Swingarm spools

[demon_knight69]

anyone ever put swingarm spools on their 600? its nice that newer bikes already have a spot to put them, but what about our older bikes? can we just drill some holes and put em on or what? if anyones done this, can you tell me how you mounted them, and where? and if possible post some pics so we can all have a look.

[sweekster]

If I remember correctly, thatkid added some to his...the right way IMO.

Here's the build..

http://www.fzrarchives.com/ipb/index.ph ... t&p=318747

[thatkid]

If I remember correctly, thatkid added some to his...the right way IMO.

I indeed did add some. I used some solid bar stock and drilled and tapped it and then welded it to the bottom on the swingarm. This way doesn't weaken your swingarm and it lifts all the weights from the very bottom like it should.

The problem is if you just drill the swingarm and tap it, there isn't enough thread to be strong enough to lift a bike. You've also just weakened your swingarm by adding a whole.

You could drill all the way through the swingarm and run a bolt but then you have a nut on the other side near the tire. That's no good and you run the risk of crushing your swingarm on tightening.

Anytime you drill a hole through something hollow you should add in a tube and weld that front and rear. That's the only way to keep the strength there. The problem is you still have to have a bolt head on the other side if you do that and you have to weld the front and rear of the tube spacer to the swingarm.

When you look at all the ways you could do it, the way I did it makes the most sense. I will see if I can scrounge up some pictures from my build and post up how I did it.

I must say it's nice to throw my bike on a stand with the spools though.

[demon_knight69]

yeah with the amount of work i'm going to be doing, it would be nice to throw it up on a swingarm stand, instead of trying to use a jack and stands. when i did my fork seals a couple weeks ago, i think the bulk of the work was just trying to get the bike up on stands and stable. every time i did something it would rock the bike forward or backward . so that would be great thatkid if you've got some pics or a writeup on how you did it

[thatkid]

yeah with the amount of work i'm going to be doing, it would be nice to throw it up on a swingarm stand, instead of trying to use a jack and stands. when i did my fork seals a couple weeks ago, i think the bulk of the work was just trying to get the bike up on stands and stable. every time i did something it would rock the bike forward or backward . so that would be great thatkid if you've got some pics or a writeup on how you did it

Here is a picture and sweekster edited his post to link to my build page of everything I had to go through with those damn things.

[demon_knight69]

yep, im looking at that now. looks like it was a giant pain in the ass, but worth it IMO. i think that may be a project for further down the road. i am pretty sure i'm going to put a different swingarm on anyway so i can run a wider tire. i'm thinking about the yzf, those aren't tapped for spools are they? so i'd still have to weld something on like you did. the way you mounted the spools is definitely the smartest way to do it, might be difficult but you're right about the strength.

[sweekster]

yep, im looking at that now. looks like it was a giant pain in the ass, but worth it IMO. i think that may be a project for further down the road. i am pretty sure i'm going to put a different swingarm on anyway so i can run a wider tire. i'm thinking about the yzf, those aren't tapped for spools are they? so i'd still have to weld something on like you did. the way you mounted the spools is definitely the smartest way to do it, might be difficult but you're right about the strength.

Speaking of YZF...

http://www.fzrarchives.com/ipb/index.ph ... t&p=334619


You have to scroll down a bit but that's a YZF swinger that's been done with spools similar to thatkid's.

[demon_knight69]

awesome! thats definitely a project for the future. i think i'll be pulling my engine next week so it'll be easier to work on my transmission and clean up some gunk while i'm at it, and fix an oil leak........etc. i don't want to be doing to much to it cuz i want to ride this season. and it'll be WAY too hot to work on it once it gets over 110 degrees. i really wish i had an air conditioned shop that i could go to. just need to win the lottery.

[yamaha_george]

awesome! thats definitely a project for the future. i think i'll be pulling my engine next week so it'll be easier to work on my transmission and clean up some gunk while i'm at it, and fix an oil leak........etc. i don't want to be doing to much to it cuz i want to ride this season. and it'll be WAY too hot to work on it once it gets over 110 degrees. i really wish i had an air conditioned shop that i could go to. just need to win the lottery.

DK,
TK's method is spot on I did my RD400 swinger mod (FZR 400 alloy swinger retro-d to twin shock ) plus I have 2 FZR alloy arms that I have made the bits for just waiting to pick up the wife from the airport to be able to slope off to my fave workshop & start welding

for pictures of the bits and how I did 'em see:-

http://www.saltmine.org.uk/kgb/yp7.html

&

http://www.saltmine.org.uk/kgb/paddockstands.html

Give you some idea how easy it is either to make your own bobbins or buy a set and make the bit you screw them to Nerd

[demon_knight69]

excellent, thanks for the pics and ideas guys! they looks great.