Hi all,
after speculating about doing this for aaaaages and staring at the disassembled frame sat on top of my cupboard for far too long, i have embarked on sourcing and creating my own bearing upgrade kit for the FSR frame (Elite 1999 model).
i shall be upgrading the following parts:
A links (the pivots at the chain stay drop outs)
Seat stay (top)
shock linkage
im a bit stuck with the main pivot bearings at the moment - not sure on what i need yet due to lack of knowledge of existing main pivot assembly.
I'm doing this with a bit of guesstimating and referencing the images from BETD and replicating their kits.
So far, i've sourced the following:
For the A Link upgrade:
6 x Needle roller bearings (open ended) (the seat stay and shock linkage require the same sizes hence why i ordered this many). Measurements:
Outer diameter: 16mm
Inner diameter: 12mm
Width: 10mm
Nitrile O Rings. Measurements:
Inner diameter: 11mm (you want this a bit smaller than the ID of the needle bearing to provide a tight fit for the bushing)
Cross section: 2.5mm
Parts list to get (this will be updated as i progress):
- Nylon washers (for seat stay/A links/shock link): OD: 22mm / IN: 12mm / W:1mm
- Nylon washers (for main pivot): OD:22mm / ID:10mm / W: 3.5mm
- Bolts and locking nuts for bushes
Costs (including postage) - this will be updated as i progress:
Needle roller bearings: £8 approx for all 6
O rings: £2 for 10
Aluminium shaft (12.7mmOD x M6 bore x 300mm length: £10 (hopefully this will do all the bushes i need)
Needle roller bearing seals - set of 2 (for the shock link bearings): £8
Needle roller bearing seals (for top of seat stay - set of 2): £8 should have ordered 4 in the first place :facepalm:
Total so far: £28
Progress:
So far i have installed the needle bearings at the A-links. i've centred them as much as possible - using vernier clamps and a home made bearing insert tool (socket set and bolt/washers). took me 5 minutes
the o rings sit perfectly.
Pics:
next is to get the nylon washers sorted and the bushings.
Also added bearings to the shock link:
For those interested, i used a simple socket head, bolt (used the one that holds the shock in the shock link) and a washer and nut to guide them in:
First problem:
nothing major, but the O rings i ordered have come up small - cross section not big enough (2mm) have ordered some with same ID (11mm) but with a 2.5mm cross section. this should do the trick one at the top of the pick wont fit properly.
UPDATE: Got the right O-Rings
Needle Bearing seals fitted to shock linkage - these needed a 3mm recess to fit flush. go too far, and you'll need to pull your bearings all the way through and start again! so gently and slowly does it! luckily, i got it spot on both times and they sit perfectly flush and right up against the needle roller face (with possibly just a smidge exposed to help create a nice seal when the washers sit over it): these were easy enough to install by hand (used a tiny bit of grease) and pushed them in using a socket with my fingers to apply the pressure evenly.
Top of seat stay bearings complete with seals installed. pics later
after speculating about doing this for aaaaages and staring at the disassembled frame sat on top of my cupboard for far too long, i have embarked on sourcing and creating my own bearing upgrade kit for the FSR frame (Elite 1999 model).
i shall be upgrading the following parts:
A links (the pivots at the chain stay drop outs)
Seat stay (top)
shock linkage
im a bit stuck with the main pivot bearings at the moment - not sure on what i need yet due to lack of knowledge of existing main pivot assembly.
I'm doing this with a bit of guesstimating and referencing the images from BETD and replicating their kits.
So far, i've sourced the following:
For the A Link upgrade:
6 x Needle roller bearings (open ended) (the seat stay and shock linkage require the same sizes hence why i ordered this many). Measurements:
Outer diameter: 16mm
Inner diameter: 12mm
Width: 10mm
Nitrile O Rings. Measurements:
Inner diameter: 11mm (you want this a bit smaller than the ID of the needle bearing to provide a tight fit for the bushing)
Cross section: 2.5mm
Parts list to get (this will be updated as i progress):
- Nylon washers (for seat stay/A links/shock link): OD: 22mm / IN: 12mm / W:1mm
- Nylon washers (for main pivot): OD:22mm / ID:10mm / W: 3.5mm
- Bolts and locking nuts for bushes
Costs (including postage) - this will be updated as i progress:
Needle roller bearings: £8 approx for all 6
O rings: £2 for 10
Aluminium shaft (12.7mmOD x M6 bore x 300mm length: £10 (hopefully this will do all the bushes i need)
Needle roller bearing seals - set of 2 (for the shock link bearings): £8
Needle roller bearing seals (for top of seat stay - set of 2): £8 should have ordered 4 in the first place :facepalm:
Total so far: £28
Progress:
So far i have installed the needle bearings at the A-links. i've centred them as much as possible - using vernier clamps and a home made bearing insert tool (socket set and bolt/washers). took me 5 minutes
the o rings sit perfectly.Pics:
next is to get the nylon washers sorted and the bushings.
Also added bearings to the shock link:
For those interested, i used a simple socket head, bolt (used the one that holds the shock in the shock link) and a washer and nut to guide them in:
First problem:
nothing major, but the O rings i ordered have come up small - cross section not big enough (2mm) have ordered some with same ID (11mm) but with a 2.5mm cross section. this should do the trick
one at the top of the pick wont fit properly.
UPDATE: Got the right O-Rings
Needle Bearing seals fitted to shock linkage - these needed a 3mm recess to fit flush. go too far, and you'll need to pull your bearings all the way through and start again! so gently and slowly does it! luckily, i got it spot on both times
and they sit perfectly flush and right up against the needle roller face (with possibly just a smidge exposed to help create a nice seal when the washers sit over it): these were easy enough to install by hand (used a tiny bit of grease) and pushed them in using a socket with my fingers to apply the pressure evenly.
Top of seat stay bearings complete with seals installed. pics later
