Looking for a used relay arm

[Hppants]

Some may know that I’ve had some slack in y rear suspension for a while now. Brought the bike to a friends shop this morning and we put it on the lift. Started prying on the rear wheel and really concentrating on the source of the play. We believe it is a culmination of two holes in the relay arm, and the bushing(s) on the swing arm where the dog bones go. I’d hoped to take the ray arm down and grease it, but now I’m pretty sure it’s going to need bearings, and I don’t want to leave the bike in pieces for days waiting on parts.

So I’m going to buy a used relay arm and all the bearings/seals and bushings, along with new center stand bolts. Get the used relay arm all freshened up and then bring the bike back to my buddy’s shop ready to finish it.

No luck on eBay this morning, but maybe I’m not searching correctly. If you have a lead on a used relay arm for sale, I’m your buyer.

Obviously, for those who have gone there before me, if you have any useful advice, I’m all ears.

Thanks.

[raYzerman]

Yes they are in short supply... I understand you want to be prepared, but you also are guessing at what you got or don't got. Put the bike up on the centerstand, remove the lower shock mount and swingarm dogbone bolts, pivot the relay arm down and you can undo the other end of the dogbones. Slide all the bushings out and inspect those bearings. The only one you can't get to is the front one on the frame. It is up out of the weather and not likely needing any more than greasing. Same at the swingarm.
The bearings do not fail, they get moisture in them and rust, then seize up also affecting the bushings most likely with some pitting. There is no extra play in your suspension because of that, they don't get "sloppy". The play is by design for the most part, IMHO.
Just saying you may not need a relay arm, and you'll know what you got, i.e., if any bearings or bushings are needing replacement. Grease it up and keep riding until you find a relay arm if need be. When you get everything you need, then pull the centerstand and do the whole job.

[Red]

I’m going to buy a used relay arm and all the bearings/seals and bushings, along with new center stand bolts. Get the used relay arm all freshened up and then bring the bike back to my buddy’s shop ready to finish it.
No luck on eBay this morning, but maybe I’m not searching correctly. If you have a lead on a used relay arm for sale, I’m your buyer. Obviously, for those who have gone there before me, if you have any useful advice, I’m all ears. Thanks.

Hppants,

I do two searches on eBay: one search by Part Number only, and one search by FJR, (year), name (relay arm).
Then I try the same two searches on Google. There are several salvage yards for motorcycles on Google.
Then I try the same two searches on Craigslist. All of Craigslist, both local and national:

http://zoomthelist.com/

If all else fails, then I go and order it from the dealer.

.

[Hppants]

Found one on Ebay - comes with bushings (collars), bolts, nuts, dogbones, etc. Bottom of the relay arm looks really nice and "nic - free". Came off a low mileage bike. I may just clean it up, mic it up, grease it up, and swap the whole thing with mine.

[Snowflake]

Pants,

Let me know if you're interested in selling your 'take off', guts and all.

Thx

[Hppants]

Well, the Flea-bay part arrived and it is clean. On the outside.

2 out of the 3 bearings were rusted pretty bad - the front bearing was just "ok" (not surprisingly). The bearings in the middle hole of the relay arm would not turn with my finger. The collar had some minor pitting from the seized bearing.

So I ordered all of the bearings and the collars and the seals and the bolts from Part shark. Even got the stuff for the swing arm on the other side of the dog bones.

Then I went to Autozone and found a "blind bearing puller" that I got loaned to me for 90 days for the low price of ..... FREE!

Then I went to the hardware store and bought a piece of threaded rod and a stack of fender washers - this will be used as my "bearing installer".

Then back to the shop and used the slide hammer blind puller to remove all of the bearings. Easy peasy. Now relay arm all cleaned up and waiting on parts. At least I can still ride the bike while I wait.

The lesson here is to listen to the forum. This part needs to be taken down and lubed up IMMEDIATELY!!! I should have done this at the first oil change.

In other news, this tool is going to be the cat's meow for cutting the center stand bolts:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bosch-Starlock ... 1000625085

Much better clearance since I can rotate the cutter in virtually any angle I need.

[Hppants]

Since there is no inner race to hold the needles in place, what do yall do to protect them while installing the bearings? Grease the heavily and hope the grease holds the needles? Press or drive the bearings with the collar installed? Other?

Also- thinking about putting the bearings in the freezer first to contract them a bit and aide in the installation process. Thoughts on that?

[raYzerman]

I never did anything special.. threaded rod press small enough to go through, used washers and the old bearing pressing on the new one. Once snugged up it stays aligned while you keep on pressing.... There is a wax/thin brown plastic holding the bearings in place.. they won't fall out. I never felt I had to put those bearings in the freezer, they went in just fine. Won't hurt anything by freezing. Engine or tranny bearings, yes freeze them...

[Hppants]

OK - got this job done yesterday and this morning. First I changed all of the bearings and seals in the used relay arm I picked up from Ebay.

How do you like my $7.50 "bearing press"?



11/16" socket, 5/16" threaded rod, a few washers and nuts. This worked well for the relay arm.

However, when we got to the swing arm, getting the bearings out was difficult. I went to Autozone and for the low price of FREE, they loaned me a bearing puller similar to this one:

https://www.harborfreight.com/slide-ham ... 62601.html

That worked very well for getting the bearings out.



I had to go to Lowes and "upgrade" my bearing press to a 7/16" all steel threaded rod, and some kind of metal collar I found in the hardware department to use as a pusher. Froze the new bearings and it helped get them into the swing arm.

Thought I'd show you how I hung the bike. My buddy's shop is air conditioned (YES!!!!) and he has this awesome m/c lift. We chocked the front tire, and I used the rear axle as a lifting point. Then a 4 x 4 under the rear peg/muffler mounts, and lowered it onto Jack stands that were lifted with blocks of wood. Then we strapped it down and it was SOLID safe!



One other thing: I used this type of saw to cut the front center stand bolts:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bosch-Starlock ... 1000625085

With the bi-metal blade and some cutting oil, this worked extremely well. This type of saw gave me plenty of room to work. A sawzall would have worked, but it would have been cramped and I would have had much less control. I bought some OEM replacement bolts and locking nuts. Reversed those puppies on the install and I'm good to go for the next lubrication.

All back together now with all new bearings, seals, collars, bolts. Everything feels tight.

Having the spare relay arm proved worth the effort and time. Much less down time on my bike. Now I have a spare relay arm if anyone is looking to do the same thing.

[Snowflake]

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