Will a 3xw-abs take an ally swing arm?

[1tinindian]

I put a 89 AL swing arm in my 91.
Direct bolt in, non ABS 91.

Leon

Did you have any issues with mounting the swing arm relay?

No issues at all, as I said, it was a direct bolt in.
The only mods were the use of my own shortened dog bones and the polish job.

Leon

[jscgdunn]

I put a 89 AL swing arm in my 91.
Direct bolt in, non ABS 91.

Leon

Makes sense.  If you can use the 3XW relay arm with the alum swing arm everything else should bolt together.  In the UK Fj club catalogue the have good pictures of the swingarm/linkages showing which bearings you need if replacing.  Sorry could not get the link to open this morning....

[Grey runner]

Changing from a steel arm to Ali could not be any easier, it's a straight swop, you are correct about the off set but that is taken care of by spring mount which is the off set part, this will match the off set on the frame, Stop being a "Girlie" and do it! By the way you will need the chain adjuster for the ali arm 'cose the steel ones are different.

[1tinindian]

  By the way you will need the chain adjuster for the ali arm 'cose the steel ones are different.

Good catch!

Leon

[nurse]

  By the way you will need the chain adjuster for the ali arm 'cose the steel ones are different.

Good catch!

Leon

You guys are bloody fantastic! If you lived closer I'd buy you all a beer!

As collectives go we do rock!!

[nurse]

Ok, quick update.  1990 ally swing arm on its way, thanks to a retired old sailor with a sympathetic streak for those trying to restore/mod older bikes.  He had an old 88 he was breaking and a tidy 90 he was using as a hobby bike.  So when I told him what I was doing he stripped out the 90 (plus chain tensioners) for me.  All for less that £40!! Bargain!

Now I just need to decide if I polish it my self or pay some other mug to do it! Given the list of other bits I have on the go I may send it out!?

Quick question can the relay arm be taken out without removing the collector box?

Just as a point of interest for those interested, the 3xw swing arm without tensioners, spindle or bushing (but with bearings - and a bit of corrosion here and there) weighs in at 7.8kg which by today's exchange rate is about 17lbs US.

Also gone is the ABS pump, didn't weigh it but it must have been at least 2-3kg.

[Bigbadfrankie]

I am about to put a alloy swinging arm in my 3xw this winter. I have the arm just have to polish it up. I might do the cushion drive rubber and I hope to have a new shock .

[nurse]

Ok folks need a bit of help/reassurance. The 1990 alu swing arm has finally arrived. All looks ok (no tensioners with it as promised but that's a slightly different issue).

The swing arm itself from the 90 appears to have a different internal and external diameter compared to the 93.  The actual tube of the frame is wider.  Does this mean it has a different axle?

I offered my 93 axle up to it and it looks too short?!  Is this compensated for by the different tensioner, as this 1990 swing arm clearly has a wider opening where the tensioner and axle nut sits.

I'm running the gsxr rear btw so will this observed change in width of the swingarm opening affect the spacers needed, compared to that which were used on the 93 instal??

Any thoughts from those with experience welcome (1tinindian in particular)

Don't mean to be a PITA but just want to know what bits I need before polish and reassembly.

Thanks in advance

Mike

[racerrad8]

The rear axles are all the same according to the part number.

The adjuster are different between aluminum & steel swing arms.

I believe the inside width is the same between the steel & aluminum.

Are you sure you received an FJ part?

Randy - RPM

[The General]

The rear axles are all the same according to the part number.

The adjuster are different between aluminum & steel swing arms.

I believe the inside width is the same between the steel & aluminum.

Are you sure you received an FJ part?

Randy - RPM

Baldy found the 1990 axle to be shorter than the 1993 axle on the weekend. I already knew, but didn`t tell him till after he speared Darrans old axle into FJ3.  (about 2 cm from memory.) 

[racerrad8]

Baldy found the 1990 axle to be shorter than the 1993 axle on the weekend. I already knew, but didn`t tell him till after he speared Darrans old axle into FJ3.  (about 2 cm from memory.) 

That is interesting, I just checked the application of part number; 36Y-25381-00-00 before posting and it is listed for all of the US model years.

Maybe the international bikes have a different axle...?

Randy - RPM

[movenon]

Another mystery... If its any help I have a 1989 swing arm off on the bench that I can measure..? 

I set it in the back patio on a work stand waiting for Leon to come and polish it.... But he wouldn't take the bate... So I sat a beer next to it, came back a few days later the beer was gone there laid my poor swingarm untouched... Running out of nice days here, I guess that I am going have to dig into the project. 

I am not following you on "The swing arm itself from the 90 appears to have a different internal and external diameter compared to the 93." ?

George

[Capn Ron]

As collectives go we do rock!!

Yeah, that's true.   

Cap'n Ron. . .

[Grey runner]

The external dimensions is probably different because of the different dimensions of the material used, the inside measurement is subject to the fact that the ali arm has to be under tension to acheive maximum stiffness when torqued up so is by default wider than the complete components on the axle. If you dont believe me go and loosen your rear axle nut and see what happens to the fit.

[nurse]

Ok folks a quick update for you all.  The ally swing arm has arrived, has been striped and cleaned and is currently being polished. There has been some talk about the removal of and replacing of the anodising on it. I didn't know it was anodised but 'my man what knows' insists it is and is looking into if it can be replaced once polished.

The swingarm is in ok condition there are a few minor bits but for £30 you can't moan at that.  By the time it's done and reinstalled you will never know!

Have had my scales out and have some interesting findings.  The ally arm only weighs 4.26kg.  The steel is 7.8kg. A weight saving of 3.5kg! Fantastic

The initial size issues are now clear to me.  The axle is the same on the 90 (ally) swingarm and the 93 (we know that) but what is different is the mounting mechanism.  It mounts on the chain tensioners of the ally swingarm. These tensioners sit 'inside' the swingarm this means in effect the overall outside width of the swingarm is wider than the mounting faces of the axle itself.  On the 93 the axle actually mounts up to the swingarm itself, therefore this explaines the apparent difference in widths between the two.

All that's left now is to polish the arm, modify soupys adjustable dogbones (because I bought the ones which lower-not raise.  What a muppet!) any suggestions on how much material to remove welcomed.  To give me options to lower/raise 2 inches I estimate about 7mm of material from each end.  But need to offer it up when it's all back together.  Also need to install the RPM shock into all this which is sitting waiting. 

Some indoor work to do now the weather is turning.  Need to dig out the heater soon!