Swing arm grease

[zaq123]

Would Mobil 1 synthetic grease be acceptable to use on needle bearings in such locations as swing arm, shock linkage etc?


https://www.mobiloil.com/usa-english...ic_grease.aspx

[mcromo44]

Originally Posted by zaq123

Would Mobil 1 synthetic grease be acceptable to use on needle bearings in such locations as swing arm, shock linkage etc?


https://www.mobiloil.com/usa-english...ic_grease.aspx

zaq123,

You are playing with us !

Like, why not ?

[zaq123]

grease your swing arms guys. There isn't much grease there from the factory

[mcromo44]

Originally Posted by zaq123

grease your swing arms guys. There isn't much grease there from the factory

Yes, the grease is pretty minimal - what a way to save fractions of a penny per bike at the factory level !
My bigger concern was the pin, it was basically dry on mine.
I put lithium grease on, re concerns over water getting in.
The pin is a fairly snug fit, it is nowhere near being a slide fit.
A bit of corrosion inside, and it could easily be a nightmare to get out years later.
If you want to keep your bike a long time, it's worth taking the pin out just to grease it up, let alone the actual bearings.

[zaq123]

that's what happened on my DRZ, I had to press the pin out. It was there for good

[RBrider]

Originally Posted by zaq123

that's what happened on my DRZ, I had to press the pin out. It was there for good

I wish you hadn't said that!! My DRZ swingarm pivot hasn't been serviced in the 10 and half years I've owned it. Sounds like it could be an ugly job.

RB

[drewvir]

Originally Posted by zaq123

Would Mobil 1 synthetic grease be acceptable to use on needle bearings in such locations as swing arm, shock linkage etc?


https://www.mobiloil.com/usa-english...ic_grease.aspx

NO!!!

b.s. aside, don't use that for the swing arm/shock.Mobil 1 IS a GREAT product for bearings that run med./high speed, trailer wheel bearings,boat trailers and if any of you are looking for a industrial pump grease.

BUT.... it has some strange characteristics. when it sits relativly still(ie.swing arm) it breaks down into, from what i've seen, two parts.

1.cherry kool aid
2.candle wax

the liquid(kool-aid) will run all over your swing arm. the other half will be as hard as a holiday candle and stuck IN your needle bearings.

some suggestions=

Royal Purple Ultra-Performance Grease

AMSOIL Synthetic Polymeric Truck, Chassis & Equipment Grease, NLGI #1

Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease

just my observations from years of using mobil grease for mobil oil co.

[zaq123]

Originally Posted by RBrider

I wish you hadn't said that!! My DRZ swingarm pivot hasn't been serviced in the 10 and half years I've owned it. Sounds like it could be an ugly job.

RB

be prepared to curse, from what I've seen, it needs to be greased every year or so

[zaq123]

Hey thanks for the reply dude. I can probably regrease it, the arm is still on my work bench

Originally Posted by drewvir

NO!!!

b.s. aside, don't use that for the swing arm/shock.Mobil 1 IS a GREAT product for bearings that run med./high speed, trailer wheel bearings,boat trailers and if any of you are looking for a industrial pump grease.

BUT.... it has some strange characteristics. when it sits relativly still(ie.swing arm) it breaks down into, from what i've seen, two parts.

1.cherry kool aid
2.candle wax

the liquid(kool-aid) will run all over your swing arm. the other half will be as hard as a holiday candle and stuck IN your needle bearings.

some suggestions=

Royal Purple Ultra-Performance Grease

AMSOIL Synthetic Polymeric Truck, Chassis & Equipment Grease, NLGI #1

Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease

just my observations from years of using mobil grease for mobil oil co.

[drewvir]

no prob. zaq. you'd be unhappy 6 mos. from now trying to figure out where the #$%$^ atf fluid is leaking from on your drz

[arctic954]

.....what about the Bel-Ray waterproof grease?

[crakerjac]

Okay... so someone please fill me in... How do I grease my swing arm (insert dirty comment here)?

Is there a grease nipple I'm not aware of?

[g00gl3it]

Originally Posted by crakerjac

Okay... so someone please fill me in... How do I grease my swing arm (insert dirty comment here)?

Is there a grease nipple I'm not aware of?

Take out the swing arm pin. That's the only way I know of.

[brian]

Originally Posted by crakerjac

Okay... so someone please fill me in... How do I grease my swing arm (insert dirty comment here)?

Is there a grease nipple I'm not aware of?

Id like to know as well, do you have to unbolt it?

[g00gl3it]

It's the same on my XR600R and 919. You don't have to take the rear wheel off, but it makes it easier.

1. Support rear of bike.
2. Take off rear wheel.
3. Take of side covers (on 919)
4. Take out Swing arm pin (bolt)
5. Drop swing arm, grease the bearings and pin. I found it easier to grease the right side of the pin after I had already inserted it into the left side of the bike, that way you're not just scraping off what you had put on the pin when you put it through the frame and swingarm.

Is there an easier way?

[zaq123]

Originally Posted by brian

Id like to know as well, do you have to unbolt it?

Yes, the hard part of the job is removing the pin if its frozen. Factory doesn't put too much grease in there at all.
The rest of the job is: unbolt the rear wheel, unbolt the lower shock bolt, unbolt the swing arm pin bolt.

Remove the pin, grease bearings and grease pin very good.
Manual calls for moly grease

[g00gl3it]

Originally Posted by zaq123

Yes, the hard part of the job is removing the pin if its frozen. Factory doesn't put too much grease in there at all.
The rest of the job is: unbolt the rear wheel, unbolt the lower shock bolt, unbolt the swing arm pin bolt.

Remove the pin, grease bearings and grease pin very good.
Manual calls for moly grease

You know, come to think of it, mine was easy to remove (2007 919). Osiris', however, was NOT (2002 919). We had to use a 1/2" rachet extension and pound it with a hammer. It had probably never been removed. I guess I better put that on the yearly 'to-do' list.

[brian]

damn gotta do it

[mdtoney]

Originally Posted by g00gl3it

I guess I better put that on the yearly 'to-do' list.

For those that have never done it, I would do it sooner than later, since there is very little grease installed at the factory. Same with the steering stem bearings and wheel bearings. Most guys buying new dirt bikes strip the bike down and re-grease every pivot before they even ride the bike. Street riders don't usually think about it too often.

Once a year on the swingarm pivot 'might' seem like overkill to some people, but it certainly won't hurt - and it doesn't take that long to do.
My dirt bikes on the other hand, get completely stripped down to the frame and engine and cleaned/re-greased at least once a year.

[drewvir]

Originally Posted by arctic954

.....what about the Bel-Ray waterproof grease?

should do well

[mdtoney]

I use the Maxima waterproof grease as well, with good results.