I installed my HyperPro springs today. I'll write that up after in the mods and accessories section. Here's my question:

When you spin your front wheel by hand with the Swing front end off the ground, what are your results?
I hadn't checked this before, but on reassembling the front end, reinstalling the brake caliper, and then reinstalling the front wheel I seem to have what I think is excessive drag. The wheel will rotate about 1 full turn before stopping. There is a definite loud "whoosh" kind of sound. Is this normal?

I talked to another Swing owner who is also a retired auto tech. He seemed to think it wasn't abnormal. I have nothing to compare it to except my back wheel. The rear wheel does not make the same whooshing sound, only the gear whine, and it also feels like there is less drag.

On a quick test drive everything felt and sounded normal. The brakes worked fine.

Your comments and ideas are solicited.
Thanks.

To get it as free as possible....after you are sure rams are retracting(there will always be some drag) leave fork legs a little loose in clamps(not much) insert axle and see if it as drawn tight draws the whole works in alignment---might work

Another trick to get get things for sure pointing the way they should--- put bike on ground, axle a little loose, fork legs just a little backed off----hold bike with front brake stuff might self align as you bounce it up and down.


John Grinsel

BigBird,

I think some sound is normal, but I agree that it probably should rotate more freely than that. Did you check it again after the ride? Maybe they just needed to self-adjust a little.

Also, did you follow that tightening sequence on the front axle and its pinch bolts (involves some bouncing like John mentioned)? If that were a little off I could maybe see it causing a little extra drag (although you'd probably get other symptoms, too). I forgot that when I did mine, and had to go back and loosen/re-tightened it later; I felt like it made a little difference in the overall feel, but that might have just been in my head...

To John: I will try your suggestions if it seems there is misalignment. To Edbranco, yes, I followed the manual exactly, which was to insert the axle, tighten its nut to 50 something ft.lbs, then the left axle clamp to its 22 ft. lbs or whatever it was, lower the bike, bounce the front forks vigorously with the brakes applied, then tighten the right axle clamp to 22 ft. lbs. I did that not once but twice. No difference. I rode the bike a little around the neighbourhood (the streets were wet) and vigorously applied the front brake a half dozen times. No difference.

Well, maybe they're okay (I'd check mine to compare if my jack weren't buried in the shed and somewhat inaccessible). A few miles on the highway should tell you one way or the other - if you have to drag your shoes to stop, then you'll know they were grabbing

Well, I just finished trying John's suggestions, all to no avail. Maybe this is normal? I have no idea. I'll probably go to Excell's tomorrow to let him have a look. I'm tired and going to sleep.

just ride , it's normal to have some drag. As you ride the shoes will heat up and move the pistons back further. The shoes always touch the disk. Thus some drag.

MaxB

1) Double check wheel position (as suggested already)

2) Change the brake fluid.
Changing the brake fluid stopped a lot of rubbing for me.

3) I remember reading a FEW rare situations where the disk brake warped from overheating and needed to be replaced ... but I would exhaust all possibilities before replacing the disk brake.

Update. I drove across the city to have Excell have a look at the brakes. His front wheel spins much easier than mine, but makes the same noise. We determined that yes, there is more drag on mine, but no, it's not an issue. My front disc only gets warm, not hot, after normal stop and go driving, so there is not excess friction between the pads and disc.

The HyperPros are great, but that's a topic for mods and accessories.