Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club

General => 1500 Tech Board => Topic started by: 8Track on February 18, 2014, 09:24:01 PM



Title: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: 8Track on February 18, 2014, 09:24:01 PM
Hi all,

I did a search and couldn't find anything so thought I'd ask. Does anyone know why Honda riveted those thick plates to the top and bottom of the swingarm? I first noticed them shortly after buying my bike and got a bit worried that it was some kind of backyard repair. However a search of swingarms on ebay shows that all Valkyrie swingarms have these fitted.

What's the story?

Thanks,

Mark


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Skinhead on February 19, 2014, 05:01:39 AM
I'm sure they just fill (close out) a void left in the assembly during manufacturing.


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: John Schmidt on February 19, 2014, 08:58:46 AM
Gives a bit more stability in the swingarm due to torsional stress.


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Joe Hummer on February 19, 2014, 09:31:36 AM
To provide a mounting spot for some real horns!! 


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: OnaWingandaPrayer on February 19, 2014, 01:59:06 PM
 
 My GL1500 has plates top an bottom of the swing arm . Held in place by 4 rivets . But there is a rubber sheet under the rivets . I expect it is to control some harmonics /noise .  I cant say if the Valk arm has the rubber sandwiched in there , but my best guess it it would be like the Wang .


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: BF on February 19, 2014, 02:17:55 PM
Take 'em off and see what happens. 


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: steveB (VRCC UK) on February 19, 2014, 02:43:21 PM
No void under them just a rubber sheet, since they are only held by a handful of rivets do not think they are for structural rigidity. We have removed the plates to powder coat the swing arm on several Valks and I've seen some serious rust and in 2 cases holes rotted through the arm. (Looks like the rubber traps water against the arm and that large welded seam around the inside  holds dirt and salt)

Recently had to scrap a swing arm on a '97 with 27 000 miles on and fit a replacement from Pinwalls as three 2'' long holes appeared when poked with a buck knife (beyond welding).
This is probably due to the UK's love of salting roads at the first hint of frost.
Only a problem if you live and ride in a cold wet area, where it might be worth prodding your swing arm with a sharp screwdriver occasionally.
Have been thinking of removing them on my own bike and welding up the holes, along with filling the gaps where the pressed plates are attached to the drive tube. Just want to see if they are there to damp road/transmission noise.


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Ricky-D on February 19, 2014, 02:44:56 PM
The plates to which you refer are not metal and are not structural.

They are there for protection from road debris and other objects.

***


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: 8Track on February 19, 2014, 06:34:31 PM
Thanks everyone,

So in summary they are there for added strength/rigidity, sound deadening, and protection from debris, but may cause rust issues in wet/salty climates.

Seems strange they wouldn't have just made the swingarm stronger to begin with, obviating the need for the plates. Maybe they discovered some issues after tooling up!

Thanks

Mark


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: pancho on February 19, 2014, 09:27:54 PM
No void under them just a rubber sheet, since they are only held by a handful of rivets do not think they are for structural rigidity. We have removed the plates to powder coat the swing arm on several Valks and I've seen some serious rust and in 2 cases holes rotted through the arm. (Looks like the rubber traps water against the arm and that large welded seam around the inside  holds dirt and salt)

Recently had to scrap a swing arm on a '97 with 27 000 miles on and fit a replacement from Pinwalls as three 2'' long holes appeared when poked with a buck knife (beyond welding).
This is probably due to the UK's love of salting roads at the first hint of frost.
Only a problem if you live and ride in a cold wet area, where it might be worth prodding your swing arm with a sharp screwdriver occasionally.
Have been thinking of removing them on my own bike and welding up the holes, along with filling the gaps where the pressed plates are attached to the drive tube. Just want to see if they are there to damp road/transmission noise.


Thanks Steve,,,,, now I (and probably a hundred other paranoids) want to drop everything and pop those pieces off to check the condition of my swingarm,,, I have wondered about them.....


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: 98valk on February 20, 2014, 04:29:23 AM
Thanks everyone,

So in summary they are there for added strength/rigidity,

No they do not add strength/rigidity.


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: valkeire on February 24, 2014, 04:02:09 PM

I recently posted some photos of my rear arm on the UK site, to show the effects of all year round riding in Ireland on my 99 Interstate..

Have a look here;   http://tinyurl.com/pcbl99l (http://tinyurl.com/pcbl99l)

The last photo is one that on it way from the USA.

Valkeire


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Skinhead on February 24, 2014, 04:05:59 PM
Dude, did they do an deep sea salvage on you bike or what?  I have never seen any thing like that that hasn't been submerged for several years.


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: 8Track on February 24, 2014, 07:00:39 PM

I recently posted some photos of my rear arm on the UK site, to show the effects of all year round riding in Ireland on my 99 Interstate..

Have a look here;   [url]http://tinyurl.com/pcbl99l[/url] ([url]http://tinyurl.com/pcbl99l[/url])

The last photo is one that on it way from the USA.

Valkeire


Wow! Is that caused by salt on your roads? That looks horribly dangerous!


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: The emperor has no clothes on February 24, 2014, 07:09:51 PM
Maybe you should spray your new swing arm with that rubber undercoating stuff. I'm with 8track that looks very dangerous!


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Jess from VA on February 24, 2014, 08:19:01 PM
I cannot be sure, but that may have been Jesus' Valkyrie.... maybe even Moses'.

Archaeology comes to mind.

Have it carbon dated.


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Gryphon Rider on February 25, 2014, 08:40:33 AM
Now that I see that the entire surface of each of the plates is backed by sheet metal, I'd agree with others above that the only purpose of the plates is to dampen some kind of harmonic resonance.


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Ricky-D on February 25, 2014, 08:51:50 AM
Nope, I don't believe that!

It looks to me that it has been modified with repair some time in the past.

You can see the remains of fiberglass within all the destruction and for sure

there is no metal plate underneath the fiber board that is stock on an

untouched swing arm.

Go look again!

***


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Gryphon Rider on February 25, 2014, 11:18:09 AM
You can see the remains of fiberglass within all the destruction and for sure
Go look again!
Okay, I looked again.  The "fiberglass" you see looks, to me, more like a trip through a cow pasture.


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Rio Wil on February 25, 2014, 11:25:57 AM
The metal plates on my '01 IS appear to be aluminum (soft silver metal easily marked with a file).....certainly not fiber. Also, a magnet is attracted to the plate throughout its length and breadth meaning the backing behind the plate is solid steel. I did not try the magnet on the plate on the top side of the swingarm.

And since the metal plates are backed with a rubber sheet, I am guessing some kind of noise/harmonics dampening....


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Ricky-D on February 25, 2014, 12:12:35 PM
Ok, never one to not admit being wrong, I went out and looked at my Valkyrie.

Yep, the plate is ferrous and that is a rubber piece under it.

It's a cover of some sort.

Definitely not structural. Not with pop rivets being employed!

Harmonic dampening?  I can't see that either.

My feeling is Honda just wanted to cover up an area for whatever

reasons, unbeknown.

***


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Rio Wil on February 25, 2014, 08:26:08 PM
On second look, Ricky, I agree the plate is ferrous. it just seemed way too soft when I hit it with a file,,,,,,,still a mystery?



Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: indybobm on February 26, 2014, 09:00:14 AM
Even with the plates rivited on, it would add to the rigidity of the swingarm. The plates sandwich the swingarm in between them.


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Ricky-D on February 26, 2014, 09:13:38 AM
No, the swing-arm is not sandwiched between the plates but rather positioned between the plates,

since they (the plates) are independently fixed to the swing-arm. (a fine point)

This is not to mention the rubber part that is positioned between each plate and the swing arm

which lends no credulity to the theory of adding rigidity.

***


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Rio Wil on February 26, 2014, 04:50:51 PM
The gl1000-1100-1200 does not have the riveted plates on their swingarms. The gl1500 however does, it is smaller than on the valkyrie arm (same width but not as deep).
The gl1800 is a completely different horse so it is not relevant.

Also that portion of the swingarm is located so high up behind the motor, road debris can't possibly contact it,.......so it has to do with sound deadening/harmonics or witchcraft......lets vote!!! .... :crazy2: :crazy2: :crazy2: :crazy2:


Title: Topic resurrection!? Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: 4s2many on February 24, 2022, 09:12:11 AM
Howdy Guys and Gals


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: Grandpot on February 24, 2022, 10:38:41 AM

I recently posted some photos of my rear arm on the UK site, to show the effects of all year round riding in Ireland on my 99 Interstate..

Have a look here;   [url]http://tinyurl.com/pcbl99l[/url] ([url]http://tinyurl.com/pcbl99l[/url])

The last photo is one that on it way from the USA.

Valkeire



Let's just be grateful you spotted the rot and replaced the arm before you had a tragedy.

Ride safe.


Title: Re: Plates riveted to the swingarm - why are they there?
Post by: 4s2many on February 25, 2022, 09:35:09 AM
so has anyone discovered what is going on with this "plates"?
mine has bit of surface rust on just the top one.
do I just thoroughly treat(using POR15), paint, and reassemble?
only had the bike a couple months, think she has always been garage kept and little to no wet riding.
and overall bike is very clean.
Hmmmmmmm?