Triumphrat

Keithiopian · 02-13-2008

I am trying to remove the swinging arm on my 1998 TBS. I have removed the wheel, chainguard, brake torque arm, mudflap, disconected the suspension linkage, and removed the large swinging arm bolts on both sides. What now? I am working from a Haynes manual, but my bike bears little resemblence to any of the photographs or exploded diagrams. The manual shows spring clips and talks about removing swinging arm inner sleeves(?). The swinging arm spindle in the manual appears to be a solid item. Mine is tubular. According to the manual, I should be able to drift the spindle out. I am reluctant to start slogging away until I know I have done everything right. Anyone removed theirs before?

MickMaguire · 02-13-2008

Most likely its a little stuck with corrosion. I'm a little intrigued as to why you should want to do this? Are you trying to remove the swing arm or just the pivot (to lube the bearings)?

IIRC there are factory tools for reassembly / keeping everything in line while you remove the pivot for the lube job. If you don't have the tool you might end up in a bind. Not bothered to do mine yet so can't be sure.

Keithiopian · 02-13-2008

I need to remove the swinging arm to do a thread repair. Since I bought the bike one of the chain adjuster bolts was always stiff. As I was overhauling the brakes I thought I might as well see what the problem was. The bolt was siezed solid. In trying to remove it, it snapped. I really don't want to remove the swinging arm, but I'm afraid I have no choice.

gregp · 02-13-2008

I know that there are "Repair Kits" for this problem. They are popular in the dirt bike sector as this is a recurring problem on many dirt bikes. I have repaired 2 Husqvarna's myself, using a long drill bit and the appropriate tap with an extension. Most can be repaired without removing the swing arm.
I will post a link if I can find one.
Edit - Here is one:
http://www.rockymountainatv.com/prod...dFamilyId=2663

Keithiopian · 02-13-2008

That sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately nothing is ever easy. My bike is in a garage with no access to a power supply.

entropy · 02-15-2008

i pulled mine a couple years ago by just following my haynes manual. as far as i remember it was pretty straight forward. my spindle is solid with a threaded bolt just as illustration 15.1 on pg. 6*24. fyi, now is a good time to replace your drive chain slider.

entropy · 02-15-2008

as far as spring clips... the way it's written is funny. that actually pertains to the sprint executive and trophy models from vin 29156 models. the inner sleeves i believe just come out with the spindle.

Keithiopian · 02-27-2008

Well I've just about given up. As I say, my swinging arm is nothing like the one in the Haynes manual. Mine is tubular, with seperate threaded pieces in each side of the frame. The threaded pieces seem to be pressed into the frame. I can see no way of removing them. I am now trying to think of a way of bodging the chain adjustment. I can honestly say that in 29 years of riding bikes I have never come across any motorcycles which are as difficult to work on as Triumphs.

wolfd123 · 02-27-2008

Sounds a lot like the swing arm on my 96 t bird. I was also reluctant to drift the pin out of the swing arm housing. I loosened all of the frame to motor connections and then used a hammer and a piece of wood dowel to get the pin started out of the left side. If it is anything like mine the right side is a nut and the left side is the pin.
Good luck

Keithiopian · 03-01-2008

I have now bought a disc of the triumph microfiche. My swinging arm set-up is completely different from every version of Thunderbird on the disc!