suspension linkage failures
- Thread starter danf1234
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- failures linkage suspension
the bearings in the dog bone especially need to be kept in good condition. If they are not and get tight or worn the bearing cage twists in it's seat and allow it to misalign and bind.
the service interval for greasing the bearings is 9.5k but many come with precious little grease from the factory and any jet washing easily gets past the seals into the rollers. I always repack using lithium grease which is water repellant. Done mine twice in 10.5 k
no duty on links becuse Hm customs don't normally bother collecting duty on goods less than £35
af1 are super quick, about 3 or 4 days from order normally.
the service interval for greasing the bearings is 9.5k but many come with precious little grease from the factory and any jet washing easily gets past the seals into the rollers. I always repack using lithium grease which is water repellant. Done mine twice in 10.5 k
no duty on links becuse Hm customs don't normally bother collecting duty on goods less than £35
af1 are super quick, about 3 or 4 days from order normally.
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that sucks.
id be looking for somewere else to take my business/look after my bike if they dont wanna be helpfull.
hope you get sorted mate.
id be looking for somewere else to take my business/look after my bike if they dont wanna be helpfull.
hope you get sorted mate.
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Joined Oct 2007
681 Posts | 0+
cumbria
once again cheers all especially spoonz
i'm gonna order mine tomorrow and get them changed next week. no rough riding until then
how difficult are they to change?
do i need an abba stand?
gonna put the clutch SC on hold until i've sorted this out first, can't afford everyhting
i'll fettle the clutch instead of going for an mpl
this bike is going to bankrupt me LOL
i'm gonna order mine tomorrow and get them changed next week. no rough riding until then
how difficult are they to change?
do i need an abba stand?
gonna put the clutch SC on hold until i've sorted this out first, can't afford everyhting
i'll fettle the clutch instead of going for an mpl
this bike is going to bankrupt me LOL
you do need to get the weight off the back end on an abba stand or bar through the swinger pivot on axle stands (carefully). Back wheel out makes the whole process much easier as well.
Just be careful of the swigarm when the linkage is removed as it will drop down and rest on the exhaust headers if you don't support it.
I have a slave you can have if you pm me your address. only had 4k on it before i put an MPL on.
Just be careful of the swigarm when the linkage is removed as it will drop down and rest on the exhaust headers if you don't support it.
I have a slave you can have if you pm me your address. only had 4k on it before i put an MPL on.
Just like me I can't not do it now. More fookin money on the bike LOL
Well it has played on my mind for the last 3 days, and I decided I couldn't take the chance.
I have ordered a set from AF1,
Dan
I have ordered a set from AF1,
Dan
my Aprilia dealer has said today that they and the service station checked my rear suspension linkage three weeks before the linkage snapped the frame, he said they were ok when he looked at them, if the linkage can fail in three weeks is the design at fault or maybe the dealer isn't being too honest!!
that wouldnt be a first,for most dealers!
they should move southern cross to the midlands btw!
they should move southern cross to the midlands btw!
In fairness all the bikes that have had failures that i know of have been low mileage with no obvious reasons for the links to fail mechanically.
The metalurgist that was hired to look at Scott's said the tests showed the link broke in one catastrophic failure with no signs of pre failure cracking or impacts. His linkage bearings etc were all fine.
The suggestion is the link is breaking from a twisting action rather than compresssion or extension. All have snapped at the same places across the top and down the back as if the thin leg is bent around the point it meets the swingarm. a bit like bending a ruler over the edge of a table.
Unlike some metals Aluminium is a memory metal. Every flex reduces it's strength and stiffens the metal making it brittle. You've all bent a coke can ring pull back. Bend it 5 times and it snaps = Aluminium. You compensate for that by increasing the cross section. Ooopps what happened between 03 and 04, it got thinner. The back leg thinner by 50%.
The theory is sound but it's not proven (to Aprilia's satisfaction anyway) so for now the purpose of the people on af1 and most other Aprilia sights making a deal over this is for you to make a choice based on what is out there.
What you do with it is up to the individual. As i said for me it was a no brainer. I can't rely on inspection nor can a dealer because there appears to be no pre failure signs and at £40 even if it's all a red herring it's not a biggy to me considering the consequences of a failure should the worst happen.
The metalurgist that was hired to look at Scott's said the tests showed the link broke in one catastrophic failure with no signs of pre failure cracking or impacts. His linkage bearings etc were all fine.
The suggestion is the link is breaking from a twisting action rather than compresssion or extension. All have snapped at the same places across the top and down the back as if the thin leg is bent around the point it meets the swingarm. a bit like bending a ruler over the edge of a table.
Unlike some metals Aluminium is a memory metal. Every flex reduces it's strength and stiffens the metal making it brittle. You've all bent a coke can ring pull back. Bend it 5 times and it snaps = Aluminium. You compensate for that by increasing the cross section. Ooopps what happened between 03 and 04, it got thinner. The back leg thinner by 50%.
The theory is sound but it's not proven (to Aprilia's satisfaction anyway) so for now the purpose of the people on af1 and most other Aprilia sights making a deal over this is for you to make a choice based on what is out there.
What you do with it is up to the individual. As i said for me it was a no brainer. I can't rely on inspection nor can a dealer because there appears to be no pre failure signs and at £40 even if it's all a red herring it's not a biggy to me considering the consequences of a failure should the worst happen.
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Joined May 2008
2K Posts | 0+
Northern Territory AUSTRALIA
Spoonz, your knowledge of so many things around the Aprilia bikes is very impressive & such quality information for the members of this great site.
You are an RSV riders asset of true worth, & so generous to share your first hand experiences. Thank you so much mate. I enjoy reading your posts greatly.:thumbup
You are an RSV riders asset of true worth, & so generous to share your first hand experiences. Thank you so much mate. I enjoy reading your posts greatly.:thumbup
its to late for my bike as the linkage didn't break it snapped off the frame lugs holding the linkage so the frame is useless unless it can be welded?
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