Do remove your swing arm . . .

[gsxbarmy]

Doesn't affect me now I don't have a 14, but if I had mine and others' swing arms out once, I must have had them out and replaced them quite a few times for cleaning, polishing and whatever and never checked the thrust washer (I just put it all back as it came out) so not sure if we are overthinking this. I think if you put it all back as it came out then you should be good as IMO the shimming should only need checking and perhaps updating on a high mileage 14, it should not affect the lower mileage ones.

From thinking back across the old org, I can't recall seeing a split on the shaft like Simon has on his swingarm. I recall splits around the rear axle area where at times bobbins had been fitted too close to welds or whatever, but nothing like the pictures above. And over the years the two orgs have run, there must have been quite a few swing arms taken out and replaced. In my opinion, I think Simon's 14 was just unlucky, maybe the back had had a knock or something before he got his machine, maybe it was a duff bit of metal, maybe the bolt was overtightened who knows. But was it the lack of (or becuase he had) a shim in there? Not sure.

Lets be honest, we've all been around 14's for a while and never noticed this issue. That's not to say it wasn't there, but its not exactly common either. For me, being a low miles (let's say sub 50k miles bike) if I had mine, I'd still take it out, clean it and put it back how it all came out and not worry about it.

Just my thoughts and I'm not one to skimp on anything!!!

[Basil Brush]

This is exactly same place mate who owns a GSXR1100 cracked.

His was a 55K 1991 model though.

[Andre]

Tony White Thats the crack at the bearing housing on the forward face. I stop drilled it, dressed and had it welded, but they did a poor job and the weld sagged into the bearing machined face. They also spotted that the vertical weld on the box section (partially under the chain rub strip) was slso cracked. Gave up on repairing it snd sourced another.

Attached pick below belongs to this post.

Here a response to that post:

Tony Jones I've seen the swingarm issue before. Both on another 14 and a couple of Busa's. Its always worth checking any big Suzuki arm when the bikes in bits.

Simon and the two Tonys above are just 3 of the cases where these cracks have developed. I could dig out a few more that I have read about

Is the axial play the cause? Unlikely, since Simon had the shim in there. Regardless, the engineers at Suzuki found it important enough to include it in the Service Manual. If you check for it or not is your decision. It certainly is no big deal to check while you have access to it.

[Del]

Si Its on its way mate - @Speedy1959   

[Speedy1959]

Brilliant Del..
Thank you very much for your excellent service.
I enjoyed the phone chat the other evening...

For the record my bike has done 28,000 miles and is a 2005 model
This may be a daft idea but is there any reason I cant put a jubilee clip around the replacement swing arm to act as support (assuming there is a weakness.
I have put a heavy duty jubilee clip around my cracked one coos I was going out on a ride last Sunday and didn't want a rear wheel falling off to spoil my day.

I would love to know how long the crack has been there.. As I already mentioned, I would not have found it if I hadn't removed it to grease the bearings and then given it a bloody good clean. It would be difficult to spot but maybe not impossible) with the arm in situ as the crack faces the rear of the engine.

[seth]

I wouldn't put anything on the replacement swingarm just check it tho I'm sure del already has and fit it with loads if grease to keep any future corrosion out and you'll be just fine .
In fact adding a clamp could actually damage it in a different way .

[Speedy1959]

Thank you Seth.
I respect your views and so I shall leave as is..
I have some high quality grease to whop (technical term) in the bearings and thoroughly work in.

This is the stuff I bought..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/332494771670?chn=ps&adgroupid=58814348784&rlsatarget=pla-411722230710&abcId=1133916&adtype=pla&merchantid=101451072&poi=&googleloc=9046573&device=c&campaignid=1057745162&crdt=0

[seth]

Perfect
Remember to make sure you get plenty in side the swing arm as well as the bearings you can't put to much in it .
In the past it would have had a grease nipple .I don't think it's worth adding any .
Just loads of grease and your sorted.