As Ive said before, I wouldnt bother. Its not been an issue for me, even with a lot of miles.

As for the shock bushing. Some ktm's actually run a bronce (or something like that) bushing there, which accordingly to the manual, are meant to be kept dry. Most people lube the hell out of it anyway, as it wears faster dry, since dirt and water still finds it way in without the grease to protect/"seal" it.

I understand the feeling where you just gotta do something for the fun of it, but is this really that big of a concern? The thread was started over a year ago? Or has the bike been apart since?

Happy riding :scooter:

Thanks guys

That winter sleep thing is for real indeed : ) long and slow garage-soaking period ..
Although I'm not sure if I'll be able to find that degree of polyamide here, so will probably stick to bronze and also will share the opinion of the most people and will add greasing holes as well : )

Well, bike's been apart again - had no such plan but one day I've discovered that after many small steps stretched in time, bike became frame-naked : )

And this bronze improvement is totally optional - after completing other jobs if I still have to be waiting some ordered parts, than I plan to take couple days for this stuff, otherwise no.

You could just buy one of Daves refurbished kits, he writes,,,,There are a total of 31 parts in this refurbished XT suspension linkage, 18 of them are improved and upgraded.

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ac&oe=5B04FA21

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...97&oe=5B128D7B

Mezo.

this gus sells small bit of 4.6

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Dia-25m...0AAOSwrklVfBQW

Mezo's option sounds exactly what you're after. :thumbup1:

Where to buy, cant find any price or possible to order?

https://www.facebook.com/rallyandoverland/

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Rally-And-Overland

Welcome - David Lambeth 00 44 (0)1205 871945

Mezo.

I'd make the bushings out of Delrin or Celcon(a type of Acetal ) instead of bronze (there are about 30 different alloys of bronze) . The plastics are much more slippery and will wear slower than bronze . We make a lot of stuff from plastics , surprising how they'll wear steal out , unless the temps get into 175-200ºf then Peek or other very costly plastics are needed . There are some with PTFE (teflon) in it to make them even more slippery . I've had a teflon strip screwed to the top of my '88's swingarm as a chain guide/wear slider , it's barely got any grooves yet after 4 years (roughly 4000-4500 miles)



.

Why do you think they make bronze valve guides? :innocent:

Mezo.

In those situations it is a better material . We have to be careful of dimensional changes with plastics in heat/cold cycles . Yamaha uses a type of Delrin in their a-arm bushings on their quads :thumbup1: . Suzuki has it in some swingarm bushings as well as a few other brands along with actual needle bearings , not seen any with bronze .


.

And most replace thoose plastic-bushings with bearing-kits when they wear out. :D

I really think that the plastic-bushings offered from the factory, is due to lower cost, and that only.

I've only seen them in lower end stuff anyway, like my dt175. I have never owned a quad/4x4 so dont know about thoose.

Too bad the plastics are more costly than most std bronze bushings , so not a cost saving thing . After actually using various plastics over a few decades at work, in places like this they are superior to bronze and will allow a smoother action due to better slipperiness ,especially when grease is present , just that simple , not a guess or " I think" thing .



.

I think the plastic is a cost saving over using traditionel needlebearings. Again, i've never seen the plastic stuff on highend stuff. So thats why id made sence for me.

I really dont think that yamaha used the plasticbushings to "upgrade" the all mighty dt175 which didnt even had a powervalve or discbrakes. Or proper suspention for that matter. Heck, it even came with a non o-ring 428 chain, why not start the upgrade there?

Have never owned a bike that had bronze bushings stock, which ones have thoose?
Im mostly a yammie guy...

Thanks to all.
And really glad to read all these diversified details :rolleyes2:
Well, I'm already on assembly stage so will not go any further with my linkage this year.
Next time, if I will start to think about upgrading, I'd probably stick to needle bearings.

That's a good info to have. And maybe I'm really overdoing stuff in some cases - even this guy haven't made a zerk on shocker and linkage connecting pin (top left pin on second pic)...


Thanks, good to know that such probably rare stuff is ebay-able : )


If I had a spare bike & time for this, I'd gladly do some quite rude experiments kinda plastic vs bronze and then winner vs needle roller, maybe even in dry and water-attacked modes :funmeteryes:

Aftermarket or alternative parts?
 

Hey guys, I’m new to the group and just wondering if anyone had any ideas to help in my current predicament, I have a 2002 xt600e just failed mot due to excessive play in rear linkage bearings/bushes, I’ve stripped the swing arm down and found the culprits, but it seems that one of the parts I need has been discontinued, it’s part number 90380-14095, solid bush 5x6, I cannot find one anywhere, I would like to get one made up but I don’t know and can’t find the original dimensions for it, does anyone know of the dimensions or where I could potentially get a replacement part from in the uk?
Many thanks in advance