help removing swingarm from 1998 K2 4000

[signalMTB]

I can't seem to get the main pivot swingarm bolt loose.   I want to be sure I'm doing it right?

Is it normal threading? (i.e. counter-clockwise to loosen?)

[shovelon]

Old style bushings, or needle bearings?

With the old ones, you must  clamp both bushings tight. Then loosen and take out  the bolt. Then the swingarm will slide off. The threads are conventional direction, right hand thread.

If you can find Old Proflexer's regrease tip in the How Tos, he goes thru a great sequence. I used to completely remove the swingarm until I read his tip. How great a trick.

Good Luck,

Terry

[signalMTB]

Old style bushings, or needle bearings?

With the old ones, you must  clamp both bushings tight. Then loosen and take out  the bolt. Then the swingarm will slide off. The threads are conventional direction, right hand thread.

If you can find Old Proflexer's regrease tip in the How Tos, he goes thru a great sequence. I used to completely remove the swingarm until I read his tip. How great a trick.

Good Luck,

Terry

hmm...not sure which style.  It's a 1998 K2 4000 (swingarm only, no stabilizer bars)  I did see his post, and I have the manual.  I was just unsure if it loosened normal or backwards.  Only because the picture in the manual shows the pivot bolt on the right side of the bike, versus mine is on the left (i.e. pedals and crank on this side are backward thread), so I was unclear if the pivot bolt might also be backward threaded.

[shovelon]

Ok, I checked my 4000. I think that there are threaded keepers to put load on the needle bearings. I would have to reckon that they thread onto the sleeve in a clockwise manner. You may need some kind of tool like a spanner wrench to hold the other side. Let me know how it goes.

Mine looks like a slotted keeper on each side of a hollow sleeve. You can look straight thru to the other side of the bike while assembled.

Terry

[Matno]

The '98 4000 has bushings, not bearings. Bearings started in 1999. Regular thread direction on the bolt. Pretty straightforward all around.

[signalMTB]

The '98 4000 has bushings, not bearings. Bearings started in 1999. Regular thread direction on the bolt. Pretty straightforward all around.

great, thanks for the info.  Must just be really stuck on there.  Will post all results when completed.

[Simon]

If yours has a carbon swingarm
you may want to read my tip regarding reassembly

http://idriders.com/proflex/files/quad%20rigs%20no%20problem.txt

Oh and a link to a pic,sorry quality not so great.

http://idriders.com/proflex/galleries/Simon/Phto0003.jpg



Simon.

[Colin]

I removed and serviced the swing arm on my 4000se a couple of weeks ago, no probs, but the main bolt does have threadlock on it!
http://idriders.com/proflex/files/Pivot%20overhaul.doc
The bolt should be on the right hand side, but I guess that this could have been swapped if it has been replaced.
see diagram.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060516121132/www.k2bikes.com/tech_library/pdfs2/98/98evoframeassembly.pdf
This is assuming you have a '98 4000 and not a later "evo" style bike with bearings, see seperate thread regarding the "4000RS":
http://idriders.com/cgi-bin/YaBB_K2/YaBB.pl?board=news;action=display;num=1193009191

If the bolt is siezed and/or the left hand threaded pivot axle rotates then you can try doing up the pinch bolt but don't gorilla this or you could over torque it, better to use some thread penetrator/loosener (it's worth having some of this for working on older bikes/cars!)

Col

[signalMTB]

I removed and serviced the swing arm on my 4000se a couple of weeks ago, no probs, but the main bolt does have threadlock on it!
http://idriders.com/proflex/files/Pivot%20overhaul.doc
The bolt should be on the right hand side, but I guess that this could have been swapped if it has been replaced.
see diagram.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060516121132/www.k2bikes.com/tech_library/pdfs2/98/98evoframeassembly.pdf
This is assuming you have a '98 4000 and not a later "evo" style bike with bearings, see seperate thread regarding the "4000RS":
http://idriders.com/cgi-bin/YaBB_K2/YaBB.pl?board=news;action=display;num=1193009191

If the bolt is siezed and/or the left hand threaded pivot axle rotates then you can try doing up the pinch bolt but don't gorilla this or you could over torque it, better to use some thread penetrator/loosener (it's worth having some of this for working on older bikes/cars!)

Col

My bolt is on left and I've had it since new.  Not sure why...

so then does this mean with it being on the left, it is backwards threaded.  Matno says regular threaded...I just want to be sure before I really torque this thing.

[Colin]

Well, I suppose that the diagram may not have been followed every time in the factory, but I wouldn't have thought that they would have used a LH threaded bolt as well? Because that would mean having to make LH pivot axles as well.......and PRO~FLEX are pretty good at listing these sort of things in their tech diagrams.........IMHO........
Unfortunately, no way of telling for sure until it's out, but you could try "tightening" it a little bit Clockwise, this is a valid thing to do and could have two effects; a) it is LH threaded and it comes undone, b) it's RH (normal) and the tightening action cracks the threadlock and then you can undo it.
Tough Call! but in the absence of anyone coming back and saying theirs is definitely LH threaded, then I would assume it's RH.
Get some penetrator oil on it, I've been amazed when I've been swinging on some bolt for all I'm worth, then put penetrator on it, left it overnight and then the next day it comes undone sweet as a nut!

Col.

[Simon]

When facing it turn it anti clockwise to undo.

Its a regular right hand thread.

Do everything thats been mentioned before,
soak overnight with penetrating fluid.
undo the swingarm pinch bolt on the side that the
bolt head is on but make sure the pinch bolt on the
otherside is nipped up to prevent the bearing from turning whilst undoing.
Ensure you use a good quality Allen key socket with a
strain bar.Have someone support the bike whilst your trying to undo it.

Simon.