Introduction - Disassembly - Assembly - Routine Maintenance - Modifications

TURNER BICYCLES BUSHING MAINTENANCE

This site describes the procedure for removing, replacing, and maintaining the bushings in those Turner frames that use bushings in the pivots. The bushings in your Turner are manufactured to extremely high tolerances and should last a long time with routine maintenance. When it does come time to replace them, the job can be accomplished with relative ease and without specialized tools.

Study the diagram below (Figure A) to familiarize yourself with the components inside the pivot. The bushings are press fit into a passage machined in the frame (the pivot shell). The pivot shaft is a hard anodized rod of 6061 aluminum which has a helical groove machined in its surface to allow grease distribution (a feature found on 2002 and newer shafts). The grease is introduced via a zerk, located at every pivot. The pivot shaft is hollow and threaded in each end to accept the mounting bolts, but it also has a central shaft machined to accept a 6mm allen wrench (visible in the “cutaway” half on the left). The bushings are stationary in the pivot shell while the suspension arms and pivot shaft rotate as a unit.

Figure A.

Before you start work on your pivots, it is important to make sure you have all the tools necessary to successfully complete the job before you. Take a moment to assemble the tools outlined below and organize a work area with good lighting. Mount the bike on a sturdy bike stand and preview the instructions so you understand the steps before beginning.

What you will need (Figure B):

1. 10mm wrench

2. T40 torx wrench (pre-2002 pivot bolts are 5mm allen)

3. 6mm allen

4. 5mm allen

5. 3mm allen

6. Torque wrench

7. T40 torx for torque wrench (pre-2002 pivot bolts are 5mm allen)

8. 8mm socket for torque wrench

9. Flat tip punch

10. Hammer/mallet

11. Crescent wrench/vice grips

12. Manitou Prep M with grease gun head

13. Loctite, blue, medium hold

Figure B.

To make pressing the bushings into the frame easier, a bar-style wood clamp is useful (Figure C).

Figure C.

Next we will learn how to disassemble the pivot.

Introduction - Disassembly - Assembly - Routine Maintenance - Modifications