Why cant I get this bolt out?

[trikeman]

On my 84' 250r i cannot get out the long bolt that holds the swingarm onto the frame, i can get it to move about 1/4 inch but then it stops and wont move. It's not the brake lever or anything like that holding it back either.
~Rich

[ATCMedic]

Sounds like your swingarm bolt is stuck in the collars that ride inside the swingarm bearings. This is a common problem, if you have access to a press you can usually get it pressed out without damaging anything. Sometimes the only way to get it fixed is to cut the bolt out and replace everything. Wish I had better news for you....

[trikeman]

so it cant be beat out with a hammer?

[skippy]

youll prob end up mushrooming the end.. and then cutting it..

[trikeman]

Damn this isnt cool, all that i'm getting is bad news

[motoman1012002]

heat up the bearings and tap the bolt out

[Beer_Smurf]

I had been fighting with getting mine out for a long time until I finally found a solution.

I used a 3X rivet gun with a flush set.
You need to put a 1/4" thick piece of sheet aluminum between the rivet gun and the swingarm bolt so you don't damage the swingarm bolt.
Use the hammering of the rivet gun to drive the bolt back and forth, in and out as much as it will move.
The vibrations will eventually free up the corroded collars.

I had tried presses and sledge hammers and this is the only thing that I found to work.

[trikeman]

when i turn the bolt it turns pretty easy, i got it to move about another 1/4" just before but no more than that :evil:

[skippy]

or you can cut the bolt right in the middle,, probaly ending up replacing it anyway, and then go from there.. but surely try heat first!

[Beer_Smurf]

Where do you plan to cut?
Thru the swingarm, or thru the engine cases?

[kdagenais]

My suggestion would soak it with PB Blaser and try to push it out as far as it will go. Then apply more PB blsater and push it back in. Keep repeating the process and each time on the way out try to push it a little further.
This is not an exact science and time consuming and you still might damage the bolt but what you going to do.

[NOS_350X]

get a bigger hammer

[trikeman]

Yea but if i can turn it easily, and move it about a half inch it shouldnt be locked up with rust should it? I just had it out about 7 months ago...

[Mobular]

The problem is that the bolt has most likely seized itself to the swimgarm bearings and/or the center collar. Cut the bolt between the frame and swingarm on both sides, have the remains pressed out, and rebuild the whole thing using a good anti seize compound.

[trikeman]

Yea thats probably most likely what i'll have to do :(

[Red Rider]

Trikeman, the reason the swingarm pivot bolt is still turning freely, but won't come out is this: It has seized, rusted, or corroded (call it what you want) itself to the inside of the inner bearing races. It won't slide out of the races because of the corrosion, but the races are still turning freely inside the needle bearings. My brother had the same problem on his 85 250R, and he ended up cutting the pivot bolt to remove it. Regardless of how you get it out, remove all corrosion from the pivot bolt/bearing races and apply a light coat grease to both before reassembly.

[legaleagle]

I have used a pneumatic chisel typically used for removing automotive ball joints with a pointed fitting. Works great for pushing frozen bolts in addition to removing ball joint rivets!