I see the need for brute force now.

I was belting mine so hard I was worried about mushrooming the threaded end.

Got any recommendations for sellers of bearing kits or did you use a Yamaha dealer?

I did, and replaced the pivot bolt...

http://getfile4.posterous.com/getfil...scaled1000.jpg

(see my sig thread for more details)

I bought almost all the parts from Yamaha, via ajsutton.co.uk. Bloody expensive, there's about �250-300 worth of parts if you do everything in the back end (seals, bearings, and sleeves). You could probably get some of it slightly cheaper from a bearing supply place, but you'd have a lot of running about (and need to know all the numbers/dimensions beforehand). You'd still have to go to Yam for the sleeves, and they are a significant chunk of the total.

I bought a "swingarm pivot bearing kit" from Wemoto, but I'd order genuine Yam if I was doing it again, because:

1) It only includes the pair of needle roller bearings and the outside seals. There's also a pair of plastic bushes and seals on the insides, plus the sleeves. If you need to replace the bearings, I don't see why you wouldn't do a proper job and replace the whole lot. I don't even think you could do it without damaging everything - I put a lot of heat into the swingarm to get the bearings out.

2) The bearings in the kit are full complement (ie cageless) needle rollers. The Yam ones are caged. This isn't a concern in terms of function, but it means it will be a massive PITA if I want to clean and regrease them without losing rollers everywhere. I used them anyway, because I had them, but wouldn't again.

Cheers.

I'll be visiting the Yam dealers tomorrow,looks like I only need the engine mount end pair of bearings and sleeve from the relay arm for now.

I'm bloody glad I re-greased most of the bearings early on in ownership.

Funnily enough, those were the first ones that went on mine a year or so ago. I ordered a complete set at the time, but I only used the rest of them in the current rebuild. I did actually replace the frame-end ones again, which wasn't really necessary as they were still in good condition, but I wanted to be absolutely sure given my upcoming trip.

I regreased all the linkage ones at the time, and once or twice since, but didn't bother with the swingarm. Obviously with hindsight this was a mistake :D

Interesting thread guys and you inspire me to make an important point, without wishing to sound like my grandfather with all of those "they were the days" kind of comments hehe. My point is:
(a) When bikes were made in Japan the quality was excellent. I have owned maybe 20 Jap built Jap bikes (firstly Hondas and then Yams) and I have NEVER had a problem related to build quality.
(b) Jap bikes made in Europe are NOT of the same build quality. I am now on my 3rd XT660 cos I love them but my first one (2007) gave me all sorts of problems after I sold it at 3 years and 16,000km and the current one at the age of 2years now has a rusty petrol filler cap and a rusty side stand.
And I live in Roma where we have less rain than the UK AND I am a fanatical WD40 fan and my bikes all get liberal doses most weeks!!

Compare all of the above to the old XT600s which will last 20 or 30 years if treated ok. Shame eh......

I just wish Yamaha would use a some grease when they assembled the shock linkage and head bearings.

To be fair I'm quite pleased with the Tenere mechanically and it is well thought out and easy to work on.This is the first bearing I've replaced in 32000 miles and considering I've used it a lot offroad,done 4 Long distance trials and ridden all year round commuting to work that's not bad.

The only other items I've replaced are bulbs, brake pads,chains and sprockets.

Oh and a few brake levers !

Grease nipples would be nice.

My main criticisms are many of the fasteners are cheap,corrode quickly and the powder coating on the swingarm and hubs is awful.The frame paint is excellent though.

I don't like wd40 it washes off all the grease that protects the metal in the first place.

Maybe the secret is never clean a bike and build up a healthy layer of muck to protect it,one day I'll clean it off and prove my theory :laughing7:

Romoving those corroded bearings was a pig of a job and involved using lots of heat.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8...035e132d_b.jpg



I've found an ebay seller (link below) that stocks the relay arm bearings at half the Yamaha cost and probably every other bearing and seal you'd need for the Tenere.

The pair I am replacing are: open cup needle bearings 17x24x15mm.

The other 3 in the relay arm will also be 17x24xL .

I haven't removed them to determine the lengths but will find out.................. or if anyone else knows ?


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IKO-TA1715...item5d34fb53b5

I knew the moment I typed that I'd be tempting fate.

Thought I'd give the bike a quick once over while it was in bits and found the throttle pull cable worn down to one strand and the return cable also badly frayed.Both at the point they enter the metal outer sleeves at the throttle pulley end.