So the most common way of adding rear spools to an F4i is to either drill the swingarm to add Riv-Nuts, or to have plates welded to the bottom of the swingarm. Since both of these require modifying your swingarm, something I know a lot of people don't want to do, I decided to make another way to add spools to my bike. You could do this for any bike, just the diameter and length of the rod will probably change.



Heres what you need:
-6mm spools (any brand should work, I use T-Rex)
-12" piece of 7/16" steel rod (I actually used zinc because thats all I could find)
-6mm drill and tap set
-Extra 6mm bolt (see further down
-Electric drill

So, if you can find a 7/16" rod thats already 1 foot long, consider yourself lucky. If you can't, I found a 3' long bar at Ace hardware and using a hacksaw chopped it down to 1'. Once your rod is cut, now just drill and tap both ends of it. I have never tapped something before but I found it pretty easy. The main thing is that you just don't screw it all the way in. You have to screw it in 1/4 of a turn, then back it out 1/4 of a turn, then keep repeating as you cut farther into the rod. This makes it so that the shavings will come loose and not get stuck in your tap. It also helps to have some cutting oil, or in my case WD40 did the trick. I only went about 3/4" into the steel, which was longer than my bolt was so I didn't need to go more. You may have to if you use a different brand spool.





Now, screw one spool into one end of the rod, and insert the other end through your rear axle. It should go all the way in to the point of where your spool is touching the left side of the axle. Now, you will probably need to buy a longer bolt for the right side of the bike. I found that I needed one that was 1" longer.





Screw them both in and your good to go! Now the only downside to this way is that if you have to remove the rear axle for anything then you have to use a padded stand, but my T-Rex stand has both spools and pads on it so I'm fine with that. Good luck guys!

 

That's a really good idea and now you have axle sliders on there as well. I do see a problem though....how do you expect to take off the rear wheel using that stand?

 

it is awesome, good job.
2 dwhite645
his stand has also a shelf for the swingarm.

 

thats correct Retal, my stand can be used for spools or as a padded stand. i like putting my bike on the stand whenever i work on it, and since i don't plan on removing the wheel anytime soon, it should work good for now. i plan on getting bungs welded on in the future, so this is just a solution i made till i have the time/funds to get bungs put on. thanks for the input guys!
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Religious Talk

 

someone actually tried to sell just the inserts for this same idea (didn't go all the way through from one side to the other like yours). good for servicing, etc. IMO...especially for those who are afraid of using pads to keep a bike up over the winter.

 

nice write up, thanks!

 

Why not take it one step more.... cut the rod in half, and just keep the two ends with your stand..... slide in the 2 sides when you are ready to put it up on the stand... that way you dont add unsprung weight.

 

well, i was thinking about that, but you cant simply slide the right spool in. the bolt goes through the nut on the end of the axle, and since the inner diameter of the nut is smaller than the diameter of the rod, the rod will not slide through the nut. does that make sense? you could just install it whenever you work on the bike and take it out when youre done as it is, its just 1 bolt to remove.

 

Thats brilliant. I couldnt come up with this and was looking for a way around myself.
Thanks again.

 

nuff said!