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George Ryals wrote:You might also look at the alignment of the drive shaft and transmission output shaft. Could be that the swingarm should actually be closer to the right side than the left instead of centered in the frame.

In addition to that, check first that it is centered in the frame, equal gaps both sides, and then bend it out as per Vanzens advice. To make sure everything will line up, I would just mount the header and muffler and use the muffler as the tool to bend it out.

Tim Shepherd wrote:... I would just mount the header and muffler and use the muffler as the tool to bend it out.

BTDT !

Thanks for the suggestions. What do you think, about a 1/4" clearance be ok?

Are you slifting the swingarm through a larger arc than the shocks will allow? If memory serves me I wncountered the same problem when I installed my braced swingarm a few years back and finally realized that with the shocks mounted the swingarm will never move up that high.

Teo

teo wrote:Are you slifting the swingarm through a larger arc than the shocks will allow? If memory serves me I wncountered the same problem when I installed my braced swingarm a few years back and finally realized that with the shocks mounted the swingarm will never move up that high.

Teo

When I installed the swing arm I assumed the arc would not need to go that far down. But, than I bought the shocks and realized I was not going to be able to install them. The shock mounts on the frame are only 11" apart with the swing arm hitting the frame. My shocks are 13+" from eyelet to eyelet. From what I read, 13" is the correct length for the shocks.

The bummer about bending the exhaust mount is that I have a beautiful new set of Keihan pipes and exhaust and a nice powder coated frame. It kind of makes me cringe thinking about bolting my new exhaust onto my frame and bending it out.

The short swing arm /5 had the "short" shocks at 13" as you stated. The '73 and a 1/2 went to the 13.5" shocks as did /6 and later. The 1/2 inch makes very little difference in ride or handling so I wouldn't worry about that aspect.

I checked my SJ-braced swing arm (/6) and the brace doesn't seem to stand out as far (in a vertical plane) as yours .

It looks like you might have to pull that exhaust hanger out a little bit. It's not hard and shouldn't damage your paint or exhaust. I've done it on my SS exhaust equipped R65 and the /6 with no ill effects to the paint. It won't take much...

Teo

OK, thanks. I will give it a shot this weekend and get back with the results.

Yes, I can remember encountering this same braced-SA / frame interference.
As Duane mentioned, every frame begins with these (otherwise inconsequential) differences
and then will be subject to a lifetime of use and abuse.
The foot-peg / muffler bracket will bend quite easily, after all ...

Well that was a failure. Mounted the exhaust up to it. Put everything I had into it and it wouldn't budge, and I mean it didn't even start to feel like it was going anywhere.and I'm not a small guy either. So, I'm thinking I need to make a bracket that I can put a 5' breaker bar in to gain some leverage or maybe put a bottle jack between the brackets and hope the left one is the first to give. Ugggh.