[Super767]

Hello all! I am new to this but I have solved many issues from y'all silently for both of my 08 Crf450Rs 1 outdoor and 1 arenacross, 47 years old and have been kick-starting my love since 1979. I ended my 40 years of competing my last race was January 2020 and I did it on my 2009 CRF450R that I'm having all sorts of problems with but there's one that's got me stumped because nobody else anywhere around here has an 2009 and I can't find anything in my manuals, bike bandit parts catalog or a picture and it just looks like something is missing along my swingarm mount hardware between the right side motor and swingarm.

[JimDirt]

Welcome to the site !!

This is from my 2020 , I just took this picture (different angle , and not as close) ... looks the same to me ... Are you having issues with the swingarm ??

[Super767]

The problem I have is how and why the pin (linkage connect to the frame) is cracked and a piece missing and the left and right side collars (rear shock connects to linkage) are shattered

[JimDirt]

Wow ... It looks like the bearing seized from lack of grease or from water (pressure washer ??) .... Was it frozen in there and you had to hammer it out ??

When was it serviced last ?? , or did you get stuck in a stream or something ?? .... the only time I have seen bearing collars look that bad is when they were dry for a long time , or saturated with water to the point it took all the grease out ... The shiny spot looks like it was a fresh break , assuming when beaten out

[Super767]

I wish it was from beating them out but, the collars fell out like that and the chip was held in place by the seal that was perfectly fine as we're the needle bearings, all with grease on them. My practice track is made of caliche no fresh dirt never needs to be groomed it's always hard packed and dry slick and that dust is pretty gnarly when it gets inside things but the bearings are pretty dang clean as far as the big step down we have there it's a 4th gear pinned and I land in the flats pretty much every time just so i have momentum going into a high Bank bowl turn cuz like I said there's no fresh dirt and brakes are useless, it's not a place you like to land front wheel first either so I might have just abused it lap after lap there nothing's within specs I have to replace the entire linkage system and it being my super Moto bike now maybe I'll go with three or four inch lowering link all new bearings seals and pins and hope it doesn't start chattering again

[JimDirt]

Yea , the practice place I ride is pretty dry as well , sand and clay , and lots and lots of dust , I just wore out a complete chain guide at 66.2 hours , cut right thru it with the chain ... and I had the bike torn down before even riding it when new and re-greased it , I am sure I will be cleaning and greasing before this season is out due to the dry conditions where I ride ... unfortunately , the only water it sees is from snow or rain ... so it hammers your stuff as well

What I would say is EBay , get a couple sets of linkage and prep them , and just figure a schedule that will be realistic , maybe twice a season , maybe more , and just swap the stuff so you can ride , and then service the other , so its ready for the next swap , so you don't destroy everything , but can still get your riding in ... it seriously looked like something that had been neglected and never greased or dunked in water for a week .....

But honestly , I have not seen linkage parts that bad that were not neglected , so yea , was not expecting you to say it was serviced and bearings had grease .....So all you can really do now , is know that X time is too long to go , and double up on the maintenance .... I thought getting a 2020 would cut down my maintenance from my old 02 I came off .... I think I work on this bike more ..... but its a blast to ride , so I guess that is all that matters ..... 66.2 hours on my 2020 , 3 chains (2 gold $100+ ones) 3 sets of tires (OEM and 1 complete set of MX33) , on 2nd set of those now , and a chain slider at 40 hours and now guide , like complete chain guide , this one was destroyed , and cut in half right thru the aluminum with the chain ... so I hear ya on riding conditions , it will beat a bike down in no time ....