Cutting hardened steel swingarm bushing

[rodneya]

I am fitting a new swingarm on my bike, and needed to narrow it a bit to fit my frame. Cutting the arm was no problem, but the hardned steel bushing that the needle bearings ride on was a different story. Google was not much help with a few suggestions to heat treat to soften the steel and then treat it again to harden it. Then I found a video of a Aussie guy cutting one  on a lathe with a dremmel.

Worked great, strapped the dremmel onto my lathe and just took it slow. Perfect straight cut.

If you are  planning on fitting a Motolanna arm, Im pretty sure that you need to cut SR500 bush to fit as well.

[pidjones]

Just make sure to clean and re-oil the lathe. That grit is rough on Chinese cast iron. A tool post grinder is a great thing to have on a lathe, though!

[rodneya]

Interesting, never seen one of those before.

[m in sc]

ive used a 3" cutoff wheel on an arbor in the chuck and put the workpiece on the apron before. similar approach.  works well for angle cuts as well.

[pidjones]

Interesting, never seen one of those before.

That is just what you have by strapping the Dremel to your cross-slide. Just be sure to remove any grit that is thrown off of the wheel. I've read of covering the ways with taped-on plastic sheets and also heavily coating with grease that is then wiped off.

[DesmoDrew]

That grit is rough on Chinese cast iron.

As opposed to.......? 

[pidjones]

That grit is rough on Chinese cast iron.

As opposed to.......? 

Really just trying to give a helpful comment.

[rodneya]

Interesting, never seen one of those before.

That is just what you have by strapping the Dremel to your cross-slide.

Only a lot less hokey

[sav0r]

I have a box break that in the back of the break the words "cast iron steel" are literally cast into the break.

It always makes me laugh.

[oxford]

Interesting, never seen one of those before.

That is just what you have by strapping the Dremel to your cross-slide.

Only a lot less hokey

Whatever it takes to get the job done.