Buckled wheel sorted

So I toted the "Get that sorted if you want an MoT" front wheel from the
Duke down to Tunbridge Wells, gave it to the daughter-in-law of The Man
Who Straightens Things[1] there, and the next day got a call: "She's
bringing it back tomorrow. Sorted. Sixty quic please."

Nice.

Then: "Blimey, there were about ten dings in that wheel. It's obviously
seen some use."

"Er, yes, well, it's done some miles....."

"You didn't crash it, did yer?"

"No."

OK. Only those Ducati wheels are like BMW ones - really soft. Its just
that it was in a bit of a state....."

Collect it today. Then I need to get the swinging arm re-shimmed[2] and
I should be ready for the French Run.

[1] Motoliner of Maidstone. Frames, wheels, discs....

[2] Arcane form of Ducati s/arm adjustment, best left to SWK. Oh, and
they can replace the s/arm with the spiffy one I've got. And shove some
new wheel bearings in. And then it'll probably be pissing down for the
French Run so I'll end up taking the Trophy anyway.

 

Or at least within 53 feet

 

Nah, it's a piece of piss. Just keep adding shims until it
doesn't rock anymore! Best done with the wheel and shock
off the wswingarm too.

The bearings aren't that bad to do either but if you're
having the lot done at once then it's probably best to
get a man in.

 

I bloody well hope the s/arm bearings are just a matter of re-shimming.

The actual bearings are ball races, fitted in housings in the back of
the crankcase. Blind housings, as you probably know.

Apparently getting them out is a crying bitch. I suppose it's a Dremel
job.

Yeah, GAMI. I simply haven't got the time to do it myself atm. and I
don't have any shims anyway.

 

There will be *A Tool*

'Hog

 

If there is, then Pro Team don't seem to know of it. I could
practically hear them shuddering down the phone at the prospect.

To be honest, I don't know of any special tools to get ball races out
of blind housings.

The good news is that apparently the ball races last damn nearly
forever. We shall see.....

And on the SOB front, the new head races in the CB750 have made a hell
o a difference. It still doesn't handle, of course, but the colossal
notch - more of an axe-cut - in the centre has gone, meaning that when
you take a slow bend there's no more of this: "Come on, turn, turn you
bugger, turn...*CLICK*... FUUCCKKKK!!"

The old bearings were the originals. The grease had completely hardened
and could be rolled into balls between your fingertips like a good
bogey. The cups and cones themselves clearly bore the marks of the old
ball bearings.

Now... well, it steers easier, but by Christ there's been some chassis
progress in the last 30 years. If anyone wants a go on it some time...

 

There is a specific type of puller set for this very conundrum. Not
cheap though.

'Hog

 

Worth knowing, I suppose, though I can understand why people don't tend
to keep one in the toolbox. How many bikes besides Ducatis use blind
ball bearings?

Don't tell me... let me guess.... manufacturers with a talent for
eccentric engineering...

BMW?

 

'Hog says...

http://croziermachine.com/extractor.htm

As you say not cheap.

 

*cough* possibly.
Facom do one similar to the link Mups posted so it's probably a common
enough habit in automotive world.

'Hog

 

Play in the swingarm is - just add more shims betwixt the
arm and the engine until it goes. As you say though, probably
best to take it somewhere with a stock of shims so they only
bill you for the ones you end up needing.

As for the bearings, I'm sure it's covered in either the
BoL or the workshop manual. I think you can knock them out
from the other side, obviously with a very long knocking
device. But I could be wrong.

The bike is now back with TecMoto to have a race exhaust
made up by Gibsons as they're just round the corner and the
owner of TecMoto, Chris, has used them before for his own
racing Ducati things - singles/250s/whatever they are.

 

BoL:

5.14 Swingarm

Bearing Replacement

5. The swingarm bearings are housed in the crankcases.
Each crankcase half houses a seal on the outside, two
needle roller bearings and a seal and retaining circlip
on the inside. Lever out the seals with a screwdriver
to access the bearings (see illustration 14.4a)

6. Worn bearings can be drifted or pulled out of their
bores, but note that removal will destroy them; new
bearings should be obtained before the work commences.
The new bearings should be pressed or drawn into their
bores rather than driven into position. In the absence
of a press, a suitable drawbolt arrangement can be made
up as described in Section 11 of this Chapter [1].
Otherwise the bearings must be replaced by a Ducati
dealer. If the bearings are replaced, also fit new
seals (see illustration).

[1] basically a piece of threaded rod with a heavy duty
washer and a nut on one end. Slide it through the pivot
and put the bearing in place, over the rod. Put a washer
over the bearing and another nut. Then tighten the other
side to draw it down into the casing. But then you
gathered that!

 

<snip>

GAMI

Every weekend for the last month I've been faffing with bikes: stripping
them down, cleaning them, servicing them, fixing electrical problems,
doing the head races, whatever. Enough. I'm paying some other sod to do
this.

 

I've just serviced my FJ12 before it's MOT and noticed the centre stand
had gone TOTALLY rusty. So I cleaned it and painted it with smoothright,
or whatever they call it now.

Very satisfying............

 

Count me out.

I've had one and know how awful they are. I had a C15 that felt more
stable.

 

You can buy or hire blind bearing pullers but I've used an expanding bolt
and a slide hammer to withdraw stuff like that in the past.