lowering link install

[rjmorel]

I installed the lowering link on my RX3 and took a few picks showing process, enjoy.
Pressing the bearings out of old link and into new link were the only hard part if you don't have a press to do it with. You need some sort of bushing to support the link while you push the bearings out of the link and back in.
The only problem I had was not pressing the bearings in each side far enough which didn't allow the seals and inner bearing to be narrow enough to fit back in frame bracket. When I tried to put the new one back on it was to wide to fit in the RX3 front bracket so I had to press them in a little farther. If you have dial calipers, measure how wide your old link bearings are set at and set them the same in the new link and you should be good to go.
Since I have oversize tires on my rX3 compared to the originals , I think this lowering link brought it back down to the seat height it was when new. I have forks lowered also about 3/4" and have room to go 2x that with the bar risers on it now. I'm 5'6' so every little bit helps
rj


comparing old link with new.

6" bottle jack used under centerstand to take weight off rear wheel suspension.

only 2 bolts holding link on 15mm and 17mm sockets needed to remove.

link removed

pressing out needle bearings from old link

All the thingies that came off the original link that need to be put on new link

5 ton press used to put bearings back in new link

other side bearing install

done

[rtking]

Looks great, rjmorel! And great photos/write-up! With the lowering link, do you need to adjust the rear spring preload at all?

[rjmorel]

I noticed after lowering it the bike leans over less on the kickstand so will have to be careful where I park it more. As far as rear shock, tightening spring up would help it not squat and lean over as far but I'm not going to mess with it much till the "better" shock becomes available.

[SpudRider]

Thanks for posting the great tutorial with such excellent photographs, Rob. I have added a link to this thread in the RX3 Tech Sticky, under the Modifications subheading.

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=14228

[SpudRider]

I must admit, I'm surprised the lowering link didn't come with bearings installed.

[TripwirePig]

Thanks. I just posted a question on rx3forums for anyone who installed the lowering link to share the installation process. And I go on here and there it was. Thanks.

Oh by the way, how did you lower the forks? I'm about the same height as you 5'06".

[TripwirePig]

Me too. I thought it was going to be remove and replace.
Now I'm going to have to find someone that has a press. If I would have known, I could have asked CSC to install the bearings in it already for a fee.

Originally Posted by SpudRider

I must admit, I'm surprised the lowering link didn't come with bearings installed.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by TripwirePig

Me too. I thought it was going to be remove and replace.
Now I'm going to have to find someone that has a press. If I would have known, I could have asked CSC to install the bearings in it already for a fee.

You could take you stock link/dogbone, and your lowering link/dogbone, to a machinist, and he can swap the bearings for you. If you choose to do this, make an appointment so you can get the bike back together on the same day.

If someone with a press removes the bearings for you, you can install the bearings into your lowering link with a Motion Pro Bearing Install Tool.

http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0213/



I own one of these tools, as well as a 12-ton press. For a small job, such as installing bearings into a lowering link, the Motion Pro tool does a very good job.

[SpudRider]

The following link describes how you use the tool to install bearings.

http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/...tool__08-0213/

[SpudRider]

There are also a number of YouTube videos which show how you can remove bearings with a small vise, et cetera.

[SpudRider]

[rjmorel]

Originally Posted by TripwirePig

Oh by the way, how did you lower the forks? I'm about the same height as you 5'06".

Trip, I just loosened the triple clamp bolts that tighten around the upper fork tubes under the handlebar and slid them up towards the handlebars. This puts the bike down lower on the forks and lowers the seat a little. At our height every bit helps.

Spud ,I that very thought did surface as I exchanged the links how much simpler it would be if they did come with the bearings installed so you didn't have to swap them, rj

[CSCDude]

Originally Posted by rjmorel

Trip, I just loosened the triple clamp bolts that tighten around the upper fork tubes under the handlebar and slid them up towards the handlebars. This puts the bike down lower on the forks and lowers the seat a little. At our height every bit helps.

Spud ,I that very thought did surface as I exchanged the links how much simpler it would be if they did come with the bearings installed so you didn't have to swap them, rj

Rob, you did a great job with this. Well done!

[rjmorel]

Spud, CSC just posted a good tutorial on installing the lowering link also that has some good pointers I didn't think about . They don't use a press to get bearings in and out. Also if you tell them when ordering they will sell new link with bearings installed for you. How cool is that, rj

[SpudRider]

Here is a link to the CSC Tutorial for installing the lowering link. As usual, the CSC tutorial is excellent.

http://californiascooterco.com/blog/?p=18830

When I inspected and greased my lower shock linkage, I discovered the bolts for the link/dogbone are the same size as those for my Honda CRF250X. Therefore, I tightened these bolts to the Honda torque specification of 38 foot-pounds.