Broken swing arm
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
It is not a clever design, but if yours is stock and you are using the stock lower shock position yours should be OK. It is lowering blocks that are not a good idea.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
Well said. I have even heard about the old FXR swing arms that cracked too. I find that interesting because that bike is a couple hundred pounds less than a dresser. Most FXRs don't need lowering blocks, but like you and I noted, those that put them on the dressers ran a higher risk of cracking. Just moving that shock back an inch or so really made things worse.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
I found the reason why these forks brake is due to the axle not having a solid base ie: hollow rectangle tubing. A new from the factory fix would be to insert a piece of billet material in inside of the tubing and a large flange distributing the load on the inside of the fork between the wheel spacers on each side of the fork.
I made these pieces with billet chromed end caps and dual Stainless bolts about 20 years ago. No one purchased this item denying the swing arms will fracture.
This is a bike that came from the Austin TX Police dept. It never had lowering blocks on it but did have a deer through the windshield (not the cause of the fracture). My little friend is pointing out the fracture to you. I just change out the box swing arm and use my bushings in the new 2002~2008 swing arm with 1" rear axle and late style rear wheel with corresponding bearings. My kit does not require you to bore and ream out the pre 2002 FL trans to accommodate the new style 3/4" pivot shaft (yours is 5/8").
I made these pieces with billet chromed end caps and dual Stainless bolts about 20 years ago. No one purchased this item denying the swing arms will fracture.
This is a bike that came from the Austin TX Police dept. It never had lowering blocks on it but did have a deer through the windshield (not the cause of the fracture). My little friend is pointing out the fracture to you. I just change out the box swing arm and use my bushings in the new 2002~2008 swing arm with 1" rear axle and late style rear wheel with corresponding bearings. My kit does not require you to bore and ream out the pre 2002 FL trans to accommodate the new style 3/4" pivot shaft (yours is 5/8").
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
I came across these axle adjuster kits a while back when I was looking for solutions.
http://www.ridestr8.com/
They appear to fill much more of the swing arm than the lollipop adjuster there by reducing "Slop" and minimizing crushability. But rather than treat the symptom, I decided to change out the swing arm. I used one of those bushing and pivot shaft kits from Motorcycle Metal and picked up a used swing arm on e-bay.
Mark
http://www.ridestr8.com/
They appear to fill much more of the swing arm than the lollipop adjuster there by reducing "Slop" and minimizing crushability. But rather than treat the symptom, I decided to change out the swing arm. I used one of those bushing and pivot shaft kits from Motorcycle Metal and picked up a used swing arm on e-bay.
Mark
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
Pyatt5,
I don't know what your repair plans are, but if you decide to stick with OEM, there's a swing arm for sale on the site that would work for your bike.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-swingarm.html
Mark
I don't know what your repair plans are, but if you decide to stick with OEM, there's a swing arm for sale on the site that would work for your bike.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-swingarm.html
Mark
Friday took my bike (01 FLHT) to the dealership for a new rear tire. Picked the bike up and left saturday morning for a ride with the wife. Had an odd noise from rear on bumbs so I checked and this is what I found. Cracked swing arm. I am a ford senior master tech and understand that coincidences can happen. However it appears that if the tech who replaced my tire overtorqued that axle shaft nut it may have stressed the arm. Just wondering if anyone on this site has seen this happen and if you think torque or coincidence is the culprit.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Tellico Plains, Tenn.
I know well what you experienced. Had it happen on my 2000RG while ridin 2 up . My RG is not lowered so I don't think it's exclusive to lowered bikes. Put an E-bay swingarm on it and no more problem so far but I do plan on going to the 02 & up swingarm soon. Ride Safe.
Last edited by Avmech97; Jun 30, 2010 at 02:03 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 1
From: Desert S. West
I came across these axle adjuster kits a while back when I was looking for solutions.
http://www.ridestr8.com/
They appear to fill much more of the swing arm than the lollipop adjuster there by reducing "Slop" and minimizing crushability. But rather than treat the symptom, I decided to change out the swing arm. I used one of those bushing and pivot shaft kits from Motorcycle Metal and picked up a used swing arm on e-bay.
Mark
http://www.ridestr8.com/
They appear to fill much more of the swing arm than the lollipop adjuster there by reducing "Slop" and minimizing crushability. But rather than treat the symptom, I decided to change out the swing arm. I used one of those bushing and pivot shaft kits from Motorcycle Metal and picked up a used swing arm on e-bay.
Mark
Here's the original axle adjusters
Here are the better ones which give support inside the swingarm fork.
It's the next best thing to upgrading the swingarm if it hasn't cracked or broke yet.
I have to give credit to Howard and Motorcyclemetal.com for bringing this to my attention when I bought some shocks from him.
Last edited by BoomerBob; Jun 30, 2010 at 02:27 AM.