Swing Arm Bolt Removal

[RPB111]

How do I remove the bolt that holds my swing arm to the engine? I cannot turn it to line it up properly with the weld on the brake side. It is frozen in place. I bought the bike used and I do not know if it has ever been removed.

 

[Brian VT]

It will come out with some determination. Once you get it out you will probably want to beat the previous owner for neglecting it.
Here's some help: http://www.gasgasrider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=873&highlight=swingarm+hammer

Sometimes loosening the motor mounts may relieve some binding on the axle. Other than that it's just gonna take ingenuity and maybe brute force.

 

[eff]

I leave the nut on the bolt and only loosen it little by little as I tap it out with a dead blow hammer. This way I can really hit it w/out damaging the threads. After the nut is off I use a socket extension to tap it out the rest of the way.

 

[Loosenut]

I would liberally hose the swingarm axel with penatrating oil for a few days in a row 1st. It can't hurt and usually helps.

 

[joey11]

I just got into this mess myself. I was redoing all of my linkage, so after taking the shock, dogbones,and linkage off, I was able to get the swingarm bolt out. Until the linkage bolts were ALL broke loose, that bolt was going NO WHERE. I then had to use a socket extention like eff said to get it the rest of the way out.

 

[iancp5]

How do I remove the bolt that holds my swing arm to the engine? I cannot turn it to line it up properly with the weld on the brake side. It is frozen in place. I bought the bike used and I do not know if it has ever been removed.

I don't get that - how can it not line up with the weld and the nut fit on the other end?
The end that comes out (brake side) has a flat machined on it so that the weld blob stops it from turning. If it's not lined up with the weld it's not in, which, as you're trying to remove it, is a bonus! Or ... do you mean the weld blob is too far out and the bolt head is inside the blob? If the latter is the case all I can think off is drilling, tapping, stick a bolt in and use nuts to lock into place and hoping it's strong enough to turn the main swing arm bolt. I don't know if it's possible to get a small enough welding torch to weld something on as it's recessed?

They do get stuck in and the only way I know is as others have said - lay bike on each side and pour penetrating fluid in for a few days each side then hit it from the gear lever side. You'll need to find a suitable drift and a large hammer and if it's stuck badly be prepared to replace the bolt as you'll bell the threaded end if you have to hit it hard. You can use a press but that'll be hard to setup.