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INSTALLING 92249217 SWINGARM PIVOT BEARINGS
Because the bearings you are about to install never revolve very far in operation, it's imperative that they be fully packed with grease. Once this has been done, they rarely again will require attention for as long as you or anyone else owns the bike.
The first difficulty you will probably face is removing the old bearings' outer races. Moto Guzzi makes a special tool but it is expensive and fragile. If you can't borrow or rent one, try an automotive machine shop and see if they can pull them for you. Other methods that have been used are: 1) grinding the race through with a high-speed grinder and a carbide bit and 2) running a bead of heli-arc around the inside of the race causing it to shrink. Whatever method you choose, do be careful.
When the old outer races have been removed, go right ahead and install the new ones. This is made much easier through the use of the factory tool but it certainly isn't necessary.
The next step is to wash your hands in preparation for greasing the new bearings. We don't recommend any bearing packing devises that we've seen. They all trap the bearing in some way and then force in the grease. The problem is that once the grease has found its path of least resistance, that is the direction it will flow, leaving a good portion of the bearing ungreased. Since this bearing will never turn more than a few degrees, it's vital that it be fully greased prior to installation.
Place a dollop of grease on the heel of your non-dominant (left hand for right-handers) hand. Hold the bearing in your dominant hand with the small diameter end pointing up. Hold the bearing so that your thumb presses up on the roller cage while your index and middle fingers press down on the inside race. The idea here is to cause as much clearance in the bearing as possible.
Press the bearing down into the grease on your opposite hand repeatedly until you see the grease squeezing up between the rollers. Then, slowly rotate the entire bearing while still pressing the grease through until you've squeezed grease between all the rollers. Just for good measure, spread a little grease on the outside of the rollers and on the outer race.
Upon reassembly, adjust the swingarm pivot pins so that there is no discernible side movement to the swingarm, the swingarm moves up and down freely, and the pivot pins protrude and equal amount from both sides of the frame.
CHS 9217