Swingarm Mods

[azazelakira]

Hey guys like some of you know I been looking to fit a little bigger tire and wheel on the rear, but I don't want to expend an arm and a leg on Modifications. Does somebody knows how to fit a 18x5.5 wheel on the rear with the original swingarm? Or making minimal Modifications?

[navigator]

There is no way to go from a 15x4 wheel to a 18x5.5 wheel with "minimal" modifications.
Anything is possible if you throw enough money at it.
The stock swing arm will accept a tire one size wider at best.

[Designer]

Hey guys like some of you know I been looking to fit a little bigger tire and wheel on the rear, but I don't want to expend an arm and a leg on Modifications. Does somebody knows how to fit a 18x5.5 wheel on the rear with the original swingarm? Or making minimal Modifications?

Tonight it is too late. I will be posting what I did tomorrow.

For starters, you can see the results here;
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=1193&start=125

[Designer]

Whelp! Seems my Picture Hosting Website isn't cooperating today.
I have sent them a message for assistance, so Hold On. When I get this all ironed out, I will post the pictures of how to get the 5.5x18 Wheel in your Stock Swingarm.

[azazelakira]

There is no way to go from a 15x4 wheel to a 18x5.5 wheel with "minimal" modifications.
Anything is possible if you throw enough money at it.
The stock swing arm will accept a tire one size wider at best.

The thing is that I don't want to throw $2500 dollars to a swingarm that is wider that I need, and then the custom wheels.
Thank you

[azazelakira]

Whelp! Seems my Picture Hosting Website isn't cooperating today.
I have sent them a message for assistance, so Hold On. When I get this all ironed out, I will post the pictures of how to get the 5.5x18 Wheel in your Stock Swingarm.

I really appreciatte that, I have my second Intruder that I shall start working on, the engine is been closed form changing the gears, now I have to start painting the chasis and do the mods I want to do before seatting the fenders and such.

[hillsy v2]

There is no way to go from a 15x4 wheel to a 18x5.5 wheel with "minimal" modifications.
Anything is possible if you throw enough money at it.
The stock swing arm will accept a tire one size wider at best.

The thing is that I don't want to throw $2500 dollars to a swingarm that is wider that I need, and then the custom wheels.
Thank you

Sometimes you have to pay to play.

[Designer]

Whelp! Seems my Picture Hosting Website isn't cooperating today.
I have sent them a message for assistance, so Hold On. When I get this all ironed out, I will post the pictures of how to get the 5.5x18 Wheel in your Stock Swingarm.

I really appreciatte that, I have my second Intruder that I shall start working on, the engine is been closed form changing the gears, now I have to start painting the chasis and do the mods I want to do before seatting the fenders and such.

Rest assured. with My Mod?...you will not be anywhere's NEAR that kinda $$$ .

And,..... you will have that which you seeketh.

Patience Grasshoppah. ( that's from the TV show, Kung Fu)

[Designer]

The thing is that I don't want to throw $2500 dollars to a swingarm that is wider that I need, and then the custom wheels. Thank you

As you will see you don't ,Have To Pay, big money ,To Play, in getting what you want.



The installation of a Wider Wheel/Tire project started with choosing the Wheel/Tire and the dimensions thereof.

A little background firat,...at the time, Thunderbike and others in Europe were installing HUGE rear tires on 1400's, some as big as 300mm wide! I thought that a bit over done and wanted a similar upgrade, but didn't reduce my Carving Corners ( I loved the Deep Leaning ) and Riding Comfort as much.

I measured things on my 1400, and determined that the Metzeler 200/50R x 18 Tire mounted on a 5.5 x 18 Wheel would fit well and look really nice, while not be too heavy ( too much un-sprung weight makes for poor Riding comfort). Most important, it would not require a Centerline-of-Tire offset (front to rear)... which was being sold by Thunderbike to get those HUGE rear Tires in there. ( a Ride Handling Poblem-maker for sure)

The Measurements indicated that this Combination would clear the Drive Shaft in the Stock Swingarm. And a Clearance "notch" in the Swing Arm itself was all I needed.

So here's some Work-in-progress pictures on how I made this Mod come to be;



As you can see, the Cover Plate is thin Aluminum ( 032 Sheet Stock) .. It is easy to form but still sturdy enough. And thus is easy to make it just barely clear the inside edge of the Drive Shaft.

Here's another view;




Drill and Tap the Swing Arm for Mounting Bolts ( Stainless Steel of course) seal it with Silicone Sealant,...and VIOLA!

[hillsy v2]

Hey azazelakira - if you are going to cut a notch out of your swingarm I strongly recommend you take it to a machine shop to get a plate welded in.

[azazelakira]

The thing is that I don't want to throw $2500 dollars to a swingarm that is wider that I need, and then the custom wheels. Thank you

As you will see you don't ,Have To Pay, big money ,To Play, in getting what you want.



The installation of a Wider Wheel/Tire project started with choosing the Wheel/Tire and the dimensions thereof.

A little background firat,...at the time, Thunderbike and others in Europe were installing HUGE rear tires on 1400's, some as big as 300mm wide! I thought that a bit over done and wanted a similar upgrade, but didn't reduce my Carving Corners ( I loved the Deep Leaning ) and Riding Comfort as much.

I measured things on my 1400, and determined that the Metzeler 200/50R x 18 Tire mounted on a 5.5 x 18 Wheel would fit well and look really nice, while not be too heavy ( too much un-sprung weight makes for poor Riding comfort). Most important, it would not require a Centerline-of-Tire offset (front to rear)... which was being sold by Thunderbike to get those HUGE rear Tires in there. ( a Ride Handling Poblem-maker for sure)

The Measurements indicated that this Combination would clear the Drive Shaft in the Stock Swingarm. And a Clearance "notch" in the Swing Arm itself was all I needed.

So here's some Work-in-progress pictures on how I made this Mod come to be;



As you can see, the Cover Plate is thin Aluminum ( 032 Sheet Stock) .. It is easy to form but still sturdy enough. And thus is easy to make it just barely clear the inside edge of the Drive Shaft.

Here's another view;




Drill and Tap the Swing Arm for Mounting Bolts ( Stainless Steel of course) seal it with Silicone Sealant,...and VIOLA!

This is great, just what I needed to see. With patience I should be able to get it done, because I don't want a huge tire on the back, just bigger than stock.
Thank you Deaigner.

[azazelakira]

Hey azazelakira - if you are going to cut a notch out of your swingarm I strongly recommend you take it to a machine shop to get a plate welded in.

Not a bad idea. I may be able to do that myself.

[hillsy v2]

Hey azazelakira - if you are going to cut a notch out of your swingarm I strongly recommend you take it to a machine shop to get a plate welded in.

Not a bad idea. I may be able to do that myself.

Not sure what your welding experience is - but at the very least you would want to have the swingarm in a jig so it doesn't distort - welding around that area can easily pull the axle plates closer together.

[azazelakira]

Hey azazelakira - if you are going to cut a notch out of your swingarm I strongly recommend you take it to a machine shop to get a plate welded in.

Not a bad idea. I may be able to do that myself.

Not sure what your welding experience is - but at the very least you would want to have the swingarm in a jig so it doesn't distort - welding around that area can easily pull the axle plates closer together.

Well I guess I will find out, doesn't look to be that thin metal to distort that easy but I will check it out for sure. Thanks.

[hillsy v2]

Hey azazelakira - if you are going to cut a notch out of your swingarm I strongly recommend you take it to a machine shop to get a plate welded in.

Not a bad idea. I may be able to do that myself.

Not sure what your welding experience is - but at the very least you would want to have the swingarm in a jig so it doesn't distort - welding around that area can easily pull the axle plates closer together.

Well I guess I will find out, doesn't look to be that thin metal to distort that easy but I will check it out for sure. Thanks.

You'll be cutting out around one third the radius of the tube and welding in a plate. It will most likely distort unless it is in a jig.

[Designer]

This is great, just what I needed to see. With patience I should be able to get it done, because I don't want a huge tire on the back, just bigger than stock. Thank you Designer.

Not a bad idea. I may be able to do that myself.

You are most Welcome. I am confident you CAN do this yourself. I will be there to Help/Advise you every step of the way..

You can choose any tire smaller than the 200/50/18 tire I chose. The first point being is that you can fit the 5.5x18 Wheel that you want to in your Swingarm without having to spend the $2500 dollars for a New Swing Arm to get hat you want. Saving some Big $$$ right off the bat.

Just so you know,...this Mod has been totally Water Proof and Structurally Sound for close to 20 years now. And with the Corning I like to do, I did "Torque Test" it thoroughly first before posting it here. So you need not worry over this Mod being any sort of issue as to need any sort of welding. Why?..... is because I figured out the the Thickness Of The Metal and Structural Design that went into the Stock Swing Arm is MORE THAN sufficient to handle any Torsional and Deflectional Forces acting upon it that this small "notch" might induce.

And,...that you do not need welding saves you even more $$$,...by avoiding the Welders Fees,..the suggested costs of a Jig for welding,....and the Grinding Down/Finishing his welds,...all in preparation of the Painting/Refinishing costs that would needs be done IF you resort to needlessly welding.

If you want, I can help you with the fabrication/shaping of the Cover Plate.

[hillsy v2]

"needlessly welding" ?

Just wow.

[azazelakira]

This is great, just what I needed to see. With patience I should be able to get it done, because I don't want a huge tire on the back, just bigger than stock. Thank you Designer.

Not a bad idea. I may be able to do that myself.

You are most Welcome. I am confident you CAN do this yourself. I will be there to Help/Advise you every step of the way..

You can choose any tire smaller than the 200/50/18 tire I chose. The first point being is that you can fit the 5.5x18 Wheel that you want to in your Swingarm without having to spend the $2500 dollars for a New Swing Arm to get hat you want. Saving some Big $$$ right off the bat.

Just so you know,...this Mod has been totally Water Proof and Structurally Sound for close to 20 years now. And with the Corning I like to do, I did "Torque Test" it thoroughly first before posting it here. So you need not worry over this Mod being any sort of issue as to need any sort of welding. Why?..... is because I figured out the the Thickness Of The Metal and Structural Design that went into the Stock Swing Arm is MORE THAN sufficient to handle any Torsional and Deflectional Forces acting upon it that this small "notch" might induce.

And,...that you do not need welding saves you even more $$$,...by avoiding the Welders Fees,..the suggested costs of a Jig for welding,....and the Grinding Down/Finishing his welds,...all in preparation of the Painting/Refinishing costs that would needs be done IF you resort to needlessly welding.

If you want, I can help you with the fabrication/shaping of the Cover Plate.

I for sure will be asking more questions when the time comes, I am still an OTR driver until next month, then I will be a broke Electician Apprentice, but been that I will have the time to play with my toys, the big thing will be the paint I think I will send it to powder coat depending on color. Will figure it out when that time is comming. Thank god we still have you here otherwise all this knowlege had been lost.

[azazelakira]

"needlessly welding" ?

Just wow.

If he hasn't welded in 20 years and he says is not rusting, then no weld is needed. Now if you think different, you are entitled to it.

[hillsy v2]

"needlessly welding" ?

Just wow.

If he hasn't welded in 20 years and he says is not rusting, then no weld is needed. Now if you think different, you are entitled to it.

It's not about rusting - it's about structural integrity of the swingarm. There's a bunch of sharp corners there without any radius for a start which are prone to attracting cracks. There's really a stack of red flags with that idea but feel free to copy by all means.