20k mile chassis maintenance?

[ducpainter]

Did you lube the shaft bearings while it was apart?

[BK_856er]

Did you lube the shaft bearings while it was apart?

Absolutely.  I first cleaned out the old liquidy grease from the swingarm bearings.  Made sure the clean needles looked OK and rolled smoothly with fingers and also the new ungreased shaft.  Contemplated replacing the outer seals and decided to leave well enough alone.  Re-packed all 4 bearings with Redline CV2 grease and really worked it into the cages with a finger and also globbed on a heavy coating.  Lubed the shaft with the same.  Felt really smooth afterwards.  Hopefully good for another 20k!

BK

[ducpainter]

Absolutely.  I first cleaned out the old liquidy grease from the swingarm bearings.  Made sure the clean needles looked OK and rolled smoothly with fingers and also the new ungreased shaft.  Contemplated replacing the outer seals and decided to leave well enough alone.  Re-packed all 4 bearings with Redline CV2 grease and really worked it into the cages with a finger and also globbed on a heavy coating.  Lubed the shaft with the same.  Felt really smooth afterwards.  Hopefully good for another 20k!

BK

Pretty much any synthetic grease is better than what they used at the factory. 

As long as you keep a pressure washer away from those seals they'll do their job. Even new ones won't stop one of those.

[BK_856er]

All buttoned up and adjusted - mission accomplished.

Thanks for all the great input along the way!   

BK

[Howie]

 

[GK]

Nicely done Sir! 👍🏻

[BK_856er]

I had some delays getting back on the road, but oh my was all the work worth it!  Everything is just about perfect.  So nice to have awesome weather, awesome roads and a sorted-out machine.

BK

[stopintime]

  

[BK_856er]

Had the local guru setup my suspension yesterday (vs. chasing my tail, which is its own kind of fun, but a good starting baseline is gold).

On first glance from 10ft away he didn't like my geometry and proceeded to lower the rear ride height back to stock and raise the front about 10mm.  Said the way I had it probably tipped in great, but awkwardly transitioned to a lean and wouldn't turn well until completely off the brakes.  Come to think of it - yes!  He said my setup was how everyone did it in 2002 (old school).  Sport tire sizing and thinking are different now he says.  I'm a believer after today's road test on my usual 80mile twisty circuit.  Moral is don't ignore your chassis geometry and don't be afraid to try something new!

BK