 31 2008
by scheckaet
Remove the shock, (easiest way is to loosen the subframe), clean all the bearings really good and put some GREASE in that thing, whatever kaw puts in there (if any) is worthless.
You ought to do the swingarm bearings too, don't want those to seize, they've been know to do that and it'ain't pretty (ask wibby how much fun it is). Some didn't grease them in time and they had to trash the swingarm...
Posted: 06:30 am Jan 31 2008
by Indawoods
Dirt get's under the spring seat and causes that noise. Twist the spring a few times and see if it goes away....
Posted: 08:23 am Jan 31 2008
by Cturbo
If it squeaks, you are late for a grease job :(
Posted: 08:38 am Jan 31 2008
by scheckaet
Inda maybe right too, happened to me right after I grease the whole link, quite puzzling when you don't know about that little trick
Posted: 09:16 am Jan 31 2008
by bradf
I have found the lower shock bearing to be the most in need of attention and noisey. I sprayed it with Break Free and it quieted up, so I took it out and re-lubed it.
Posted: 10:23 pm Jan 31 2008
by paceyman
Sounds like I have a little work to do. First time doing this type of thing.
Thanks for the tips.
Bill
Posted: 10:19 pm Feb 01 2008
by paceyman
Do I need any special tools for this?
Bill
Posted: 10:32 pm Feb 01 2008
by scheckaet
nope, regular tool (socket, open and closed wrenches...) and good GREASE (molybdium or sumthin) you good to go!
Posted: 10:40 am Feb 04 2008
by midlifemoto
i bought an 06 200 as well..took the whole swingarm, shock and linkage apart and greased the heck out of everything....barely had any in there and if I wouldn't have done it i'm sure i'd have paid thru the nose on repairs down the road...it was labor intensive but made me feel good when it was all put back together
Posted: 05:04 pm Feb 04 2008
by canyncarvr
Re: 'Do I need any special tools for this? '
If a question regarding: 'Dirt get's under the spring seat and causes that noise. Twist the spring a few times and see if it goes away....'
No. Put the bike on stand, wet down the spring seat (bottom of shock)..maybe even use some soapy water, grab the spring and twist like Inda said..and 'yur done.
If the question is in regard to suspension bearing maintenance, the answer (as scheckaet said) is still, 'No.'
I've had good luck with BelRay waterproof grease..around $5 a tub at your local bike shop.
I've had good luck with hi falutin' synthetics (Hydrotex), too..but that ran a heckuva' lot more than $5!!!