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XT600e Swingarm play XT600e Swingarm play
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
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  #1  
Old 20 Jul 2014
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XT600e Swingarm play
Hello been trying to get the XT through its MOT for months now.

The main one the testers are wingeing about is the play in the swingarm (up and down) when the wheel is raised off the floor.

Things I have done is replaced the rear suspension linkage bearings which they suggested to me to do to make it pass.... not good enough when tested.

I have now replaced the shock with a 'wilbers' shock supplied by David Lambeth so those bearings are spot on...

There is still movement in the swingarm but ive now reduced the play from 20mm to 10mm.

Im pretty sure that this is just normal, or is there something im missing?
Does anyone else have this type of movement?
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Old 21 Jul 2014
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You could have gotten new bushings for the stock shock instead of buying a new one(if it's the same as the old ones). Have you checked the main pivot bearings on the swingarm up by the motor to make sure they are good? otherwise there isn't anything left . I'm so glad we don't have anything like that MOT , sounds like they give a few people the power to mess/screw up anybodies lives they want, usually not good. I can see the "dangerous equipment " stuff but it is up to the individual testers "opinion what is wrong ?
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Old 21 Jul 2014
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Mine has had about 10mm of play (up and down) for years, both during my ownership and my mates previously.

It usually gets advised (but this year it went through clean). It hasn't ever failed for that.

I would put yours in somewhere else now you have it down to 10mm.
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Old 21 Jul 2014
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Hi.. I'm an MOT tester. It is quite normal to have some up/down movement in the shock. 10mm does seem a lot though.. Have you changed the upper bush too ?? Its likely just the damper rod..The tester should be able to differentiate between linkage, swingarm and shock movement..

Sadly, some testers aren't even bike mechanics or are just needlessly difficult.

Even brand new bikes (eg tiger 800) has a lot of freeplay in their fork bushes from standard and a BMW rear wheel drive can safely have free play.

The point is, an MOT is 90% opinion of the tester. Find a good one with common sense.

Take it elsewhere and ask them to quickly check it before test.

I work near Chester.( are you close ?) I'll give you a ticket assuming the rest of the bike is okay..

Ted
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Old 21 Jul 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jjrider View Post
You could have gotten new bushings for the stock shock instead of buying a new one(if it's the same as the old ones). Have you checked the main pivot bearings on the swingarm up by the motor to make sure they are good? otherwise there isn't anything left . I'm so glad we don't have anything like that MOT , sounds like they give a few people the power to mess/screw up anybodies lives they want, usually not good. I can see the "dangerous equipment " stuff but it is up to the individual testers "opinion what is wrong ?
Hey yeah I already purchased the shock and wasnt going to fit it, but wanted it through its MOT asap so I fitted it while I source and fit new bushings to the original shock.
I hadnt planned on fitting the wilbers until I next went away on the bike.

I have looked and there doesnt seem to be any movement from any of the bearings, but the only ones I havent replaced is the main swingarm bearings.

Im going to take it to another MOT place once I get my other parts through that I need to make it pass
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Old 21 Jul 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
Hi.. I'm an MOT tester. It is quite normal to have some up/down movement in the shock. 10mm does seem a lot though.. Have you changed the upper bush too ?? Its likely just the damper rod..The tester should be able to differentiate between linkage, swingarm and shock movement..

Sadly, some testers aren't even bike mechanics or are just needlessly difficult.

Even brand new bikes (eg tiger 800) has a lot of freeplay in their fork bushes from standard and a BMW rear wheel drive can safely have free play.

The point is, an MOT is 90% opinion of the tester. Find a good one with common sense.

Take it elsewhere and ask them to quickly check it before test.

I work near Chester.( are you close ?) I'll give you a ticket assuming the rest of the bike is okay..

Ted
Google tells me your 3 and a half hours ride away, bit too far for me but thanks for the offer.
In my opinion... although not a tester or a mechanic.... it seems perfectly safe and strong how it is and obviously when the wheel is on the floor you wont notice this 'play' at all.
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Old 21 Jul 2014
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Take it elsewhere... Someone with half a brain will pass it.
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Old 22 Jul 2014
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Pump everything full of grease just before going , wipe off any extra that squeezes out so it doesn't look obvious .
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Old 22 Jul 2014
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And wind the preload on the spring to max..
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Old 22 Jul 2014
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Oh aren't we a devious bunch, co-conspiritors all....
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'84 XT600 is now bored to 2nd oversize and new OEM pistons and rings installed. No more smoking.
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Old 22 Jul 2014
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ssshhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
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Old 23 Jul 2014
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just replaced my swing arm bearings and bushes on 43f xt 600, they were totally mullered ! the one on the chain side of the arm literally fell apart when I pulled the pivot bolt out (they are needle roller bearings at the outer ends).

Check the pivot bolt as well as these run in steel bushes and if they have not been lubed regularly the bushes grind on the bolt so even if you put new bushes and bearings in, the bolt is worn and you get movement, although 10 mm of up and down play is not possible as the bolt would be worn down to the size of a toothpick !.

I had this on a 1981 xt 250 where even with new bushes it was all over the place and i finally tracked it down to the long pivot bolt being worn under size.
Spike Island Motorcycles near southampton are very sympathetic to older bikes.
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Old 23 Jul 2014
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Took it to another place today near my work, and they passed it with no advisories.

Once I had the pass certificate firmly in my hand, I asked about the play in the rear. He then jacked the bike up and checked it in front of me... where he said 'no problem there mate there will be some movement but this one is quite tight , maximum 5mm play there nothing to worry about'

I think I was just worrying due to this being the reason for a failiure before.

Thanks for all the help chaps did everything you said to do and it seems it has done the trick
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Old 23 Jul 2014
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Nice to see you got a good result.

And MOT with no advisories is, in fact, an excellent result. Well done.
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Old 23 Jul 2014
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You can see how varied test results can be from tester to tester..

Some are SO strict it's unreal. They can only look at a rule book. I think they are covering their own arses which is fair enough or maybe just lack of experience.

When I did my MOT course, I think only half of the people there were actually bike mechanics or had much experience with bikes.

For them. Free play is free play. Black is black and white is white. That's not how I look at it.

You also get people who are having a shit day and just fail a vehicle for the sake of it. It can be a sadistic game too. Of course, you also get bad places who will fail something as they expect to get the resulting repair business.


An MOT is a basic safety test. It's standards are actually very low.

When you find a good tester, stick with them...
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