[Dust Devil]

Start with a clean bike, S100 works wonders on the dirtiest bikes.


1. Remove rear tire, seat, footpegs and footpeg mounts (good time to antiseize mount bolts), rear chainguard, rear caliper carrier and brake line guides, subframe, airbox, rear fender, rear brake lever (dont forget to remove clip from mount bolt)

2. remove shock, use crate to support swingarm.





3. remove linkage

4. remove swingarm

I like to use Q-tips to clean around seals before removing bearing sleeves.



Right now is a good time to antiseize chain adjuster bolt if you have not already.



Using your god given grease applicator apply grease liberally, be careful the needle bearings are loose and will come out.





Re-install swinger, note how useful the crate becomes at this point.





Service linkage bearings, be extra careful with the one in the middle, the needle bearings are especially onery.



more to come.

[rurman]

It's a lot more work, but I like to remove each needle bearing so that I can get everything really clean before greasing and reinstalling.

UMan

[Dust Devil]

That is a good idea.

This bike is brand new so I didnt figure it was needed this time. It was more of a "just make sure they are not dry from the factory" type of service.

[paul turner]

Russ, i think i see one needle bearing on the floor, yea, right there,


paul

[Ravage]

HA! mine looks the same!

[Tattooart]

HA! mine looks the same!

Where's the grease? Jeez.......

[cheezeburger]

Hey you rusty needle boys, was your linkage squeeking?

[devistation]

Hey you rusty needle boys, was your linkage squeeking?

Not at all!!! Hell it wasn't even moving on that pivot!!!!

[CRFMASTER14]

When performing this service, it would be wise to do the same to the steering head bearings. They are severely underlubed from the factory.

[Reddog88]

WOW!! not quite as bad as my old KDX, had about 3/4'' play in the linkage lol...anyways ravage and devistation, how much time did those have on them?

[devistation]

devistation, how much time did those have on them?

Bought my bike in june of 05 and never greased them...so thats about 1 1\2 years, "Lots of mud ride's"... I did the steering head bearings after about a year and they still had some grease, just not much!!! All the other linkage needle bearings looked good, just needed grease....

[devistation]

Thats me man. Not a lot of mud rides, but never took it apart. Maybe my next project once I get over pnuemonia (don't ask). I may never ride the thing again, it might as well be in tip top shape.

Do it Soon Cheezy!!! Wish i did mine when my bike was new!! After this replacement, It WILL be done quarterly!!

[Ravage]

I pressed out all my bearings on the weekend and put all new ones in from pivot works, and have a few more things to do to the beast before shes done. I just wish i would have done it sooner, and saved myself $150. Oh well live and learn.

Now i just have to wait for the snow to melt
Hve fun riding this weekend cali. boys, while im shoveling snow. lol

[Dust Devil]

Well I need to come clean about something.....When I serviced my linkage way back when, I thought it was just a rubber bushing and metal sleeve at the point where the lower shock mounts to the yoke......well, I pulled mine apart on Sunday night and it looked just like Devins......so, I ordered OEM just the bearing,seals..ect that I needeed AND the Motion Pro Bearing tool...I will try to finish this how-to soon, sorry for the delays, I cant get on CRFs OR Photobucket at work anymore and My time away from work is taken for the most part, I also dont even have a computer at home ( yeah I know pathetic)..I'll do what I can to finish this how-to ASAP!!

[loff]

DD,
What is the torque setting for the bolt on the left in picture number nine?

Thanks for the great post. I would not have attempted this without your info.