955i Speed Triple Drop Link.

JayB5UK · Dec 7, 2024

Hello, during going through this bike which has been sat for a few years, I'm now at the rear hub, swingarm, linkage section.
I've got the hub out, cleaned etc, am having to replace the needle bearings by the looks of it, as the ones that connect the drop link to the shock were seized.
Problem is I can't get the forward linkage out of the swingarm, the bolt comes out but that's it. I'll need to get the silver linkage out to deal with the lower end and buy new bearings.
Is the sleeve threaded, as I saw comments on an early 1050 page to this effect but am unsure how this comes out?
Thank you in advance.

TRIPLE X · Dec 8, 2024

JayB5UK said: ↑

Hello, during going through this bike which has been sat for a few years, I'm now at the rear hub, swingarm, linkage section.
I've got the hub out, cleaned etc, am having to replace the needle bearings by the looks of it, as the ones that connect the drop link to the shock were seized.
Problem is I can't get the forward linkage out of the swingarm, the bolt comes out but that's it. I'll need to get the silver linkage out to deal with the lower end and buy new bearings.
Is the sleeve threaded, as I saw comments on an early 1050 page to this effect but am unsure how this comes out?
Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...

After you removed the bolt the spindle should pull out of the swinging arm but will be stuck tight. It is threaded so you need to screw in an M14 1.5mm pitch bolt to aid pulling the spindle out. M14 is not a common size but it so happens that the rear wheel hub clamping bolt is M14 so you can borrow that. You will probably have to make up an extractor using the M14 bolt.

Mini · Dec 9, 2024

Hi jay, I made up this simple slide hammer for extracting the drop link shaft, as tripleX said you'll need a 14m x 1.5 pitch bolt ( from any good fasteners outlet) and weld it to a slide hammer.
Wind in the bolt to the internal thread and hammer the crap (outwards) plenty of anti seize fluid / wd40 and you should be

JayB5UK · Dec 10, 2024

Thank you both for your replies, partly my stupidity but being as I am working in a cramped single garage - and the bike having the "left" as you sit on it in the majority of the light - and not the "right" - I couldn't bloody see it was threaded, but some googling did show that the early 1050 had the same drop & drag links. I found a guy on ebay had made some adaptors to fit a slide hammer, so I have just bought one and a slide hammer to get the job done.
Now I just need to get some bearings, new bushes, seals etc and hope that the local bike shop will remove / refit the bearings for me..
Slowly does it. Thanks again. I'll put some pics up of the horror and the joy, lol

Mini · Dec 10, 2024

Well done Jay, you'll find you will be making all sorts of custom tools for your bike.
You should be able to find the correct diameter socket to be able to pull out the old bearings, but you may want to as you say let the bike shop fit them for you, I think this is half the fun of having an old bike, let us know how you go

JayB5UK · Jan 2, 2025

Happy NEw Year all. I ended up buying twice on slide hammers. The first one was a lot smaller than expected and didn't really have what it took, I think it may have been more for removing fuel injectors and glow plugs. Second attempt worked with a Silverline one similat to the above. Fun job this has been.
My linkage bearings were shot, I ended up buying a complete new set from ebay from a broken bike, just needed one more seal which I am waiting on, before it can start to go back together.
Everything else is all greased up and ready to go on, except for one broken fastener on the chinguard and hugger.

Mini · Jan 2, 2025

All seems to be going well then !!
Thanks for letting us know how you're going with the project. Let's hope 2025 will be kind to us all when it comes to holes that need welding, studs that need drilling and all those ' o know' moments that we all learn from.

JayB5UK · Jan 3, 2025

Luckily for me, a mate is a welder / fabricator and very useful at these kind of issues, bad luck he is busy decorating at the moment, so I may get held up waiting for a bit. In the meantime I will move on to other parts of the bike.
While not cheap, I highly recommend the Abba Skylift stands, I bought one used, currently the bike is sat at 45 degrees with the front wheel on the ground and the rear light above my head at 6' tall.
Being able to sit on a stool leaning in to the swingarm and rear likage is a game changer.
So far I have had the forks rebuilt with new seals, calipers rebuilt, engine full service (save for valve clearances at the moment) petrol tank emptied, drained, cleaned, new filter, new tyres, new chain & sprockets to go on, new grips, basically fully recommission and "bloody good clean"
I hope to have some before and after pics ready in the next few weeks.