Rear linkage play

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   Is any up and down play in the swing arm due to possible wear in the linkageneedle rollers acceptable.
A strange question maybe, but the play is very slight and Im not sure 
new bearings are such close tolerance to eliminate all the play.
Anyone with experience? Ive stripped/ cleaned and regreased the bearings
every couple of years with no problems so far. Bike's done about 20k miles.

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Stevex Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moto GP Alien Joined: 05 Jul 2016 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 1481	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stevex Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Rear linkage play Posted: 17 Jan 2026 at 14:21
	Is any up and down play in the swing arm due to possible wear in the linkage needle rollers acceptable. A strange question maybe, but the play is very slight and Im not sure new bearings are such close tolerance to eliminate all the play. Anyone with experience? Ive stripped/ cleaned and regreased the bearings every couple of years with no problems so far. Bike's done about 20k miles.
	People say I don't know Jack Sh1t; but I do, he lives next door.

Spoonz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admins Group Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Location: North Devon Status: Offline Points: 10957	Post Options Post Reply Quote Spoonz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jan 2026 at 17:16
	The front bolt on the dog bone where it mounts to the frame is a slightly smaller diameter to the dog bone pin bore so if you pull up on the swingarm you can sometimes feel a little play. That might be what you’re feeling but I doubt a tiny bit of movement generally is unusual once the bearings/pins have seen a few miles.

Stevex Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moto GP Alien Joined: 05 Jul 2016 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 1481	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stevex Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jan 2026 at 19:53
	Thx Spoonz.
	People say I don't know Jack Sh1t; but I do, he lives next door.

Stevex Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moto GP Alien Joined: 05 Jul 2016 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 1481	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stevex Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 17:20
	Decided to strip, check, re grease the linkage as its getting on for its 2 year check anyway. All bearings and pins ok and last re grease still looking like new. As you say Spoonz, all the play is due to the difference between the inner diameter of the pins and the mounting bolt diameters, especially that front one. I've got plastic washers fitted to both dog bone pins but found the right inner linkage triangle wearing against the swing arm mount. The space wont take one of the plastic washers but I shaved off some thickness from a fibre washer and put that in.
	People say I don't know Jack Sh1t; but I do, he lives next door.

426hemi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Premium Member owner of the big bore! Joined: 30 Mar 2012 Location: cannock Status: Offline Points: 5795	Post Options Post Reply Quote 426hemi Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jan 2026 at 09:38
	You’ve always got a little play, all the bearings and linkages have a small amount of play and it adds up, up and down is fine but you don’t want any side to side.