Factory Tech Tip

This month we’re focusing on regreasing the pivot points on a bike, and also the steering-stem bearings—the pivot points being the swingarm, the pull rod, and the knuckle. This is commonly overlooked for weekend warriors.

1First, disassemble: pull the swingarm off the bike and clean the bearings. Use contact cleaner to remove all the remaining solvent, and then use air to dry. Once your swingarm is clean, it’s time to force grease back into the caged bearings themselves, then rotate the bearing and force that grease back into the needles. Repeat the same process on the other side and then replace the inner seal.

2Now we move to the outer side. Go ahead and grease the sleeve, being certain that you insert the sleeve from the outer side. If you insert it from the inner side, the seal will squeegee off the grease. Not good!