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Refitting rear chain tensioner pivot bolt


v1nn1e
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After the chain tensioner pivot bolt worked its way lose the other week, I'm just refitting and confronting the age old problem of getting the bolt located whilst compressing the spring!

Aside from the specialist tool, for which I don't have the welding expertise, I've heard rumours of cable tie use, which I'm translating into wrap one around the whole swing arm and tensioner and tighten to 'lift' the bolt up towards the screw hole. And another thread talks of turning the spring 'upside down' to allow the bolt to be partially threaded before knocking the spring into position and hooking it under the arm. This latter method I think means put the spring on rotated through 180 degrees.

Any other gems of engineering ingenuity out there, in case neither of these yield the desired result...?

Thanks! ?

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Simplest I found is, just partially start bolt into swing arm location with the spring unattached to the tensioner arm (dont overtighten) .Now bend a tight small hook into a piece of welding rod or similar material and a larger loop grippable handle bend on other end. With this, if configured appropriately, you will see that you can now reach in and hook the tensioner arm end of the spring  and and attach it , then finish torquing the pivot bolt . Pretty straight forward as you should find as your looking at what needs to be accomplished. Hope this helps you.

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Got it over the line, so to speak!

Started with the 'engage pivot bolt' approach first. Not sure I got this technique right TBH, as after getting the bolt threaded I got the hooked end under the tensioner arm and then was attempting to lever the straight end of the spring under the swing arm. I just couldn't get this done and the spring was starting to deform somewhat.

So, I stopped that, unscrewed the pivot bolt, and then used the monster cable tie approach, with the spring pre-assembled and the bolt completely out, then slowly tighten the cable tie that's wrapped around the whole swing arm and tensioner assembly and just keep sighting through the pivot bush hole until it lines up with the threaded hole in the swing arm lug. Then hey-presto and I was home. Smear of grease on the pivot bush before assembly and some copper grease on the pivot bolt, then squirted some lithium grease over the whole thing at the end for good measure!

Must remember to check that pivot bolt for tightness in future! ?

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