For as long as I can remember it seems even grown men shudder at the mere mention of changing the bushes on an old Triumph swing arm. Tales abound of how hard it is and not to even attempt it or you will destroy your bike etc etc. OK so I recently got back into classic Triumphs (they weren't Classics when I last owned one) with a 1967 Bonneville. On the face of it in a well renovated condition but like all new purchases it wasn't 100%. Fair bit of wear in the swing arm bushes has been bugging me. Then a spoke broke on the rear wheel. Got a replacement spoke and managed to fit it without stripping the wheel, not even the tyre, yup me a cheapskate. Anyway with the rear wheel removed I just couldn't go past the swing arm bushes. Ordered new bushes and bobbins plus CBS in the States had an original genuine (I know its genuine due to the rust) Triumph drift for the bushes. At $60 I reckoned this was a bargain if it meant I could do the job myself. A specialist mechanic could put his son through college with what they would get away with charging for this job such is its reputation, "I have to strip the whole bike back to its frame, put it in a press etc etc"
So, with wheel removed the hardest part is actually just removing both exhaust silencers, brake light switch, chainguard and rear engine mounting plates (bit fiddly getting to all the bolts).
Now flick back locking tab on the left side swing arm bolt (nut). Remove nut, do not try to hammer out the long bolt like me, its simply threaded into the frame just behind the nut so undo by turning the bolt from the right side. It should simply pull out. If yours has not seen grease since "GREASE" or earlier, a bit of help with a suitable sized bolt & hammer might be needed. Then tap (they normally fall out) out both bobbins and the spacer tube inside. There will also be two large shims(washers) one either side. Now, using a long bolt or bar with a neat squared off edge that will reach inside and catch on the edge of the opposite side inner bush in the swing arm hammer the bush out, it won't take much. To fit new bushes either buy or make the correct sized drift or use one of the old Bobbins. By bolting a chunky piece of flat steel bigger than the bush to the bobbin you will now have the perfect tool. I recommend putting the new bush onto the drift then then placing both in the freezer for an hour. Have the swing arm clean and ready to accept the new bushes. Wearing gloves quickly take the chilled bush and hammer it into the swing arm. Repeat for the other side. Yes they come ready made with no need to ream the bushes. Simply grease up the Bobbins and re fit remembering to insert the spacer tube between them and use the shim washers either side. If like mine the washers have wear grooves simply turn them around so the grooved side faces outwards. Fit the long bolt, torque up and before bending the locking tab check the fit of the swing arm that it moves easily but without play on the bearings or shims. If all good pump in huge amounts of grease! (and bend locking tab washer) I can't believe how simple this job turned out to be and ultimately how satisfying and how much money I saved doing it myself. Unless your bike came out of a lake it is unlikely it will be much harder to accomplish than mine. By freezing the bushes there really is no need of a press and the genuine Triumph tool is designed to be hammered. And remember to use a grease gun to grease that sucker very often and repeatedly to keep the water out and the bushes lubricated. Cheers.
So, with wheel removed the hardest part is actually just removing both exhaust silencers, brake light switch, chainguard and rear engine mounting plates (bit fiddly getting to all the bolts).
Now flick back locking tab on the left side swing arm bolt (nut). Remove nut, do not try to hammer out the long bolt like me, its simply threaded into the frame just behind the nut so undo by turning the bolt from the right side. It should simply pull out. If yours has not seen grease since "GREASE" or earlier, a bit of help with a suitable sized bolt & hammer might be needed. Then tap (they normally fall out) out both bobbins and the spacer tube inside. There will also be two large shims(washers) one either side. Now, using a long bolt or bar with a neat squared off edge that will reach inside and catch on the edge of the opposite side inner bush in the swing arm hammer the bush out, it won't take much. To fit new bushes either buy or make the correct sized drift or use one of the old Bobbins. By bolting a chunky piece of flat steel bigger than the bush to the bobbin you will now have the perfect tool. I recommend putting the new bush onto the drift then then placing both in the freezer for an hour. Have the swing arm clean and ready to accept the new bushes. Wearing gloves quickly take the chilled bush and hammer it into the swing arm. Repeat for the other side. Yes they come ready made with no need to ream the bushes. Simply grease up the Bobbins and re fit remembering to insert the spacer tube between them and use the shim washers either side. If like mine the washers have wear grooves simply turn them around so the grooved side faces outwards. Fit the long bolt, torque up and before bending the locking tab check the fit of the swing arm that it moves easily but without play on the bearings or shims. If all good pump in huge amounts of grease! (and bend locking tab washer) I can't believe how simple this job turned out to be and ultimately how satisfying and how much money I saved doing it myself. Unless your bike came out of a lake it is unlikely it will be much harder to accomplish than mine. By freezing the bushes there really is no need of a press and the genuine Triumph tool is designed to be hammered. And remember to use a grease gun to grease that sucker very often and repeatedly to keep the water out and the bushes lubricated. Cheers.
