Reminder... Grease your swingarm/linkage bearings. AKA Jake's random thoughts...

where is the snap ring? right or left? i pulled my rear axle out an inch the other day (it was greased) and pushed it back in, no problem.

Right side/brake rotor side.

Later,

The RK chain on my CR is original....still pretty good shape...but the CZ chain on my TC (while not reached its limits yet) has streched pretty bad...these of course are not O ring chains...

I have ordered a Regina for the TC...non O ring...


what make is the O ring chain on the TXC and TE etc...???

Stock TE is made by CZ. Nearly lost the clip on a ride Saturday, notice it during a rest stop and snapped it back on...strange as it's not worn and it facing the correct direction. The next morning before the Sunday ride I 'sealed' it with 5-min JB weld. It's not coming loose again.

Really ?

I just changed the chain and sprockets on mine and the chain I just took off, which I think is stock, is a Regina

Mine is a CZ and at 250 miles it is starting to kink up in spots. I will have to keep an eye on it.

Later,

2 guys i ride with have 08 510 & both have snapped the chains clean in 1/2. Neither chain broke at the link. one at around 300 miles & the other at about 1000miles. i didnt think either ran their chain overly tight.

i changed my chain early at around 250 miles when i chipped my rear sprocket so have not had the same bad luck......
cheers

I run the stock chain and rear sprocket through the break in period and thats it.

I always replace with a Regina O-Ring even on a 125. I do that and add a Ironman rear sprocket. The chain lasts half season and the sprocket almost a full season of racing in the muddy midwest.

I have close to 1500 miles on '08 TE 450 with the stocker and no problems.

I love how we can just go down and buy a bike and put it through that much torture and not DNF, there are no other vehicles that could stand that abuse in OEM config,,,,,,M1 abrahms ...ok most oem products could not take the abuse.

Well...I was too late and the lower shock bearing was dry and disintegrating. Does Husqvarna sell just the lower shock bearing? Tasky's only sells the $85 kit, but maybe I should just have them do the whole thing since I don't have a bearing press. I'm afraid to look at my steering head bearings and swingarm. How often does everyone clean out and regrease this stuff? Once a year? What's the best way to clean the bearings? How long do they typically last if cleaned and regrease regularly?

David

Once a year will not do it in the NW. At least if the TE is the same as the WR. I give the zirks a shot of grease after every wash or wet ride. I never have to touch those bearings. Do the four strokes have the zirks though? Anyway the lower shock and swingarm bearings are not sealed at all. I grease them about 4 times a year.

I ordered a rear shock bearing and swingarm bearing from motorsportz. I just gave him the bearing numbers. If you want the seals and swingarm hats then I guess you will have to go with a kit.

OOOps...

Better to find out at home rather than in the middle of the Baja trip.

On the parts manual from halls it calls out that bearing as a "Bearing (ø20xØ26x20 mm)". A google search on that size comes up with a part number HK2020UU. The UU on the end is for the two rubber seals built into the bearing. Our bikes have external seals so those are not completely necessary but don't hurt anything either.

I think you can find them on Evilbay... or a bearing house should be able to get you the ø20xØ26x20mm bearing no problem.

I clean and grease mine every 6 months, once in the spring after all the wet winter riding and once in the fall to get fresh grease for the winter.

On my WR250F I got 5 years out of the linkage bearings before they were too nasty to re grease. The stock swing arm bearings are still in good shape.

I pull all the needles out of the bearing, wipe them with brake clean and a rag, fill the cavity with grease then put the needles back in one by one.

Later,

Not on my TXC...

I think they got rid of them on all the 08's... I could be mistaken though.

Later,

So those little needles...they pull out that easily and re-insert as well? The remaining bearings look to be in good shape so if I get the kit, maybe I should save the ones I don't need or should I do them all.

Jake...how hard was it to take off the swingarm? Any tips?

David

Yep you can get them out with a pick or a magnet. After you pack the bearing cavity with grease they stick right back in there no problem.

I would just replace the bearings that need replacing and save the others for the future.

Coffee has a great writeup with pictures here...

Later,

As per Adam on TT, I made my own bearing press (double threaded rod, 2 washers, 2 nuts) from Home Depot for less than $3 and 5 minutes to get the bearing out. So the single lower suspension bearing has HK2016 stamped on it and the other 4 have HK2020B stamped on it. I can't find the rubber seals!?!? Any ideas? I didn't see linkage bearings or kits for that matter listed on Motosportz website.

Do you pick out each and every needle like Jake...seems tedious? Let's see how many bearings is that? 5 on the link. 2 more on link arm. 4 more on the swing arm. 11 bearings...I can't imagine picking out every needle. Jake...how long does that take you? What's the 2nd best method cleaning out the bearings...use a degreaser and rinse?

David