linkage rebuild

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Hookemhornz
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linkage rebuild

Post by Hookemhornz »

Looks like I'm going to have to replace the bearings In my linkage. I do alot of business with rmatvmc and they carry two main brands I'm looking at. All balls and pivot works. Has anyone had any experience with these particular bearings and which do you prefer? Only about a buck difference in price. If anyone knows where I can get the complete rebuild kit for less, that'd be great. They run about 78 bucks there. Thanks.
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Gotanubike
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linkage rebuild

Post by Gotanubike »

I have a pivot works linkage kit coming in any day now to do while I rebuild my shock....they have very good prices, cheaper if you buy the parts individually from their website rather than then kits....well parts you think you need anyways. I skipped out on the sleeves and seals, but needed a lower shock linkage bearing.($3.49)
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Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
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Hookemhornz
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Re: linkage rebuild

Post by Hookemhornz »

Guess I'll drop everything out and see what all I need. If it's 40 or 50 worth of parts I'll probably just go ahead and rebuild it all for peace of mind.
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bufftester
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Re: linkage rebuild

Post by bufftester »

I've used both the All Balls and the Pivot Works kits, both worked great and wore well (though to be honest I replace all my bearings at the end of each race season anyways, so they see about 150-300 hours of use).. Bearings are the same, the rest is packaging.
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Gotanubike
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linkage rebuild

Post by Gotanubike »

Here's a lower shock linkage bearing that just came in today. Nice and shiny, even has a plastic sleeve inside to hold the needles.

That's SHK-004 also lists the OEM part numbers

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1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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Tyl3r
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Re: linkage rebuild

Post by Tyl3r »

bufftester wrote:I've used both the All Balls and the Pivot Works kits, both worked great and wore well (though to be honest I replace all my bearings at the end of each race season anyways, so they see about 150-300 hours of use).. Bearings are the same, the rest is packaging.
do you use any special tools for changing your bearings out or have any tips/tricks that you would like to share from experience? I'm getting ready to do mine in the near future as well and have never done it before.
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KarlP
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Re: linkage rebuild

Post by KarlP »

I swear not all bearings are created equally.
i used to go through two sets of All Balls to one set of OEM. It did not matter if I took apart regularly and regreased, either. I'd get 6 months out of All Balls and no more than a year out of OEM.
I am talking linkage bearings, here. The swingarm set would last two or three years.
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Gotanubike
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Re: linkage rebuild

Post by Gotanubike »

Tyl3r wrote:
bufftester wrote:I've used both the All Balls and the Pivot Works kits, both worked great and wore well (though to be honest I replace all my bearings at the end of each race season anyways, so they see about 150-300 hours of use).. Bearings are the same, the rest is packaging.
do you use any special tools for changing your bearings out or have any tips/tricks that you would like to share from experience? I'm getting ready to do mine in the near future as well and have never done it before.
Just a 3/8ths socket that matches the outer race of the bearing and bash the old one out with a hammer. For easier installation you can put the new bearing in the freezer for 20-30 minutes, that should shrink it slightly.
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
vlxk98
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Re: linkage rebuild

Post by vlxk98 »

Having replaced the linkage bearings in my 95/200 a few months ago, I can highly recommend the heat it with a torch method.

Even though the bearings I replaced weren't bad, long story, they were six kinds of tight in the aluminum triangle thingie.

I heated the aluminum pivot part, it took more than I thought to get the part good and hot, then pressed the bearings out with my bench vise. A socket just smaller than the bearing on one side, a socket larger than the bearing on the other so the bearing can be pushed out. My bench vise is a 4" and it took some pretty good squeezin' to get the bearings out.
Your milage may vary.

Going back in I had placed the bearings in the freezer for a while and went ahead and got the linkage hot again. It went back together fairly easy. Remember to push the bearings in to a 5mm depth (check the manual for specs but I think that is right) so everything goes back together nicely. And torque values are important too when going back together! That's part of the long story :grin:
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Gotanubike
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linkage rebuild

Post by Gotanubike »

+1 on the torch method. Mine happened to be malfunctioning last week and needless to say there were spontaneous combustions happening were they shouldn't have been. :shock: So that went back on the shelf for now

Just clean up the whole area with some solvent like gasoline and a tooth brush first. Dirt can actually jam up in the seating of the bearing and make it a lot harder to remove.
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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bufftester
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Re: linkage rebuild

Post by bufftester »

Yeah, a bench vise and a heat gun are the only tools I use for bearing changes. Can't comment on the longevity of different brands since I change mine every season. One thing I have found that helps prolong all the seals and bearings on your bike is to avoid a pressure washer in those areas. Beyond that regular maintenance greasing on the open cage bearings is all I do extra. Easiest method for bearing installation is drop the bearings in the freezer for an hour, heat the seat area up with a heat gun and drop the cold bearings in, they usually go in like butter.
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skythrasher
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Re: linkage rebuild

Post by skythrasher »

Use Pivot Works. Lifetime guarantee. I have exchanged bearings twice. That is all I buy now since they started the guarantee. Easy no questions asked exchange. They only replace the set you purchased not the set you got free, but that still makes them cost half. They even paid the shipping back to me even though the fine print says that shipping is on the customer. Very good Iowa based company.

As far as where the bearings are made I don't know. It doesn't say on the bearings, but they are made for them because they do say pivot works or PW.
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Re: linkage rebuild

Post by KDXGarage »

Like anything else we buy, if it was made in the USA, it would be in big flashing neon to help sales and marketing. It ain't, so it ain't.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
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Gotanubike
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linkage rebuild

Post by Gotanubike »

Possible that they are just universal machine parts bought in bulk and stamped their product numbers on em...Pivot Works is based in Iowa I know that. Their response is great, they get in contact with you right away.I may shoot Thomas back an email and ask him..
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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skythrasher
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Re: linkage rebuild

Post by skythrasher »

Jason wrote:Like anything else we buy, if it was made in the USA, it would be in big flashing neon to help sales and marketing. It ain't, so it ain't.
I am a machinist at a power plant and from what I have been seeing the last few years there are fewer and fewer American bearings that I would want. I am not seeing quality any better or even as good as the chinko china stuff. Even some of the bearings from traditionally American made companies are from overseas when you unpack them. Still seeing good stuff from Japan and Europe though.

I have been having good luck with the pivot works and will stick with their products. You can't beat their service and with a one time free replacement you can't beat the price.
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Gotanubike
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linkage rebuild

Post by Gotanubike »

Tom got back to me this morning...they are indeed Chinese
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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