Slimline swinging arm bush upgrade...?

Welcome to the club Matt,

Unity Equip in Rochdale do F/bed swinging arm bush to bearing, Manx style conversions. You could talk to them if you don't want to replace your silent blocks. Ideally you will need a press.

PS: Ever thought about trying to find a 650ss engine for your frame?

Actually, I find the Haynes guitar manuals more entertaining than the motor variety. More useful too.

There is also a roller bearing conversion thast can be done for the featherbed frame swinging arms. The company is in Pluckley in Kent.

Welcome Matt

I would be interested in your comments about the bronze 'Manx' type bushes if you go down that route, I've recently re built my model 50, and replaced the silent block bushes with similar, and found them.

a) slack when pressed in the swinging arm (I had to use a shim and locktite)

b) Very stiff on up and down movement (though no noticeable side play)

I assume a grease nipple has to be fitted,when installing the bronze type

re comment by Neil;a late 88ss would be my choice, I'm still searching for one.......... to keep my model 50 company!

Regards John O

There's not a lot wrong with the silentblocs. Don't forget the spacer that goes in between them (like I once did). Yes, it will need a substantial hydraulic press to fit them. Have fun!

Wise choice Matt (Silent block) and I doubt you will ever need to do anything with them ever again. Plenty of originals still giving excellent service.

The 18 prefix covers all 650's.

I believe most, if not all people on here would rather you fit a Norton engine. Plates are available to fit singles and twins, including Commando engines. The choice is yours.You can build up a Commando engine from all new parts. Just depends on the size of your wallet!!!!

Barry, I only ever had to press out one pair of silent blocks and they they needed all the weight of the press to get them out.

New ones went in with a similar force.

Sounds like either some swinging arms have been machined or there are some dodgy parts out there. Well, we know there are some dodgy parts out there!

Hi All

Like John I have removed the silentbloc bushes have new ones but they are loose in the swinging arm, they are 3.5 thou smaller than the ones I took out. Where did you buy your bushes John for interest? I am now looking to fit bronze bushes unless I can find another supplier for different silentbloc bushes. I wonder if anyone has the specification for the silentbloc bushes. The ones that came out were stampedClayflex EP823 6A

I can now report that I found silentbloc bushes that fit my swinging arm I purchased them from NSA Motorcycles in Norfolk they are 6 thou larger at ( 1.191") than others from RGM at ( 1.185") neither seem incorrect as there seems to be feather bed swinging arms out there with different bore sizes I have had both sizes in my bikes. This does not seem to be official as they all carry the same part number I have not been able to find an expansion for this but it is a fact something g went o in the factory but what? My advice is measure the bushes that come out and search for ones that match they are out there. Mine pressed in at 110 psi.

Pressing them out will probably damage the bush spacer and need some tooling I took mine out by drilling out the rubber with a drill put a pair of steelsons on the inner tube twisted it out on both bushes, taped the space one way cut the outer case with a hacksaw blade in a handle then just taped it out once released did the same on the other side.

Hi. glad you have found some swing arm bushes that fit i got sick of ordering them from different suppliers and sending them back when finding out they were all to small. i tried them in all four swinging arms i have for size they were not a press in fit. i eventually gave up and adapted some landrover spring bushes to fit until i find a set of bushes that are the right dimensions and have to be pressed in. Baz

Hi Barry

Not glad to hear that you have had the same problem that I had with the bushes but it is good to hear that other people are having the same problem. When you send the small bushes back you are made to look as if you do not know what you are doing.I hope the measurements of the bushes I found at NSA Motorcyles will be of some help, they were the largest I found at 1.191" dia. They had slight manufacturing differents to the smaller ones so seem to be made some where elce.

good luck

Nick

Previously anthony_curzon wrote:

There is also a roller bearing conversion thast can be done for the featherbed frame swinging arms. The company is in Pluckley in Kent.

This company is run by Terry Mead or now by his son. He does the roller bearing conversion for the featherbed swinging arms.

Previously nick_fowler wrote:

Hi Barry

Not glad to hear that you have had the same problem that I had with the bushes but it is good to hear that other people are having the same problem. When you send the small bushes back you are made to look as if you do not know what you are doing.I hope the measurements of the bushes I found at NSA Motorcycles will be of some help, they were the largest I found at 1.191" dia. They had slight manufacturing differents to the smaller ones so seem to be made some where elce.

good luck

Nick

.............................

Hi Nick, yes very frustrating i gave up i even had thoughts of welding the back end up and having the first rigid featherbed, lol . i will keep NSA MOTORCYCLES in mind next time i need any bushes thanks. Baz