Dog bones

[chocker]

I live in Montreal Quebec Canada and I've tried many different hardware stores and the thickest flat bar they had was 1/8 of an inch. Since I'm I'm Maine now I can look into the stores you mentioned.

Thanks,
Mark

[Shaun]

Here is another thought for you, go down to your local spring shop, i.e. a shop the makes leaf springs for your car. They start out with flat bar that is obviously not arced yet. The material is in a condition that is called "half hard" so to speak it can be cut with a hack saw drilled in a drill press and worked they way you need it. Comes in variable thicknesses as you would expect it to, stands up to twist and flex that the FJ might produce. Used it on mine and works fine with no issues, sudden flex or bends to date, I can trust it to work the way it was intended. Just another thought.

Shaun

I live in Montreal Quebec Canada and I've tried many different hardware stores and the thickest flat bar they had was 1/8 of an inch. Since I'm I'm Maine now I can look into the stores you mentioned.

Thanks,
Mark

[chocker]

I have found the flat bar at home depot. So that is taken care of. All I need now is the 12mm drill bit. Does anyone have any idea of where I can pick one up on the United States or Canada hopefully not online because I would want to get it as soon as possible.

Thanks,
Mark

[racerrad8]

12mm is only .028" smaller than 1/2".

Drill them 1/2" and you will be fine.

Randy - RPM

[chocker]

Thanks for the info Randy, I appreciate it. Would you happen to know what the torque setting is for the dog bone bolts?

[FJmonkey]

I want to know what amount everyone has shortened their bones from stock is. I want to make some sets for my 86 to 89 conversion. Inches/MM anyone...? 

[1tinindian]

I want to know what amount everyone has shortened their bones from stock is. I want to make some sets for my 86 to 89 conversion. Inches/MM anyone...? 

I can't believe it, I went looking for my stock dog bones to give you their measurements and I can't find them.
I'll keep looking!

Leon

[Pat Conlon]

   I have my '84 converted to '89 linkage.... Randy, can you measure my links for Mark?

[racerrad8]

Thanks for the info Randy, I appreciate it. Would you happen to know what the torque setting is for the dog bone bolts?

I do not know the Yamaha torque spec, I recommend GnT since they seat against the inner bearings.


GnT = good-N-tight

Randy - RPM

[racerrad8]

  I have my '84 converted to '89 linkage.... Randy, can you measure my links for Mark?

Sure, but does the different swing arm affect the dog bone length?

Randy - RPM

[Arnie]

I want to know what amount everyone has shortened their bones from stock is. I want to make some sets for my 86 to 89 conversion. Inches/MM anyone...? 

From memory (always a dodgy source), when I had the OEM shock in my '91 I shortened the dogbones to 12.5cm (aka 125mm, 4.9x inches)

Arnie

[Pat Conlon]

Sure, but does the different swing arm affect the dog bone length?

Good catch...I forgot about that.... It might or might not...dunno.

Mark, you're gonna have to do it the old fashioned way...

Get your '89/90/91 relay arm installed, with your bike on the centerstand, shim the tire up to where you want it, then measure. I used 1/2 inch plywood under the tire for mine...

Comes with the territory of being the first modifier (first 84-87 to convert to dogbones with oem swing arm)

Cheers laddie.  Pat

[FJmonkey]

Grrrr, I have some OEM bones on my desk, but I am not ready to switch over to make an actual measurement. I am looking for something like -2 MM. -6MM etc... Or SAE -.125 and the like. I can make up a few sets to help the budget wise members....

[Derek Young]

Hey Mark. 91 FJ: stock dogbones c-c is 125mm. I shortened that length to 108mm. My rear tire (180 55 17 size) is just slightly clear of the ground when on the centerstand. This is as short as I could go without taking metal away from the linkage as the shock is just touching when on the centerstand, it clears when there is weight on it.

Hope this helps.

Derek

[FJmonkey]

Hey Mark. 91 FJ: stock dogbones c-c is 125mm. I shortened that length to 108mm. My rear tire (180 55 17 size) is just slightly clear of the ground when on the centerstand. This is as short as I could go without taking metal away from the linkage as the shock is just touching when on the centerstand, it clears when there is weight on it.

Hope this helps.

Derek

Yes Derek, that is a great starting point for me, thanks. I am going to double check the CC distance, 125mm seems long for the samples at my desk. I will let everyone know what I find.