LT is back in the shop - Pivot Pin bearing bad

3018 Views 19 Replies 10 Participants Last post by dodge24v, Sep 19, 2012

WillieC

Discussion Starter · Jul 10, 2012

I started out for a trip to the Jersey shore today and about 100 miles in the trip I started to get a squeaking noise when I went over a bump. It progressively got louder and then the suspension seemed a little stiff. I examinied it as best I could but I could not located the source by myself. So being that I just had the 48K service and the rear trans seal replaced at my dealer I headed back for them to check it out.
If you remember the tech had stripped the pivot bolt head during the replacement of the rear trans seal just last week. He told me he had a hard time with it and broke a socket. anyway he listened to the squeak today and said it is coming from the bearing on the swingarm where that bolt is that he had trouble with. I am not sure how much damage has been done or what the extent of the repair will be. BUT I kind of got the feeling that the do not plan on covering the cost to repair. I am not 100% sure of that but the service manager said the problem probably is that it was torqued too tight to begin with and that is why the tech broke the socket. But I do believe they were the last shop to have it out the last time when the clutch was replaced last June.
I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomcach and I fear this can be expensive.
I have only had this LT with 45K on it for three weeks and it has been in the shop almost half of that time.
How bad can it be ??? Could it have destroyed the entire swingarm ?
I rode on it for 100 miles to get it back to the shop not realizing what the noise was. I was thinking it was the rear shock gone bad.

Thanks for any opinions or advice

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jzeiler

· #2 · Jul 10, 2012

You should not have a problem. There is a possibility that the pivot became loose but it has a lot of thread on it and it has limited room to "back out" so there should be no damage to the swing arm.

If it was damaged on removal I would like to know how they torqued it back in properly as it gets 160Nm or 118 FtLbs. If I remember right it was the right side and that one has a fixed bearing cup that gets torqued to 200Nm or 147 FtLb.

The left side has a floating bearing cup that gets a small pre-load of only 10Nm or about 88.5 inch lbs, then a back up ring that gets torqued to 160Nm. If any of there were not set right it could lead to your squeak.

Good luck wth the shop.

WillieC

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 11, 2012

Re: 05 LT is back in the shop - Pivot Pin bearing bad

jzeiler said:
You should not have a problem. There is a possibility that the pivot became loose but it has a lot of thread on it and it has limited room to "back out" so there should be no damage to the swing arm.

If it was damaged on removal I would like to know how they torqued it back in properly as it gets 160Nm or 118 FtLbs. If I remember right it was the right side and that one has a fixed bearing cup that gets torqued to 200Nm or 147 FtLb.

The left side has a floating bearing cup that gets a small pre-load of only 10Nm or about 88.5 inch lbs, then a back up ring that gets torqued to 160Nm. If any of there were not set right it could lead to your squeak.

Good luck wth the shop.

Thanks John, I am really happy you replied I trust your judgement 100%.
I will not get an answer until tomorrow afternoon but when they were listening to the sound, squeaking and grinding noises, at the dealership this afternoon they said it sounds really bad. I guess they have only been a BMW dealer for 2 years and the tech is very young and put himself thru tech school a short while ago. I give him credit for that and he seems to want to do a good job. My fear is that I know he had alot of trouble getting the pivot pin out before (and you are correct it is the right side) and I am not sure how much stress or hammering might have been done at that time. I have only put about 250 miles on it since the repair and service. Also I do not think this is a common thing to go bad on the LT is it ?

73's from KC1JL

jzeiler

· #4 · Jul 11, 2012

No you should never have an issue here IF it is installed properly. I suspect he did not have the right tools to set the preload on the pivot and hold that preload while torquing the lock ring. Show him this and see how he reacts.

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wa1200lt

· #5 · Jul 11, 2012

This is not a hard one to fix. The "how to" for drilling the weep hole actually takes you further in than you need to go. You will need the cut out 30mm socket and the appropriate hex wrench, as well as a torque wrench to set up the swingarm. The bearings are about $35 each.

Even if you spend some coin on getting a lift for the bike to do the work with it won't take too many services like you have just been through to recoup the cost.

You only need put the word out and someone will loan you the special socket. I can't loan you one 'cuz I'm a borrower myself.

Loren

WillieC

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 11, 2012

wa1200lt said:
This is not a hard one to fix. The "how to" for drilling the weep hole actually takes you further in than you need to go. You will need the cut out 30mm socket and the appropriate hex wrench, as well as a torque wrench to set up the swingarm. The bearings are about $35 each.

Even if you spend some coin on getting a lift for the bike to do the work with it won't take too many services like you have just been through to recoup the cost.

You only need put the word out and someone will loan you the special socket. I can't loan you one 'cuz I'm a borrower myself.

Loren

I do a lift and I plan to do my own work in the future, Being that I just got my first BMW I wanted to have a certified dealer do the full checkup on it to be safe. Not sure I gained anything in this case though. "Live and learn"

thanks for the information

WillieC

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 11, 2012

jzeiler said:
No you should never have an issue here IF it is installed properly. I suspect he did not have the right tools to set the preload on the pivot and hold that preload while torquing the lock ring. Show him this and see how he reacts.

Excellent, I am going to drive over later today and will take print out with me.
I am curious to see if they even have this type of socket.

thanks very much for the help !

johnbaker15

· #8 · Jul 11, 2012

Wille,

None of us where there when your guy did the work, but given that they screwed up the nut and reused it I would bet they didn't tourque it correctly.

Just me but this should be no cost repair to you...

WillieC

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 11, 2012

Well they were too busy to look at my LT today, somewhat of a let down for me.
I was hoping that they could at least diagnose the problem so the parts could be ordered. The had it in the shop all last week and I would really like to have it back before the weekend.They are busy with other customers but I told them that I felt that this was a result of my service last week that I have already paid over $1,000.00 for. They will try to get at it tomorrow. If I was sure what parts it will need I would order them myself so they would be available.

Is there anyone from Pennsylvania that can recommend a good BMW dealership and/or service person? I am about 200 miles from Pittsburg and 100 miles from the Harrisburg area. I wish I could find and independent shop that works on BMW within 50 miles of me.

CRAP !

norton

· #10 · Jul 11, 2012

Go to Hermy's in Port Clinton (north of Reading) these guys no there sh*(^t. I'm lucky to have a great shop, Montgomeryville Cycle, the Owner Bob is top shelf and Steve there head BMW mechanic is very good.

WillieC

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 12, 2012

norton said:
Go to Hermy's in Port Clinton (north of Reading) these guys no there sh*(^t. I'm lucky to have a great shop, Montgomeryville Cycle, the Owner Bob is top shelf and Steve there head BMW mechanic is very good.

I was on my way to Hermy's Tesday when my LT developed the bearing issues.
They are 146 miles from here I did make to Velocity Cylces in Mechanicsburg.
As soon as I get my LT back I will head over to Hermy's and have them look at it and get a second opinion.

Thanks for the information !

murray

· #12 · Jul 12, 2012

+ 1 on Hermy's ,I have used them since 02. Darrel is the service manager.

I have the cut away socket if you need it, it is also used when installing the FD.

Good luck !

WillieC

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 12, 2012

murray said:
+ 1 on Hermy's ,I have used them since 02. Darrel is the service manager.

I have the cut away socket if you need it, it is also used when installing the FD.

Good luck !

Thanks and good news on Hermy's. I have a cut out socket on order on this site
so I will eventually have mine. If the State College, PA dealer gets my LT done I am going to ride down to Hermy's and have them take a look and test ride, if they will, and see if I bought a pig in a poke. I am dissapointed with the dealer I bought the LT from and will not go back unless I have no other choice. I think I will do what I see others do that have the LT and that is to get another MC for a backup while the LT is down for repairs or maintence. I looks like mine will be in the shop 1/2 of the time I have owned it so far. I noticed one problem is that they have one BMW tech and they will do the jobs that make the money and sales before they will fix a wrong. At least that in my observation so far, but may not be a fact. Time will tell i guess. But I do not get a "warm fuzzy feeling" when I go there now. Was great when I was looking and buying. I have spent almost $2,000.00 in spare parts and maintenance the past week but that does not seem to buy me much favor. I do realize that there are other customers waiting and I have to wait my turn but I would be happy if they just diagnosed the noise so I know what ti expect. Maybe that will happen today, the Service Manager seems like a decent guy.

Thanks for the info !

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tonygret

· #14 · Jul 12, 2012

WillieC said:
I have spent almost $2,000.00 in spare parts and maintenance the past week but that does not seem to buy me much favor. I do realize that there are other customers waiting and I have to wait my turn but I would be happy if they just diagnosed the noise so I know what ti expect. Maybe that will happen today, the Service Manager seems like a decent guy.

You are being too nice. I am a patient guy but I would have lit this place up by now. I have become more and more willing to put up with incompetence in my old age, but not at my (monetary) expense. You need to go in there and tell them you don't care about those other customers. You already paid your bill! I am getting frustrated just reading this thread . . .

I have to go check my BP

WillieC

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 12, 2012

tonygret said:
You are being too nice. I am a patient guy but I would have lit this place up by now. I have become more and more willing to put up with incompetence in my old age, but not at my (monetary) expense. You need to go in there and tell them you don't care about those other customers. You already paid your bill! I am getting frustrated just reading this thread . . .

I have to go check my BP

Sorry about the BP mine has been high too. I will shut up after this post and stop whinning.

But you are correct and I feel the same way. In my younger years I would had already raised hell with them and be on their shit list for good. I unfortnately have become accustomed to poor service, people selling junk and cheap Chinese goods. I guess I would say I am shocked when I get good courteous service anymore. I will say this and put my BIG FOOT in my mouth my last 4 bikes were Harleys and the service and attitude was terrific, plus, I had zero issues with any of the HOGS that would have let me down. I am severly dissapointed with the BMW service I have gotten so far and were it not for this fine WEB site and the generous people on it my LT would most likely be gone by now. I am really trying to be patient because I am itching to ride and take a trip but I have to get the LT out of the shop and have some assurance it will run OK 1st. Unfortunately for me I am about 250 miles from a good dealer and because of that I may dump the LT and go back to a Harley. I will most likely lose about 6k in the process which makes me sad. I wished I lived near a person like John Zeiler, that would make a world of difference although he may not like the idea ! Anyway I am basically screwed for now and will not know how much it will cost me until later. Hopefully all will turn out well but so far it has sucked.

Thanks for the reply

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WillieC

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 12, 2012 (Edited)

Dealer is working with me on the issue's nicely

OK so we got to the root of the problems on my LT and my local dealer is working hard with me to get the issues resolved. They are professional in every way and I especially think the service manager is a man of integrity. They really try hard to please and do a good job.
I should be back on the road next week and have all this issues behind me. I must say it had been a real experience moving over to the BMW motorcycle world.
Thanks to all for the help and support.

deputy5211

· #17 · Jul 12, 2012

Saw your other thread about the swing arm. Could it be that they stripped the swing arm when they stripped the bolts? I do not know enough to say whether this is even possible, and am just asking the question with no accusation intended.

Foiler

· #18 · Jul 12, 2012

Rough way to start your LT ownership Willie. I sure hope you get out there and get to loggin some miles soon!

WillieC

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jul 12, 2012

Foiler said:
Rough way to start your LT ownership Willie. I sure hope you get out there and get to loggin some miles soon!

Thanks for the good wishes I am sure I will soon !

dodge24v

· #20 · Sep 19, 2012

Howdy,

Just curious how everything turned out?

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