Noticed a rusty stain at the rear of the swingarm. cutting it short, lifted the plastic plugs for the mudflap and it was nearly full of water, rusty thick dirty water. This is really low rent, these things should be air tight. Tapped the holes for 8mm (or 5/16") screwed down the flap so it seals. Drilled and tapped for 5mm under the axle adjusting bolt to drain the muddy stuff, and got 500 mls and it's still dribbling after 350Ks. There where also rusty dribbles on the cross member down from the flap plugs. Has me thinking about the frame and other trapped spaces. FYI
Could you please post a picture or two? I can't quite picture what you did, but I do want to go check my bike and take precautionary measures if needed. Thanks for the heads-up!
My 04 ktm got water in the swingarm as well. My solution was to drill it under the axle adj. bolt as you did to just let it have a way to get out. Difference was that was an aluminum SA. The steel SA on the terra will rust from the inside if wet. My inclination is to drill it as you did and spray some kind of oil/corrosion inhibitor something or other into it. I'll have to check into mine as well.
TerraCzar you have it, just drill a hole above where you see the rust in the pic, on both arms. Then go to the cross brace at the front and lever out the plastic plugs. Mine was nearly full up to the holes. Drill an tap these holes for a 5/16" flanged bolt and nip them down to squash the rubber enough to seal . I still riding with the drain holes open till no rusty sludge comes out, spray CRC in each hole (a lot) then seal off the holes.
I can't help but notice you took those pictures in 2007. You had a Terra in 2007! You bastard, you held out on us for SIX YEARS!
Maybe they need to be filled with fish oil. An old panelbeaters trick; they use to spray the inside of car doors for rustproofing when the drain holes at the bottom of the doors would block up. Is it good practice to drill out a swing arm; could cracks progagate from the holes?
You can drill them fine, then take a bit at least a few sizes bigger than the one you drilled it with and hand dress the hole with it. It removes the sharp edge. Also, CRC is a HUGE range of product, which one Navelgazer (lol) is referring to is a guess. We use ACF 50 and its just about the best you can get. I would leave the holes open to let it drain and also to help with condensation.
I guess so, I popped the mudflap, didn't see anything. I washed the bike last week, and think that may have had something to do with it. Not much rain here in San Diego. You say drill a hole above the rust? I was thinking to drill a hole on bottom of swing arm?
Oh shoot, I was supposed to change the date to keep it a secret. Let me tell ya, it's been an awesome six years!
Spray a liberal amount of Boeshield T9 in the holes. It will migrate along the metal on the inside, displace any remaining moisture, and dry to a thin waxy coating to prevent any future corrosion.
I use it on bicycle chains and it works great. If you let it dry overnight before riding the bike, it will dry to a thin waxy coat that repels water and dirt nicely. My bicycle chains are lasting about 4X longer using Boeshield.
Stick a stick down the hole and there will be water. looked at the underside of the swingarm but I think there is a lot of steel and weld in that area so chose the easy way out, soft, you betcha.
I noticed I have the same issue. Can you throw up a picture of exactly where you drilled the drain holes please?
No, but below the axle locking bolt and about 1/8" up from the bottom as there is weld on the inside which you cannot see of course. A slight angle is needed so the drill chuck clears the axle bolt, unless you take the wheel off, which would let you drill straight. hope this helps.
