Hockey stick/Radius arm bush fitting

[Mossberg]

I fitted my radius arm bushes today.  I used the field repair method using a vice and a long M16 setscrew. I had already reconditioned the radius arms so it was time to fit the OEM bushes.

I have read that you can fit these by using a screw to pull them into position. I decided to try this and thought I would share my experience incase it may help others trying to do the same. 

To fit the bushes I needed to apply pressure to the outer sleeve whilst not putting any force on the inner section.  To do this I cut a hole about 24mm into a piece of channel section and a piece of 10mm flat bar.

I tried pulling the bush into the radius arm by using the long setscrew, tightening it to pull the bush into the arm. Unfortunately this didn't work. It didn't keep the bush and arm square, so it pulled the bush at an angle and I had to rethink how to do it. 

I  decided to try the vice. I wasn't sure if this would work due to the pressure required to take the bush into the arm. I placed the drilled flatbar onto one face of the bush so that pressure was only applied to the outer sleave. NOTE - the bush and arm must be square to the jaws of the vice or the bush will twist and bind. MY VICE IS AN OLD RECORD 112 (6" jaws) so I was happy it was a strong tool.

Once I was happy the bush was going in square,  I tried using the vice to push it all the way in, but this was starting to bend the arm of the vice as I had to use a rawhide mallet or 700mm tube to tighten the vice.

So I tried the Setscrew method. Whilst this was slow it does work. You need to make sure the exit end of the radius arm is spaced away from the bolt to allow it to draw the raised central sleave through the arm.

I made sure both the bush and the arm had a leading edge put onto them and also used lots of grease to allow them to be drawn in without binding.

 

Whilst it is slow and awkward,  it is achievable. 

I hope this may be helpful to someone,  however if anyone can add to this or pick me up on areas where I have gone wrong or items where my method could be improved, then please add to this.

I have put this on here as others have helped me so much on this forum so want to give back. I have very little hands on experience so please consider this when you read my posts - this is my first attempt at fitting bushes. I could have used a friend's press, but my aim is to learn to do things myself and is why I opted for this method (I think the press method would be a lot easier!).

 

Edited June 26, 2022 by Mossberg

[Stellaghost]

12 minutes ago, Mossberg said:

I fitted my radius arm bushes today.  I used the field repair method using a vice and a long M16 setscrew. I had already reconditioned the radius arms so it was time to fit the OEM bushes.

I have read that you can fit these by using a screw to pull them into position. I decided to try this and thought I would share my experience incase it may help others trying to do the same. 

To fit the bushes I needed to apply pressure to the outer sleeve whilst not putting any force on the inner section.  To do this I cut a hole about 24mm into a piece of channel section and a piece of 10mm flat bar.

I tried pulling the bush into the radius arm by using the long setscrew, tightening it to pull the bush into the arm. Unfortunately this didn't work. It didn't keep the bush and arm square, so it pulled the bush at an angle and I had to rethink how to do it. 

I  decided to try the vice. I wasn't sure if this would work due to the pressure required to take the bush into the arm. I placed the drilled flatbar onto one face of the bush so that pressure was only applied to the outer sleave. NOTE - the bush and arm must be square to the jaws of the vice or the bush will twist and bind. MY VICE IS AN OLD RECORD 112 (6" jaws) so I was happy it was a strong tool.

Once I was happy the bush was going in square,  I tried using the vice to push it all the way in, but this was starting to bend the arm of the vice as I had to use a rawhide mallet or 700mm tube to tighten the vice.

So I tried the Setscrew method. Whilst this was slow it does work. You need to make sure the exit end of the radius arm is spaced away from the bolt to allow it to draw the raised central sleave through the arm.

I made sure both the bush and the arm had a leading edge put onto them and also used lots of grease to allow them to be drawn in without binding.

 

Whilst it is slow and awkward,  it is achievable. 

I hope this may be helpful to someone,  however if anyone can add to this or pick me up on areas where I have gone wrong or items where my method could be improved, then please add to this.

I have put this on here as others have helped me so much on this forum so want to give back. I have very little hands on experience so please consider this when you read my posts - this is my first attempt at fitting bushes. I could have used a friend's press, but my aim is to learn to do things myself and is why I opted for this method (I think the press method would be a lot easier!).

 

Well done !

Yes a press is easier, but you do what you can with what you've got, and you have certainly managed, you cannot beat some creative improvisation regards Stephen

[western]

Top job, with tools available at home & no access to hydraulic press, I have linked this to the Tech Archive. 

[92a]

Great write up , good to see you finding ways to get on with your project

[Litch]

This is my easy / surefire way of removing old bushes, the below photo is of the A-Frame but the principle applies to them all.

Cut through the rubber with a holesaw, cut the outer sleeve with a hacksaw and then knock the sleeve loose. Simple job that should only take 10-minutes.