Snap Ring on Swingarm Bearing?

[Nomad2day]

Can anyone explain to me the actual purpose of the retaining clip on the swing arm bearing?
The bearing is a tolerance fit in the swing arm and there is only room between the swing arm and frame for a washer. The tube is threaded and held in place by a shoulder bolt on each end that goes through the bearing.
Is the concern that the swing arm is pivoting up and down and they are concerned that it is possible to turn the tube on one end causing it to become longer pushing the bearing into the washer against the frame? Is it in place to ensure the proper centering of the bearing and no othe rreason? If the bolt was to shear off it would make no difference due to the swing arm would drop.
Someone enlighten me please....
The bearings I got from the BDM dealer are froze out of the package and do not rotate so I ordered a couple off the web but the "Grumman" groove was in the face and not on the diameter of the bearing. They are exchanging it for one that is solid to the end and I am having a local machine shop to cut in the groove for the clip on this quality bearing.
The Harley shop swing arm bearings have a different bolt size in them one the one model we checked anyway....
BDI, a local bearing dealer could not find a bearing with the retaining ring in it. Most of the ones they pull up have a groove in the center for lubrication...
This will all work out in the end I am sure..
Neil

 

[stlmikie]

Geez. That is a great question that I don't even have an answer for. This should be interesting .

 

[Moespeeds]

You can't get that center pivot axle out without taking out a bearing. Are they a pressed fit? I haven't tried to get one out yet, but I'm assuming that once you take out that snap ring, the bearing should come free.

 

[Nomad2day]

You can't get that center pivot axle out without taking out a bearing. Are they a pressed fit? I haven't tried to get one out yet, but I'm assuming that once you take out that snap ring, the bearing should come free.

Yes you can remove the tube without removing the bearings which I did. I know you have had some issues with yours which I have followed. After I removed the shaft I removed the swing arm and then removed the snap rings and pushed out the bearings or knocked them out I should say. Yes they are a fitted bearing into the swingarm.
I put a ratchet into the bearing from BDM and could not rotate them.
Neil

 

[Moespeeds]

How did you get yours out? I have the 2" offset welded to my swingarm, and it seems to be the thing that makes it impossible to get that axle out!

 

[Nomad2day]

Moespeeds,
The bearings on my 2007 Bulldog are a pressed fit. The shaft on mine is adjustable so you can make it shorter than the diameter between the two bearings and drop it out. I did not have to do this to get mine out but it has two slots on it so you can adjust it.
I would think you would have to remove the shaft to get the bearings out.
My pivot shaft is adjusted to 8 3/4 inches and the space between the swing arm ends is 9 3/16th. The space from the snap ring slot where it would sit on the swing arm to the end of the bearing where it would technically meet the pivot shaft is about 3/16th of a inch. As the bearing rotates the shaft simply pulled out on mine.

 

[Moespeeds]

The difference is that on the 2004 I'm left side drive, and the offset "cup" is welded to my swingarm and the pivot axle goes inside of it. On RSD models the cup is welded to the frame, so it's not an issue. With the axle inside the cup, it can't come out unless you knock out a bearing. BD probably kept that design on the newer models because they had a million of those bearings lying around...

Watch this vid:

 

[Nomad2day]

I understand Moe after watching the vid.
Ban you screw in the bolt most of the way on the on one side and tap it with a rubber mallet to see if it will seat the bearing on one side better to give you that hair of clearance you need to clear things?
Call tech support and as I would guess then.
Neil