Should I heat treat ?

How hard are the factory bushings?

The factory bushings are a rubber/silicone/steel unit , designed to absorb vibration at the expense of handling . The early rubbermount Harley touring models have a history of high speed handling problems , partly due to the OEM swingarm pivot bushings . Aftermarket suppliers make something similar to what I'm doing , but they're real spendy . I could have spent nearly a thousand bucks on the mods I'm doing if I used their parts , materials have cost me less than a c-note ... I'm not in a great big hurry to finish these , won't be installing them until this winter when I tear the bike down for other items that also need attention .

If it's your own bike and you know about the issue, why not do it the simple way and see if they wear excessively? I don't think it's necessary to design bearings for long lifetime if you keep them greased and can easily make replacements.

Comments, anyone?

jw

If these are replacing rubber bushings I don't see the need to heat treat. However you may want to consider polyurethane bushings as a replacement, like the off-roaders 4 wheelers use.

Tony

These bushing assemblies attach the front of the swingarm (rear fork , to some) to the pivot shaft . This shaft attaches to the frame , and also supports the rear of the engine/transmission assembly . This is an 800 pound touring motorcycle ... and those composite bushing assemblies are quite a bit more complicated than a "rubber bushing" .

How are they any different than the rubber bushings in automotive spring shackles, shock absorbers, sway bars?

What you're making is similar to these, no?

Actually, I just pinged Kevin there and will letcha know.

Snarl

Actually , the ones I've made are as close to the OEM cleve block dimensions as I can get (a kind soul sent me some cad files ...wanna copy ?) . All the other small parts will still be used , including the compliance ring on the outside of the unit . I looked at the sta-bo and another , couldn't see from the pics where they allow rotation between the swingarm and the pivot bolt . The inner sleeve on these will be held captive between the tranny case and the outer rubber mounts , just as original . The outer shell will rotate with the swing arm . I haven't decided yet how I'm going to establish end play , I can either press precisely , or set tthe outer to a preset depth and shim the thrust faces . I got all the stuff together to heat these , and still can't decide if they really need it .

Yes please... that from D-rog? Addy is: BS 37 at snarls hog den dot com. Remove th' spaces and change th' obvious.

Kevin got back to me and said they are heat treated. FWIW, I also asked him about longevity (100,000 miles) and he sent me this:

"Yes - the high carbon steel is heat treated. Yes - STA-BO I will last well over that mileage. The first STA-BO I we ever installed was on a 1986 FXRS with a

When I had that last belt replacement done, I asked 'em to check th' swing arm bushings whilest they're in there, and they said they were fine. Methinks th' cocksucker never even checked 'em since there's

I'll tell ya this much, as far as customer service goes, sta-bo answers questions post haste. You might wanna ping 'em about rotation between the swingarm and the pivot bolt.

Snarl

snipped-for-privacy@tripod.net sezz:

Nope! That guy's a slacker...

Well, yeah, but how big are those cad files, slacker?

Snarl

snipped-for-privacy@tripod.net sezz:

I really don't have anything to do with those.

I was plannin' on sending you (Snarl) a snail mail copy (cd or paper , no matter to me) , since you're on dial-up and the files are big . I'll include my notes from the stuff I've made ... Doug , you wanna copy too ? If so , ping me your snail mail address too and I'll make you copies too . Hit reply-to and change snagnone to snagone ...

Snag sezz: Doug , you wanna

I sent you mail from an embarqmail.com address.

-- Doug

You've got mail.

Snarl

$8.00 bucks and a pair of ice cold Coors? I might send ya some stuff this winter that needs yer talents.

Snarl

snipped-for-privacy@tripod.net sezz:

What do I look like? A cheap, beer w**re? Throw in a stinky cigar and I'm there!

I might send ya some stuff

You know how to find me. I'm in the very early stages of starting a little side business doing that kind of stuff too. You can be one of my "preferred clients"...

Did you despam my email address ? I haven't received it yet ...

Snag sezz:

Yessir. I'll try again...

-- Doug