Making a Marchesini fit - comments please:
 

Ok, so here's the deal...

I now have a 5-spoke C-box section rear wheel to match the front Magnesium Marchi I bought some time ago.

Thing is, the rear is from an ST2 - so two major stumbling blocks,

1) Axle diameters are different

2) New wheel is actually wider than the old.

Well I think I can work around both, for 1) I was going to replace the bearings with an inner size that matches my axle (17mm sounds right, have not measured yet) - however, the bearings that are still fitted are perfectly good so, I had the idea of fitting a sleve tube of some sort in the wheel, that again will match the axle size.

25mm ID for the existing bearings also rings a bell so, a 17mm ID tube with a 4mm wall thinckness was something along the lines I had in mind.

Good or bad idea - comments please (also on material)!

2) The rear wheel does not fit by a stingey 2mm, I'm using the existing sprocket carrier, so I know the drive side is not the problem - I've also measure that the distance between the wheel and caliper bracket needs to be the same so that the caliper will sit correctly - so - the only option open is to machine 2mm off the outside of the caliper bracket.

I just wanna check and see if there is any flaw in my thinking before I go down this path!

Time for a Stella I think :D

Cheers - Frank

Making a Marchesini fit? Have you tried taking it for a long run...fnarrr, fnarr...

I'm not convinced about the sleeve idea, much better get a set of bearings to suit the smaller axle or converting your swingarm to take the larger axle.

Don't think the wheel came off an ST2 since Marchi's are only standard on an ST4S - although I think it will fit an ST2 as a straightforward bolt in, but is the conical spacer included? That might sort out the 2mm clearance...or then again it might not.

Tell you what...I need a new rear wheel for my ST, so give me a shout if you can't make it fit

yup - I'm not convinced about the sleeve idea either and apart from the chew of changing the bearings I imagine the cost of a sleeve v the bearings will be the same anyways (I have a superb local bearing stockist).

The conical spacer MUST be fitted (at least on my 900ss OEM carrier) or else the bearing housing will be in contact with the swingarm.

Thanks for the advice, but dont hold ya breath - I'll make the swine fit.

Frank

Frank,

Been there, done it. Give me a cal. 07887 984558

Rgds, Rob

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And you'll need an 888 thickness cush drive the ST2/ST4 is thicker.

Rob

Cheers - Rob,

Looks like you have the advantage of using a thicker axle already, or did you machine the swing arm :o

Cush drive seems a good fit on mine as I'm using my 900ss unit.

I'll give you a ring from work tonight, if thats ok and pick your brains!

Cheers - Frank

Well, I'm going with the spacer sleeve option and have found a good local engineering firm to do the work, whose boss is a motorcyclist!

I now have the Marchesini fitting in the swinging arm OK but, there are NO bearings that Ive been able to track down that will fit straight in and allow me to use the std '93 900ss 17mm axle.

Std bearing fitted (ST2 I was told) ID = 25mm OD = 45mm x 10mm deep

So I would need a bearing ID = 17mm / OD 45 mm - big difference.

I found a supplier who had a bearing 17mm x 40mm but, it was 12mm deep and I would have to have some 2.5mm spacer rings made for the bearings and I wanted to at least use A standard bearing either from the existing or from my 900ss wheel design.

I've asked a couple of knowledgeable peeps and they can see no problem with this approach.

If anyone is ever so foolish to attempt this as well, the dimentions for the spacer sleeve are:

178mm long x 17mm ID x 25mm OD and I suspect it might need some final hand finishing to get the tight fit that is needed. I've asked for the sleeve to be made in Carbon Steel rather than alloy as this seemed a better option.

IS it worth the problems???

Well, for a perfect rear Marchi that cost me just over £100 I hope so - time will tell :)

night night - Frank