85 250r swingarm help needed *UPDATE*

[vrswiss]

update. Culpeper cycle center refunded me the labor charge I'm glad, been going in there for 20 years.

So I had the dreaded stuck swingarm bolt on my 85R. Nothing was getting it out so I ended up cutting it out. The local cycle shop quoted me 25 bucks to push the stuck bolt out of the swinger. Went to pick it up and the bill was $65, first
bummer. I could see they heated the crap out of the swingarm where the bolt goes through, paint is gone. I go to put it back together and realized they seriously deformed the rear motor mount while trying to get the bolt out, bought a used
motor mount for $20, 2nd bummer. The middle tube on the old motor mount is actually bent crooked from where it looks like the pounded the crap out of the swingarm smashing it inward on the mount. Went to put it all together today and the swingarm
won't fit onto the motor mount, when the inner dust caps are on. It seems when they were heating and pounding on the swingarm they actually bent it inward where the bolt goes through. When I put the swingarm on the R without the inner dust caps its
tight on the mount and there are large gaps between the frame and the outer dust caps on both sides. Anyone have a 85 swingarm they could measure for me so I can see how far mine is out by? Outside edge to outside edge where the bolt
passes through? I'm so freaking over this nightmare, just want to ride already! Anyone have a nice and straight 85 swingarm they can sell me cheap? Thanks

[tecat-z]

Sometimes it pays to just cut em' out. I rarely heat anything in that area. The heat never really gets to the problem which is almost always the collar siezed to the pivot bolt. It's buried to deep for proper heat penetration. I do the usual tricks to free them up, if that fails, i use a air hammer with a blunt/flat surface. This will usually do the trick without harming anything. But, if that fails the sawzall always works. Nothing worse thay pounding with a sledge hammer in frustration and taking out everything in the way of siezed collars. Apparently thats what they did. The air hammer wont even harm the end of the bolt it's working againts. It doesn't have the weight, it just agitates everything and works the rust loose into powder, and drives out the problem.

[aldochina]

that sucks man!! shoulda left it on the frame, and pressed it out in one piece! sucks they boned the crap out of you!! over charged, and they ruined your parts!! i can take a measurement for you when i get home?? i just scored a nice 86 swinger on ebay for 34.00 shipped!! keep an eye out, they pop up often!

[JasonB]

ya stock swingers are all over :D i got one you can have, its listed in the fs section for 50 but you can have it for 40$ shipped if it helps you. Its for an 86 so there are caliper differences.

either way, i had to cut out my 86 swinger bolt. Had a local shop press the bolt sections out that were left and they did a good job. was very happy and only paid like 30$ i think. either way, luck of the draw. sometimes these bolts are pretty much welded in there! Good luck!

[vrswiss]

Thanks aldochina, a measurement would be great. I tried everything I could before cutting it out, soaking it with PB blaster, air hammer, BFG all over a weeks time. It wouldn't even turn with a impact wrench or breaker bar so I finally cut it out, which sucked by the way.. I'm especially bummed because the machine has been out of service now for about 3 weeks and I wanna ride, not to mention the money. Guess I'm just gonna have to buy another.

[vrswiss]

Thanks for the offer JasonB, I'm gonna try to find a 85 swinger first so I don't need a caliper too. Wonder if the brand new bearings and collars that got pressed into my F'ed swingarm can be pressed out and reused?

[vrswiss]

Here she is during happier times.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/whitebirdrocks/DSC03423.jpg

[aldochina]

thats a nice looking R, suprised you had to cut the swinger bolt!! If i didnt have a press i would have had to also, but my r is a rust mountain all around!! i'll see what i can do about that measurement!

[falloutboy]

Thats too bad they damaged your parts. I kind of doubt you could get them to do anything about it either...

if you need a new pivot bolt, one from a trx450r or a 400ex is the same bolt, FYI.

Nice looking R too!

[aldochina]

heres what i got, i put the 1" mark on the edge of the actual swinger, did not include the bearing retainer! looks like 8.5" on the money outside to outside!
http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/aldochina/DSCN0508.jpg
http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/aldochina/DSCN0509.jpg
http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/aldochina/DSCN0510.jpg

[vrswiss]

Thanks aldochina, thats exactly what I needed. Gonna go measure mine after work to make sure I'm not crazy.

I picked up this R about 6 months ago. Its got a NOS cutoff motor(main reason I bought it) that hasn't had more than 5 tanks of fuel run through it, NOS shock, NOS forks and a bunch of other new parts. Pretty sure the swingarm had never been off though. Had a Tri Z before this and there is no going back after feeling the power and pull of a fresh R motor :)

[vrswiss]

Just called the Culpeper Cycle Center to inform them how the ruined my swinger, and to nicely ask for my $65 labor charge back. No luck there. All I got was " the bill should have been $105 but we cut you a deal on labor since it was more than we originally quoted you". Oh, thanks for the discount assholes :( They also say they can spread it back open but I'm not going for that. It will probably never be right and I'm worried about it tracking funny or a messed up chain alignment.

If you find yourself in Virginia needing work or part try and avoid the Culpeper Cycle Center, I know I will be from now on. The parts guy Tom is a good dude and I won't hold this against him personally, however, I can't help but feel I got royally screwed on this one. Lesson learned I guess.

[JasonB]

just to re re confirm that; the 400ex bolt works its what Im running on my bike since I cut the last bolt into like 17 pieces :D

[4x4van]

I'd almost recommend not trying to straighten it if it's bent there, and instead take aldochina up on his offer. Even a tiny bit off will translate into a larger discrepancy at the axle end, and tracking will be weird. You likely wouldn't notice it most of the time, but push it hard through the whoops and it's gonna start hopping funny and spit you off in a high-side. All depends on your riding style, just something to think about.

[vrswiss]

Yeah, I did buy a 400ex bolt and it seems like it will work fine.

I figured trying to spread it back open would be a lost cause that would only lead to more frustration.

I just find it hard to believe that a supposed reputable shop wouldn't stand behind their work on something like this. I understand trailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro happens but if it were my shop I wouldn't be charging folks their hard earned money for services the resulted in ruined parts. Thanks for all the help fellas.

[Swinger]

Hey bud, if you feel like trying this again, I have an 85R frame with the swingarm bolt frozen and I gave up on. I will give you the frame and swinger and everything for free. Just pay shipping or come and get it. I dont want to scrap it because its against my religion. Got a title for an 85 too. Let me know.

[vrswiss]

Thanks for the offer 84t3, if you were local I would consider it.

I'm gonna go have some face time with the owner of this shop tomorrow. Hopefully he will help me out and not leave me hanging.

[RoscoW]

If your interested in a freshly Powder coated, 85 with new decals, new bearings and re- plated hardware I can hook you up. (decals are on now)
PM me if your interested
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af77/Roscowbuggies/Red%20R%20rebuild/DSC04917.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af77/Roscowbuggies/Red%20R%20rebuild/DSC04918.jpg

Ross..

[vrswiss]

That sure is purty, and would look killer on my machine. Not sure its gonna be in my budget though. IM sent.