GS1100 swingarm

nebiker51 wrote:

The Ace Hardware in our area has a real good selection of stainless steel nut, bolt and washers in both metric and sae.

Ditto. My local ACE has the best selection of metric stainless fasteners locally. I have done two out of three bikes so far using ACE.

OK, I just jumped on this swingarm bandwagon. Just bought one from fellow KZR member Madkaw1200. But it still needs a lot of polishing and cleaning up.
Anyway, in looking at the pivot bearings, I'm missing one roller from one of the cages, so I'm going to order some new ones from Z1E.
But before I start beating on the thing, are they hard to drift out, or would this be better done by someone with a press?
I also noticed there is no grease zerk on the thing, so I guess I need to pack the entire tube full of grease and hope for the best. From the pics above, I take it we're not all that worried about rubber seals on the ends of the pivot bolt tube?

riverroad wrote:

OK, I just jumped on this swingarm bandwagon. Just bought one from fellow KZR member Madkaw1200. But it still needs a lot of polishing and cleaning up.
Anyway, in looking at the pivot bearings, I'm missing one roller from one of the cages, so I'm going to order some new ones from Z1E.
But before I start beating on the thing, are they hard to drift out, or would this be better done by someone with a press?
I also noticed there is no grease zerk on the thing, so I guess I need to pack the entire tube full of grease and hope for the best. From the pics above, I take it we're not all that worried about rubber seals on the ends of the pivot bolt tube?

Better to have them pressed out so as not to damage the aluminum.

Grease fittings are for heavy equipment, not motorcycles! Just pack the bearings normally, no need to load the whole tube with grease. As far as the pivot seals, I wouldn't leave them out if I didn't want to have rusty bearings.

I agree, the end seas are critical. I would make sure you have them on.

Thanks guys. New bearing and seals it is. According to drawings of both the GS1100 KZ1000 swingarms the end seals are called caps. Are they rubber, steel or plastic or what?
And will the bearing to bolt sleeves from my Kaw fit the Suzuki swingarm?

riverroad wrote:

Thanks guys. New bearing and seals it is. According to drawings of both the GS1100 KZ1000 swingarms the end seals are called caps. Are they rubber, steel or plastic or what?
And will the bearing to bolt sleeves from my Kaw fit the Suzuki swingarm?

You'll have to use the Suzuki caps/seals. I'm not sure about the sleeves as I have a gixxer arm on mine, but I had to machine inserts to make the Suz sleeves the proper inside diameter for the Kawasaki bolt.

Good info so far guys but I have a GS related swingarm. I got a GS swingarm that came off a KZ1000 that did the swap. I am putting it on my 78 KZ650. It looks like I have all the required spacers and correct axle but I am confused on the correct bearings. I understand I need the 1000 20mm wheel bearings but when I go to order them there are to many options. Which wheel bearings do i need? I am running mags if that matters.