Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Pard]

The Rebelle swingarm has this handy hole in it that catches a ton of road debris.  Changing the rear tire today, I decided to vacuum it out with a shop vac.

Will be closing that opening with some duct tape.

[Pard]

Contents of swingarm catch can

[Pard]

Smart member of the facebook group is already on this fix.  He produced a 3D printed plug .

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4709218?fbclid=IwAR0yh40qTjQmR8t8q1ngsSOLEa4ajPlZZTZ-R_qwCVMQ_oo7jLdYjAU6U6c

https://www.facebook.com/groups/energicaownersgroup/permalink/1437778430352924/

[Pard]

This

[jotjotde]

Thanks a lot for pointing that out! I have not looked inside yet.

What I noticed, though, is that also on the upper side of the swingarm moisture and debris collect in the screws and holes there.
For example, look at the screwholes where the gear mudguard is fixed. The standard screws are just normal zinc plated steel and were already corroding (at least at my bike).
Plus at some point there might be too much dirt collected in the screw grooves to insert the 3 mm allen key.

So I decided to exchange them against titanium hex screws with a large head (allowing a 4 mm allen key), that should adress the problem somewhat.

BTW that corrosion problem is immanent for all of the M5 mm screws at the bottom of the bike where moisture ends up e.g. by driving on a wet road. E.g. the three screws holding the chain guard. As most of them are not under high mechanical stress (just holding fairings) they can be exchanged easily. I ordered titanium for those screws as well via Aliexpress.

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/4001304759889.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000060.3.274b7be64pwaqs&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller&scm=1007.13339.291025.0&scm_id=1007.13339.291025.0&scm-url=1007.13339.291025.0&pvid=5aa64b0d-2747-4806-a790-7d2100fb8c88&_t=gps-id%3ApcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller%2Cscm-url%3A1007.13339.291025.0%2Cpvid%3A5aa64b0d-2747-4806-a790-7d2100fb8c88%2Ctpp_buckets%3A668%232846%238107%231934&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21EUR%2113.69%2110.95%21%21%21%21%21%40211b442216875011569316349ef429%2110000015678320511%21rec%21DE%21&gatewayAdapt=glo2deu

I recommend that for everyone who is riding on wet roads.

[Pard]

Great idea to switch the hardware.  I too noticed the corrosion on my swingarm hardware.  Was not inspired to change them out, but now I am!  Thx!

[wadejesu]

Did the same. Here's another place to get quality fastners.

https://www.ebay.com/str/speedyfasteners

[Specter]

Im going with stainless.
The swagelok guy owes me some favors

Aaron

[jotjotde]

Im going with stainless.
The swagelok guy owes me some favors

Aaron

Aaron, I am not too sure if stainless is the best material choice. Here in my part of the world they put salt on the streets in wintertime. Those chlorides are going to corrode stainless steel as well as normal steel. That's why I chose the titanium bolts.

As an recommendation for all: That screw indicated in the pic (lower fixpoint of the chain guide) was already corroded on my '22 bike, the zinc plating totally gone.
If you are not keen to exchange this screw, at least put a thick glob of chain lube on it, that should provide at least some protection.

[Specter]

I forget my numbers, its been a long day but some decent 304 or 316 should hold up decently.
We don't have road salt but Florida has plenty of I guess you could call it ocean salt in the air.
Stainless is super readily available to me, Titanium, im sure is too if I were to look around but im looking more at immediately available.

Stainless we use for our air systems extensively because of it's corrosion resistance, even on the acid systems we use it so Id hope it would last a few years at least.

Aaron

[jotjotde]

I forget my numbers, its been a long day but some decent 304 or 316 should hold up decently.
We don't have road salt but Florida has plenty of I guess you could call it ocean salt in the air.
Stainless is super readily available to me, Titanium, im sure is too if I were to look around but im looking more at immediately available.

Stainless we use for our air systems extensively because of it's corrosion resistance, even on the acid systems we use it so Id hope it would last a few years at least.

Aaron

Hi Aaron, to my knowledge the 304 will not hold long in maritime ambience, the 316 is better for this. Please also look for the proper strength class. The 'usual' special steel bolt they sell you is 304 with a strength class below of a normal steel nut.

[Specter]

Appreciate the input, Ill have to do some research and might just get the titanium.  Or Inconel, or Kovar, or ..or. just spooge some sealer on it so it don't rust and leave it as is.  Nothing is more annoying than corroded stuff tho, and with my luck, no matter how careful you are it always snaps

Aaron

[jotjotde]

As @Pard did, I vacuumed the swingarm during the weekend. I was a bit frightened about what to expect (dead animals, used condoms, chewing gum... ) but in the end it was exactly the same stuff as Pard found.
Interesting, that apparently only a certain size of material is collected. My theory is, that the airflow around the swingarm produces some sort of suction into the swingarm where the heavier stuff falls out and the fine fraction is carried out with the airflow. Tried to ducttape the opening but on some point during my two rides it came partially off and functioned as flypaper.

So I think, I need to get the 3D-printed cover.
The inventor on Thingiverse states that his design is only a first draft to be improved over time - has anyone already installed this plug and can suggest improvements?

[Pard]

Indeed, keep us posted if you used the covers.  I am still using tape.

[Specter]

Wad up a brown paper towel, shove it into the shaft so it's about even with the outside,  fish it out with a pair of needle nose, there stuff in swingarm shaft averted

I wonder if a cork could be used too, like one of those rubber ones you use when brewing,  gently snug it in, cut flush and you are good!  paint it / sharpie it to make color match better.

Aaron