Z1OwnersClub GB

Hi

Rebulding the Zed over the winter, found some free play in the swinging arm! so looks like new bushes required. The question is can the Z1000 needle roller bearings be back fitted to the Z900 to replace the plain bushes? if they can would this be worth doing? would it give any significant improvement to handling?

Thanks for any advice.

David, I believe the answer is Yes! The new double roller needles bearings do fit as they are the same overall length as the phosphor bronze bushing... That is two bearings are the same length as one bushing.

As to whether one is better than the other, I think if the bronze-bush job has been done well and you do get the sleeves to be locked by the distance piece. I would go that way. However the needle rollers are a simpler idea and sound easy to install. I don't know what the end caps are like on the needle rollers and whether you can pick the difference externally.

A good check to see if your plain-bearing type of swing-arm is working correctly, is to (without rear shocks) see if the end-caps stay stationary when the swing arm is moved through its arc. This means the sleeves/ distance piece are correctly locked by the pivot nut.

I'm about to go with needles-roller next time!

Incidently, I think you will find when you pull your swing-arm down the sleeves will be in an OK condition, as they will be locked in the bronze bushing and the wear will be on the swing-arm shaft... Which has been a common problem! It is worse on the A4 as the shaft is slightly smaller diameter (0.010") to the earlier Z1 Series.
RegardZ