Stubborn swingarm bolt

[O3RM125]

Got my bike all torn down to clean up the shock threads and set my sag and I thought while doing that I would grease the linkage, I have the linkage all off but the swingarm bolt wont budge :yell: been banging on it all night, tried to fit a two-jaw puller up to it, but wasnt anywhere to grab onto at.

Any tips greatly appreciated :cool:

 

[sixds]

penetrating oil? if its that seized then you will probably have to replace the bearings too. how did the rest of the linkage look?

 

[O3RM125]

The rest looked fine, I just finshed cleaning it all, all the other bolts pushed out by hand, or took just a light bang or two to pop out. Swingarm moves freely now and doesnt have any play that I can feel by hand.

I did shoot a little penetrating lube on each side, not very much, just enough in case it was the frame and not the engine part that is holding it in.. that was this afternoon and it didnt seem to help.. I suppose if really needed I could soak the part where the bolt goes through the engine.

I just got the bike for X-mas so I dunno where and what its been through exactly, it is in clean shape overall, this is the first bolt Ive come across that was any problem.

 

[IndyMX]

You need a bigger hammer!

 

[O3RM125]

You need a bigger hammer!

I think your right actually, it wouldnt hurt for sure ;) and someone big to hold the bike on the stand while I bang away.

Ill save it for another time and just put things back together for now I think.. linkage is all cleaned up, greased and ready to go back on.

 

[IndyMX]

I usually lay the bike on it's side when doing stuff like this...

Just put your stand under the bottom clamp on the forks, and turn the wheel..

I've even done clutch work like that, without draining the oil..

 

[Eric Gorr]

There is a picture in my CRF book of a KTM200 with a siezed swingarm bolt. It rusted to the frame. We (me and Rich Rohrich) put the bike in my 55 ton press and tried to press-out the bolt. What a mess! Rich was cranking on the press lever and the pressure backed up and the whole press lifted off the ground. It just about scared the hell out of Rich, who at the time was the biggest guy in the shop so he got elected to press the press, or as they say at OCC "Get the Get".
We compromised with a reciprocating saw. I sawed the swingarm bolt between the motor mounts while Rich sang the country and western hit "How Do You Like Me Now!"

Sometimes you have to resort to extrordinary measures to service a dirt bike. Be prepared for the worst!

 

[Rich Rohrich]

As much trouble as this was, there was something really comforting about taking a SawzAll to a KTM. :)

 

[SpDyKen]

Rich, I just hope your not one of those guys that ask "don't I sing good?" when you finish singing! KW ;)

 

[whenfoxforks-ruled]

Milwaukee low speed electric reciprocating saws-all with lenox 18 tooth per inch blades. Good to see Eric back! I am working on a deal to lock the moto jerky business,, I know a guy moving to Indy. Rich, a video of hacking that ktm would have been awesome! Some of them froze(unlike the weather outside!) bolts are from unlike metals and they have succumbed to electrolysis. Others are lobed and worn, you can turn the bolt to get in the proper orientation and it will drop out.

 

[wileyE]

On some bikes the rear motor mounts pinch the frame just enough to make it difficult to pull the bolt.

 

[O3RM125]

Milwaukee low speed electric reciprocating saws-all with lenox 18 tooth per inch blades. Good to see Eric back! I am working on a deal to lock the moto jerky business,, I know a guy moving to Indy. Rich, a video of hacking that ktm would have been awesome! Some of them froze(unlike the weather outside!) bolts are from unlike metals and they have succumbed to electrolysis. Others are lobed and worn, you can turn the bolt to get in the proper orientation and it will drop out.

I think if it had a head on it that I could turn the bolt with I could get it out, but the design of the bolt doesnt allow for that, it slips into a recess in the frame, there is no head. I did try tightening the nut on real tight and then loosening it a couple times trying to get the bolt to spin a little, or break free- no luck there.

Ive put it on hold for now, I figure one day I go out and get new bearings, a new bolt and stuff and then try soaking the mess with penetrating lube overnight, laying the bike on its side and pounding away. Never had this problem on my old bikes, then again none had swimgarm bolts without heads on them either :p

 

[whenfoxforks-ruled]

Take the rear shock off. Put the nut half way on, while working the swingarm up and down, tap the nut with a dead blow. If the swingarm is bare(no paint) heat it up with a heat gun.