Suspected bent swingarm.

I've been working on getting the xj550 1982 I bought last week back on the road. Got it serviced, changed intake rubbers, carbs cleaned and it runs like a darling. But when I had it up on the lift I noticed something strange. The rear wheel is tilted on the vertical plane. The top part of the wheel is quite a bit farther to the left than the bottom. I tried to take some measurements but it's hard when you don't know whats straight to begin with

Is there anything else that can create this issue? Shocks? Worn out swing bearings?

Or could it be some kind of illusion because the tail lamp and its cowl being crooked as crazy?

 

On the center stand remove the rear wheel, replace the axle. Put a level on the axle, note the reading. Then put the level across the frame (seat off) it should be parallel to the axle. Try wiggling the S.A to check the S/A bearings. Put the axle through the wheel bearing and try to wiggle the axle to check the wheel bearings, You could also do this before removing the rear wheel? Not a shock issue IMO, as the shocks would comply with a bent S/A not the other way around.
Cheers, 50gary

 

Measure the full length of the shock absorber springs on each side. They should be the same if there is no damage the swinging arm. As stated you can grab the tyre at the top and bottom and try to move it away and towards you to check wheel bearings. There should be no movement.

 

Perfect, thank you for your instructions.

If the swing arm is bent. Is it ok to straiten it? With a gas torch an a level surface? Or would you recommend changing it all together?

If it need to be changed. Is there any other model of swingarm you could use? The XJ550 was never a common motorcycle in Sweden and the swing seems to be hard to find in Europe at large. Everyone I can find is from the USA and, sorry to all of you USA-ians, it's become a real pain in the behind to buy from there. The taxing and shipment makes almost inpossible...

 

xj600 swingarm on a xj550

this thread may be more usefull
https://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/alloy-swingarm-for-550-seca.58216/#post-448496

 

Hmm, none of those are available in Sweden either.

Would a xj 400 1981 swing arm work?

 

Think I might found the problem...

Guess that I need a new swing arm..

Is there a trick to get the swing arm axle out? It seems almost welded in place. I've tried everything from an assortment of pullers up to my biggest hammer.

 

You need to be sure that the main-stand is lifting your bike true vertical before you can make that judgement, as mentioned above use your spirit level
on the frame above the swinging arm to check

There are composite bushes and also a spindle with a sleeve in there if the spindle is seized on its sleeve it will be a bastart to get out. You can try and get some penetrating fluid in there and use LOTs of small/medium taps on the spindle, maybe some heat too.

Yes the XJ400 swinger will likely fit also 550 Maxim is the same

 

the only place to check the horizontal level on the swingarm is check the vertical plumb of the steering stem, but since the bike is together, the next best place is the vertical plumb of the front wheel
and that depends on if the wheel is straight ahead

 

It was a bastard! But with one whole can of WD-40, one can of crawling lithium lubricant, one can of brake cleaner and a looooooooooot of patience I got it out!

I used a spirit level and checked everything else. My lift is perfectly level in every direction. The frame was level. The mount for the swing arm was level, the steering stem was level.

I took it off and brought it to our mechanics at work. They put it in a dead straight jig that we use for balancing motor axles, and it is quite severely bent.

 

Obviously bent....don’t even need the level to tell that. The two ends are not in a parallel plane with the swingarm pivot plane.

 

I'd be doing a very close inspection of the frame and wheels.
This bike was likely crashed hard.

 

Cleaned the swing arm thoroughly at work today. The swing arm have taken a quite severe hit on the left side. Almost looks like something has struck it from above! There was actually heat marks on it, so someone have tried to fix it but haven't really succeeded! I went to the garage today, stripped the rear end of the bike and cleaned the frame. I can't find any sings that there is any other damages.

 

For your own safety you should get the frame checked professionally.

 

I'll do that!

 

Mystery solved. I managed to get in touch with the owner who had the bike before the firm I bought it off.

The twisted swing was easy to explain.. The bike stood for about 10 years in a barn. When they went to take it out to use as part payment for a boat, on the firm I got it from, they found the swing mount completely seized.

So what did they do? Carefully removed the axle? Nope. They went and got the biggest sledge hammer they had and beat the swing until it moved again...

So, no big mystery why it was bent out of shape.

 

Lots to choose from on ebay! https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=xj550+swing+arm&_sacat=0