Linkage Bearing Service

So....you forgot to grease your linkage bearings or they are just plain worn out?? Never fear, with a few tools and some parts you can have your linkage back to it's pristene form.

First measure the gap on both sides, this one happened to be 3mm on each side.

I am going to use the motion pro swingarm tool and a couple of sockets (Motion pro tool is for install only, the sockets+tool will remove bearings) You COULD make your own tool with a piece of all-thread and a couple of nuts and washers, I chose to just buy the tool because I am a tool addict, but that's another story....

Use one socket that is just small enough to fit THROUGH the linkage and that connects to the edge of the bearing race, use a larger socket on the opposite side that has an I.D. that is large enough for the bearing race to pass through without touching the socket, Two pieces of pipe would work too, but the sockets were more handy.

Here is the press installed and ready for bearing removal, along with the other needed tools, I suggest a shot of penetrating oil onto the race to aid in slippage, I like "Aerokroil" as it eats rust and lubricates.

Use socket and wrench to turn nuts, this will press the smaller socket into the linkage and press out old race into the larger socket on the other side.

Now choose the proper size insert from Motion Pro set, it comes with three different sizes to accomodate different bearings found on the CRF. Make sure to line everything perfect as to not destroy the new bearing race in the process, I had to remove the needle bearings so the insert would fit into the race, I wanted to clean all of the stock grease from the bearings and race and replace it with Maxima grease anyway.

*** Note the red mark on insert!! it is 3mm from the edge of the insert, use a mm scale and a sharpie to mark how far you want to press bearing race into linkage, use socket and wrench to turn the nuts to press new bearing into linkage, when the red mark hits the linkage you know you have a perfect 3mm insertion into linkage.

Re-grease needle bearings and finish with a new sleeve, collars and seals!

CRF's Only "How-To" By CRF's Only Member Dust Devil, Feb. 2007