first real spannering

[growler]

I would like to say that I have never really done any work on my bikes
But due to money being tight I really couldn't afford to take it to some one to fix for me
so with the encouragment of my eldest son who is a mechanic I set to with my lad to fix it myself

after jacking up the bike on putting it on axle stands I started by removing the seat and saddle bags
I then removed the rear wheel as the rear pulley had to be changed
then we had to remove the swing arm as atleast one of the bushes was buggered
so I removed the rear suspension legs and the cap covering the swing arm bolt my son removed the locking nut with his special tool (hammer and screw driver) which is at this point we realised we didn't have a 12 mm allen key Doh!
after calling around to see if I could beg one my lad decided to go to B&Q and get one
while he was gone I removed the old pulley and replaced it with the new

when he got back having spent £18!!!!! he removed the swing arm shaft only to find that the right hand side was very badly corroded looks like the rubber seal has failed

after knocking out the spacer I then left my son to remove the bush as he knew what he was doing

after lots of cleaning we were ready to put the new bushes in and we were able to spin the spacer round as the other end was clean and uncorroded my son put the bushes in while I held the bike steady then it was a case of reassembly
packed the end cap which may have let water in with grease and will be checking regularly
found out some thing new as I would have greased the rear wheel bearing if my son hadn't been there and told me that it's the easiest way to weld them to the axle!!!!!!!

got the wheel back on and the belt tensioned and test rode it round the block

and






Bloody hell it works and feels so much better


next job is the brakes then over to Burgerbiter for a new rear tyre then to MOT and back on the road whoo hoo

I know this may seem like nothing to most of you spanner monkeys but I am so chuffed to have done a good job
just need to get some more tools and a bike lift as the worst part of doing this job was having the bike jacked up so high and sitting on axle stands
____________________
DILLIGAF

[Vincent]

Well done that man Give yerself a pat on the back

It's a good feeling repairing something yourself and highly addictive. Just be prepared for when things don't quite go as you plan