| Author | Message | ||
     Johnnymceldoo |
From pics Ive seen the rear isolator area seems to be the pivot point for the rear swing arm. If that is the case wouldnt rubber bushings be a bad idea? Why not use a steel bushing or some other bearing to free up movement? The reason I ask is my bike will need them in the future and looking at my bike I wonder how in world the swing arm even stays in place. The allen bolts seem to be off center but it rides fine and there is no excessive vibration. | ||
| Ratbuell |
The rear isolators mount not only the swingarm, but also the engine, to the frame. Rubber keeps your fillings in your teeth. They are (having replaced the ones in my 60k mile FLHP) quite hard laterally. If you want metal, go buy a '60s rigid frame, LOL. The isolators have a metal sleeve cast into them, and a spacer between (at least on the FLH, I'm assuming the same theory applies on the Buells) much like a wheel bearing and spacer setup. Torquing the pivot bolt keeps everything in place laterally, but allows movement up, down, and thru engine vibrations. And off-center is correct, they are oblong for alignment purposes. | ||
| Onahog |
The rear isolators are actually the same idea if not exactly the same as the ones used todate on the FLHTs... Ratbuell could tell us this by a part # cross reference! They were actually first Used on the Fxr series bikes and Todd or Court could correct me here if i am wrong, But i do believe our friend Mr.Erik Buell , designed the FXR chassis for HD for 1982 production. Yes/ N  o?........Hankb | ||
| Blake |
The swingarm is connected directly to the engine/tranny cases through the swingarm support bracket, which in turn houses the swingarm bearings. You can remove the frame and the swingarm will remain connected to the engine/tranny assembly. The rear isolators have nothing to do with the swingarm. They don't touch it or support it in any way. The swingarm mounts to its mounting block/bracket that is in turn bolted to the rear of the tranny/engine cases. The isolators only connect the frame to that swingarm mounting block, which is stationary wrt the engine/tranny cases, since it is bolted firmly to them. So the isolators act as a semi-rigid, vibration isolating connection between the frame and the engine/tranny assembly. There is no rotational action at the rear isolators, just the frame carrying your weight and its own mass. | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
Well that clears that up. Great info guys thanks. I suppose rear isolator replacement would make a good winter project along with swingarm and steering bearings. | ||
| Bad_karma |
Brain Might consider adding a belt to that list. Joe |
