'85 Fj1100 excessive shock linkage wear

[mr blackstock]

I replaced all the bushes and pivots in the shock linkage around February 2013, and as I was removing the stock Fj shock to install a Honda F4i shock, I noticed what I think to be excessive wear from just a year of use.  During the year I may have done around 10 to 15000 kms.

Everything was greased prior to installation.  Have other people come across this?  Should I re-grease with a different type of grease?  I do not want to spend another $350 for bushes in a year or so.

Opinions would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Gareth

[Pat Conlon]

As I've said before....Take those '84/85 grease bushings and throw them away. They are a poor design.
Convert over to the superior needle bearings used on the '86/87 linkage.

[FJ1100mjk]

That doesn't look too bad. Just a little wear and some scoring. Mine on my '85 looked like yours, and all was good after a thorough cleaning, lube and assembly.

Just clean up the scoring with some 800 or so grit emery cloth. Use a good grease when thoroughly lubing.

Since you'll have the shock off, grab a hold of the swingarm and twist and pull on it. If you don't feel any excessive perceptible play in it, the clearances in all your pivot points are good. Not sure if you took the swingarm off too, and cleaned and lubed its bearings, bearing surfaces, and seals or not, but if you haven't I'd recommend doing it now since you're in this deep in this area. Torque everything up properly, and you'll be good to go.

No use in spending your money (and doing extra work) on something that is not needed.

[mr blackstock]

As I've said before....Take those '84/85 grease bushings and throw them away. They are a poor design.
Convert over to the superior needle bearings used on the '86/87 linkage.

I will be converting over to needles later, instead of buying more "impossible to find" bushes.

I am currently trying to source some molybedenum disulfide grease, as specified in the service manual, I am hoping using that grease will offer better life expectancy for the bushes and pivot currently in place.

I might also do the swingarm.... sometimes I think this bike get more attention than the wife!

Cheers, Gareth

[Pat Conlon]

Gareth, a couple of Q's:
Do you do a lot of wet weather riding?
Is there anything you might have done to wash or dilute the grease in the bushings? Pressure washing?
What grease did you use?

The grease bushings when serviced, are very low friction, thus the hot ticket for a track bike where service work is done frequently....However, on a street bike, where service is less frequent it's a different story. Especially bikes operating in wet climates.

The needle bearings while slightly higher in friction, retain the grease better, thus the change on the '87+ FJs

Anyway, that's the way it was explained to me 25 years ago. I changed my '84 back in '90, no problems since.

[mr blackstock]

G'day,

I do ride in wet weather, but the grease I use is great in that it sticks like glue, no water gets past it, unless of course you use a pressure washer, which I have'nt.

From the little bit of research I have been doing, non-lithium based molybedenum disulfide grease is best for use in bushes as it has exceptional "crush" resistance.  Whereas the grease I have used, and most people use, is perhaps best for bearings, roller or needle.

I am having a hard time finding some moly grease that does not include lithium.  Cannot get Yamalube moly grease in Australia.

Cheers, Gareth

[Pat Conlon]

....Cannot get Yamalube moly grease in Australia.

Is it not allowed or you just can't find it? If the latter, perhaps RPM Randy can send you a tub?

[racerrad8]

Is it not allowed or you just can't find it? If the latter, perhaps RPM Randy can send you a tub?

This is the only grease you will ever need.

Redline Synthetic Grease

I swear by this stuff for everything I have to grease except for internal engine parts as it will not melt and will stay solidified if use internally, just look at the drop point temp...

Heck ,I know guys who used it on their door hinges in their home and now the doors swing so freely they will never stay in one position as the wind walking by them allows them to move...

Randy - RPM

[mr blackstock]

I can get redline locally also, thanks for the tip!

Should it be used in place of molybedenum disulfide grease?  Have you used CV2 for shock linkages? 
Redline also stock assembly lube, this extract from their site "...Three times greater film strength than conventional black molybdenum disulfide greases..."  Should I use this?

Cheers, Gareth

[racerrad8]

Should it be used in place of molybedenum disulfide grease?  Have you used CV2 for shock linkages? 
Redline also stock assembly lube, this extract from their site "...Three times greater film strength than conventional black molybdenum disulfide greases..."  Should I use this?

Yes, I use it on all of my swing arm bearings, wheel & steering head bearings, speedo cables and anything else that needs to be greased.

No, the assembly lube is more for internal engine work to cling to surfaces at start up and then dissolve with the engine oil, the grease will not do that.

Randy - RPM

[ribbert]

The markings on the pin don't appear to have any depth to them (the bush is much softer than the pin)  but it is not an appropriate design for that application and is probably why Yamaha dumped it so soon.

Yes, it is important to use the right grease, but don't over think it.
To expect any reasonable service life it needs to be greased regularly and would benefit greatly from grease nipples (and bushes that allow the distribution of it)

Why are the bushes so expensive?

As for Yamalube, I have never seen a vehicle branded lubricant that is anything other than off the shelf stuff under a different name.
Assembly lube is just that, assembly lube for engines.
I just use Moly grease for all these sorts of jobs.

In my opinion, an arrangement like this is not a "grease and forget" proposition. These parts move enough to cause wear but not enough to keep the grease moving around.
Try not lubricating king pins on a car regularly (same design) and see how long they last.

If this was my bike and I intended to keep the current set up I would definitely put grease nipples in it.

More so than oil, grease is much more task specific, so using an appropriate one will give a better result, but don't get too fussy.

Noel

[movenon]

Last time I used Yamalube Marine Grease I got from the local boat dealer.  Next time (very soon) I will give the Red Line a shot in the 1990 FJ.  Probably a lot of swing arms that need to be serviced.
George

[mr blackstock]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I think I will just get some redline CV2 grease.  The only molybedenum disulfide grease available easily only has around 3-5% moly content, the molybedenum with higher moly content is either too expensive, or cannot be ordered in small amounts, and no-one has any locally, such as Honda 60 moly paste, or loctite moly paste.

I guess in a year or two I will just do the needle bearing conversion.  Thanks for all the help, who would have thought it would be so hard to get a specific grease.

Cheers, Gareth

[TexasDave]

Why would I want to use Red Line Grease? If you check the MSDS for CV2 it says an olefin sulfide with organic. According to the grease industry this is a polyalphaolefin with molybedenum disulfide. "Olefin" is the synthetic grease in widespread use because it has better properties than grease made from refined petroleum . Stronger adhesive properties, higher temperature drop and more resistant to water wash out. Used in a variety of names and brands. Any one heard of Mobil 1? Same stuff. Just like oil ( Lets don't go there) different additives are added for different purposes. The US armed forces uses a grease for all their light armament (not the G word) called CLP. It is Olefin with teflon added because a heavy duty lubricant is not needed. When a heavier use grease is needed molybedenum is added. There is a grease manufactoring plant in Rockwall Texas that cannot keep up with demand and are doubling the size of the plant. Their main customer is the railroad.They manufacture tons of polyalphaolefin. Someone must think its good stuff. I think I'll use it.   Dave

[ribbert]

.......Just like oil ( Lets don't go there).........

Dave

No need, you're doing a mighty fine job with grease.