If these are replacing rubber bushings I don't see the need to heat treat.
However you may want to consider polyurethane bushings as a replacement,
like the off-roaders 4 wheelers use.

Tony


"Snag" wrote in message
news
Tony wrote:
How hard are the factory bushings?


"Snag" wrote in message
.. .
I have machined some replacement bushings for a motorcycle swing
arm .

The factory bushings are a rubber/silicone/steel unit , designed to
absorb vibration at the expense of handling . The early rubbermount Harley
touring models have a history of high speed handling problems , partly due
to the OEM swingarm pivot bushings . Aftermarket suppliers make something
similar to what I'm doing , but they're real spendy . I could have spent
nearly a thousand bucks on the mods I'm doing if I used their parts ,
materials have cost me less than a c-note ...
I'm not in a great big hurry to finish these , won't be installing them
until this winter when I tear the bike down for other items that also need
attention .
--

Snag aka OSG #1
'90 Ultra , "Strider"
The road goes on forever ...
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