swing arm dust covers

Got questions? We got answers....
Post Reply
User avatar
layoutd
Member
Posts: 167
Joined: 08:51 am Feb 25 2005
Country:
Location: Nooga, TN

swing arm dust covers

Post by layoutd »

is there a secret to getting these out?
can i spray a little "Deep Creep" penetrant along the sides to help them slip off? They seem like they want to tear, if i have not already torn one.
Eatin' ain't Cheatin'
User avatar
strider80
Supporting Member III
Supporting Member III
Posts: 489
Joined: 12:26 pm Jul 21 2006
Country:
Location: Bothell, WA

Post by strider80 »

Mine were glued on. I had to just grab them with pliers and a rag, not too much damage. I put them back on with some RTV.
2005 KTM 250EXC
2000 KDX200 (gone)
User avatar
layoutd
Member
Posts: 167
Joined: 08:51 am Feb 25 2005
Country:
Location: Nooga, TN

Post by layoutd »

were you able to reuse them?
Eatin' ain't Cheatin'
User avatar
Jeb
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1894
Joined: 08:01 pm Jul 14 2006
Country:
Location: Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky

Post by Jeb »

I lost one of mine, the other's stuck on like glue like yours.

Where to find a replacement? Not on buykawasaki.com that I can tell . . .
"No farmer ever plowed a field by turning it over in his mind" -George E. Woodbury

CLICK FOR PICS!
User avatar
Indawoods
Creator and Founder
Creator and Founder
Posts: 9951
Joined: 09:59 am Jun 12 2003
Country:
Location: Midwest

Post by Indawoods »

That just means you have never ... or anybody for that matter.... greased your swingarm bearings! :shock:
*** Administrator //***
****'95 KDX 200/****

"People ate cows a thousand years ago for the same reason we eat them now. Cause they are easy to catch.We're not savages,we're just lazy. A cheetah could taste like chocolate heroin. But will never know. Those bastards are fast!!! "
User avatar
strider80
Supporting Member III
Supporting Member III
Posts: 489
Joined: 12:26 pm Jul 21 2006
Country:
Location: Bothell, WA

Post by strider80 »

>|<>QBB<
layoutd wrote:were you able to reuse them?
Yea, they were fine. Just use something soft on the pliers so you don't cut them up too much. Just pinch them in the middle.


Are you greasing your bearings?
2005 KTM 250EXC
2000 KDX200 (gone)
User avatar
layoutd
Member
Posts: 167
Joined: 08:51 am Feb 25 2005
Country:
Location: Nooga, TN

Post by layoutd »

i'm replacing my bearings
Eatin' ain't Cheatin'
User avatar
canyncarvr
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 6943
Joined: 01:07 pm Nov 05 2004
Country: US
Location: The Mythical State of Jefferson

Post by canyncarvr »

From past experience I know my swingarm bearings are good for 3-4 suspension bearing maintains...and the latter is about every six months.

..with the caged lower shock bearing. With the OEM lower shock it was more like every two months.

I do re-place mine using RTV. To remove, I use an orange-stick kind'a thing (actually a nylon fret replacement tool used on Printronix line printers) to lever the cover away from the frame. Once that part of the 'glue' is 'unglued' it comes off pretty well.

Consider the source
Using a perceived level of knowledge to boost my self worth.
Non impediti ratione cogitationis

bike profile: !clicky!
User avatar
canyncarvr
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 6943
Joined: 01:07 pm Nov 05 2004
Country: US
Location: The Mythical State of Jefferson

Post by canyncarvr »

Seek and ye shall find.

From the 'Engine Mount' diagram at BuyKawi:

Image

It's callout 'E', 11012.

That translates to:

11012 11012-1591 CAP,AXLE NUT

Yeah...it's NOT a cap for the axle nut, but if you look where 'E' goes, it's the swingarm pivot cap.

There 'ya go!!

Consider the source
Using a perceived level of knowledge to boost my self worth.
Non impediti ratione cogitationis

bike profile: !clicky!
User avatar
layoutd
Member
Posts: 167
Joined: 08:51 am Feb 25 2005
Country:
Location: Nooga, TN

Post by layoutd »

So, let's just say that hypothetically one of the covers was dry rotted and had to be dug out in 20 pieces, hypothetically speaking of course. How bad is it to not replace these? just have an extra hole to clean out? Any suggestions for replacement? i imagine that kawasaki is proud of this little piece, i have not looked them up yet.
Eatin' ain't Cheatin'
User avatar
bradf
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 703
Joined: 02:17 am Dec 11 2004
Country: USA
Location: Anderson, SC

Post by bradf »

I hypothetically replaced one of mine last summer at $3.10 because I hypothetically didn't glue it in.
'04 220 w/'01 KX250 USD forks, '02 RM125 Showa shock, Rekluse EXP 3.0, LHRB & all RB'd
User avatar
m0rie
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 2220
Joined: 10:25 pm Nov 29 2004
Country:
Location: Crescent City, CA

Post by m0rie »

Mine have been hypothetically missing since I got the bike. I keep meaning to buy a pair of them but haven't bothered yet. So far its just prompted me to tear everything apart on a more regular basis.
1989 KDX 200
2007 TTR-50E
User avatar
canyncarvr
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 6943
Joined: 01:07 pm Nov 05 2004
Country: US
Location: The Mythical State of Jefferson

Post by canyncarvr »

Start with the name of the things...'Axle caps'...and the consider they in fact are NOT on the AXLE. The (rear) axle survives without caps, so I suppose the swingarm pivot could, too. There is more likely crud going to get in between the swingarm and frame than from that outside hole. THAT is pretty well closed off with the pin shoulder and nut/washer.

Now is when m0rie says, 'Washer?'

I doubt those caps are a big deal. I'd buy replacements if I goobered one, though (not that I ever WOULD do that...but speaking hypothetically of course), because I don't like the looks of the empty hole.

AND...what if having them there does in fact (non-hypothetically speaking) keep the swingarm bearings alive!!??

Yes, I do understand that the pivot pin is as much an axle as the rear wheel axle is.

Consider the source
Using a perceived level of knowledge to boost my self worth.
Non impediti ratione cogitationis

bike profile: !clicky!
User avatar
m0rie
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 2220
Joined: 10:25 pm Nov 29 2004
Country:
Location: Crescent City, CA

Post by m0rie »

>|<>QBB<
canyncarvr wrote: Now is when m0rie says, 'Washer?'
There I done said it already... :mrgreen:
1989 KDX 200
2007 TTR-50E
Post Reply