Softail Swingarm Removal Help
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
Softail Swingarm Removal Help
I am in the process of replacing my rear drive belt and am down to the swing arm bolt removal and the exhaust pipe removal. The swing arm nut seems extraordinarily tight... so I'm wondering if it is left handed thread for some reason? Anybody have any experience with this? My impact air wrench isn't breaking it loose and before I try a big long bar or ruin my frame paint with some heat, some experience would be helpful (I don't want to break the socket or pull the bike off of the jack stand).
It's stupifying to me that if I took the front end apart to replace the neck bearings (which I need to do) the only thing left connected to the frame would be the tins, oil tank, right side peg, regulator, and engine/tranny. Amazingly dumb design...
Thanks.
C#
It's stupifying to me that if I took the front end apart to replace the neck bearings (which I need to do) the only thing left connected to the frame would be the tins, oil tank, right side peg, regulator, and engine/tranny. Amazingly dumb design...
Thanks.
C#
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 970
Likes: 19
From: Philippines
As Jetmech stated, the swing arm axle is Right Hand threads. Soak the nut with some WD40 and use a long breaker bar.
To replace the drive belt you do Not have to completely remove the swing arm axle. Just back it out enough to remove the spacer providing room to slip the belt past it. Having said that, I always take the time to remove the swing arm, inspect the bearings and apply fresh anti seize to the swing arm bearings. Additionally coat the shaft of the swing arm axle (Not the Threads) with anti seize. It is critical that during reassembly, you torque the swing arm axle nut to specs. Over-torquing the nut can cause premature bearing failure.
To replace the drive belt you do Not have to completely remove the swing arm axle. Just back it out enough to remove the spacer providing room to slip the belt past it. Having said that, I always take the time to remove the swing arm, inspect the bearings and apply fresh anti seize to the swing arm bearings. Additionally coat the shaft of the swing arm axle (Not the Threads) with anti seize. It is critical that during reassembly, you torque the swing arm axle nut to specs. Over-torquing the nut can cause premature bearing failure.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
As Jetmech stated, the swing arm axle is Right Hand threads. Soak the nut with some WD40 and use a long breaker bar.
To replace the drive belt you do Not have to completely remove the swing arm axle. Just back it out enough to remove the spacer providing room to slip the belt past it. Having said that, I always take the time to remove the swing arm, inspect the bearings and apply fresh anti seize to the swing arm bearings. Additionally coat the shaft of the swing arm axle (Not the Threads) with anti seize. It is critical that during reassembly, you torque the swing arm axle nut to specs. Over-torquing the nut can cause premature bearing failure.
To replace the drive belt you do Not have to completely remove the swing arm axle. Just back it out enough to remove the spacer providing room to slip the belt past it. Having said that, I always take the time to remove the swing arm, inspect the bearings and apply fresh anti seize to the swing arm bearings. Additionally coat the shaft of the swing arm axle (Not the Threads) with anti seize. It is critical that during reassembly, you torque the swing arm axle nut to specs. Over-torquing the nut can cause premature bearing failure.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
I recently had to remove my swingarm too since I broke a shock bolt. A 1/2 drive standard breaker bar did it for me, I didn't even have to soak it. Mine is an 07 Night Train and I also had to remove the exhaust to get the bolt out.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
Thanks. I got it off with a 1/2" drive breaker bar with a pipe extension. No way I could have done it without the pipe extension... and I weigh 250.
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