Greasing rear suspension linkage on a XR650L

[DarylinAjax]

Hi All,

I picked up a new-to-me 95 XR650L Honda on the weekend. Before I hit the road I'm looking to do a full front-to-back service on it and had a question regarding the greasing of the rear suspension linkage. I'm delighted to see all the joints have Zerk grease fittings so it's a simple matter of just pumping some grease in.

Anyone know just how much grease should I add to each joint? I know from experience with previous equipment that with some joints you are supposed to add grease until it starts to squeeze out past the seals. There are also joints that if you do that you end up blowing the seals (ruining them) - for those you only put two or three pumps of new grease in and that's it.

The factory service manual does not say anything on the subject.

Bonus question:
I have no idea what the previous owner greased the bike with, is there a grease that is compatible with all other greases?

Cheers,
Daryl

 

[frekeyguy]

A good synthetic grease would work well in those type of settings. I would put in 1 - 2 pumps, those are usually roller bearings in there - that don't need too much grease in them to keep them going for years.

 

[mike.from.canmore]

A good synthetic grease would work well in those type of settings. I would put in 1 - 2 pumps, those are usually roller bearings in there - that don't need too much grease in them to keep them going for years.

Are you are speaking from your vast experience with dirtbikes? and by roller bearings do you mean needle bearings?

 

[m.breen]

My stearing head has a Zerk sqirt and members on the XL forum have advised to not use it and take it apart to grease it,( It's a '93 harley xl) I put a few pumps of synthetic wheel bearing grease in it once in a while (maybe every 2 years, and no problems.(It does leak out a bit in the heat) I would not be afraid to pump some good quality grease into the rear suspension in question, but, wait for some others to chime in with more knowledge on that. I like to use full synthetic lubricants for obvious reasons (If I have to get into that I don't have time).

 

[frekeyguy]

Are you are speaking from your vast experience with dirtbikes? and by roller bearings do you mean needle bearings?

Hey your back!

SO please educate us on the differences between Roller VS Needle bearings (this will be interesting )

Vast experince with dirt bikes --> Heck no! When did I ever claim to have experice there? , but I do know that a needle/roller bearing is a bearing , and a contaminant is a contaminant...and I know why bearings fail and what causes it to fail.

Since your an expert on all topics I post on and try to help on......why don't you help the OP out and post valuable advise?


...and while you are at it....maybe you should explain why its important to keep a bearing clean and keep it away from contaminants and how some simple grease will keep it going for years. This isn't some sort of high speed spindle bearing ; where the amount of grease or the type of grease or how its run in is important. What's more crucial in this application would be to have a small portion of lubricant in there BUT whats more cruitial is to keep grit / grime / solvents out .

 

[01cbr]

Hey your back!

SO please educate us on the differences between Roller VS Needle bearings (this will be interesting )

Vast experince with dirt bikes --> Heck no! When did I ever claim to have experice there? , but I do know that a needle/roller bearing is a bearing , and a contaminant is a contaminant...and I know why bearings fail and what causes it to fail.

Since your an expert on all topics I post on and try to help on......why don't you help the OP out and post valuable advise?


...and while you are at it....maybe you should explain why its important to keep a bearing clean and keep it away from contaminants and how some simple grease will keep it going for years. This isn't some sort of high speed spindle bearing ; where the amount of grease or the type of grease or how its run in is important. What's more crucial in this application would be to have a small portion of lubricant in there BUT whats more cruitial is to keep grit / grime / solvents out .

The needle bearings in the linkage arnt sealed like the wheel bearing.
Dirt bike linkages are also exposed to A LOT of water.

In my experience the grease gets washed out quickly. I personally would pump grease in until it starts to come out of the seals.

Be thankful your linkage has grease fittings. A lot easier than taking it all apart to do it.

Dont forget about the swingarm either.

 

[dricked]

Take it apart and inspect the bearings. You'll be able to clean out any debris and it'll give you an idea of how much grease you need (grease them when you re-assemble). It doesn't take long and definatly check the main swingarm bearings/wheel bearings/steering head bearings and the little ones on the shock (top/bottom).

 

[mma01]

Im a big fan of belray waterproof grease and is it on all of my suspension linkages/bearings. Its an aluminum complex grease that has high resistance to washout.