C25 Swinging Arm Bushes

[Andy Edwards]

Hello.  I'm carrying out a total restoration of my C25 which has sat unused in our garage for 40 years.  The frame is completely dismantled ready to go to local paint strippers.  I Have not removed the swinging arm Silent Block bushes as they seem to be ok. I guess that this means that the swinging arm will have to be shot blasted rather than acid dipped to avoid damage to the bushes.

What do others think about me not replacing the original bushes? Are others still using original bushes which are now 48 years old?

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Andy,

As the bike has sat for 40 years and the bushes appear to be in good order then leave them alone.
I have covered many thousands of miles on an A10 with sidecar and latterly an A65 and what I believe to be the original silent block bushes have lasted.  Your bike could well have low mileage so whilst good condition cannot be guaranteed it is very likely.
Others may have different ideas.

Dave.

[Stubaker58]

I've run two Bantams on their original silent bloc bushes.
The issue I faced was not powder coating the swinging arm as the heat would not be good for the rubber.

[Beesy]

Intresting you say that, I had my starfire swing arm powder coated ok with silent bloc bushes.

Did you speak to a powder coater?

[Mike40M]

Have 3 BSAs and 3 Nortons with silent bloc bushes. All OK. Thought I had to replace them on a B40WD but  it turned out that previous owner hadn't tightened the axle. So the swing moved freely. A new axle and some side shims fixed the wobbly swing. Silent blocs not affected.

[Stubaker58]

It's some time ago but as I remember it the guy wasn't keen to put the swinging arm in the oven.

[Andy Edwards]

Thanks for the replies, I'll carry on with the original bushes.