What I learned after servicing the rear end by myself for the first time...

[BamaDrifter64]

Get your minds out of the gutter, I meant the I/S rear end!!!!   

1.  Shop manual, shop manual, SHOP MANUAL!!!!

2.  READ the shop manual BEFORE you get into the rear end.

3.  Make sure you have ordered all o-rings, washers, grease, etc. before you start.

4.  If you don't understand something in the manual, ask someone here before you mess up!

5.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take off the exhausts unless you just have to!   

6.  Having another pair of helping hands available when you need them is a WONDERFUL thing.

7.  DON'T remember that you forgot to install the thrust washer or the elusive 3rd o-ring right after you torqued the 4 bolts holding the pumpkin to the drive shaft.

8.  When you get it all back together and try it out only to find out that the battery is dead, be sure to throw the wrench at the wall that doesn't have a window in it!   

9.  Do the work yourself; it's not as hard as you're afraid it is, but it's twice as hard as it should be!

10.  If you tear down your bike and it takes you 8 months to get it back together when everyone else can do the same in 3 hours because you're working at your job way too much - you need someone to remind you why you got the bike to start with!   

Dave

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Did #7 once. All buttoned up and going over the job in my mind and viewing used parts to be sure everything is right and my eyes land on the NEW thrust washer in the clear bag from Honda. Not a happy feeling. 

[Ricky-D]

I know they call it a thrust washer but it's plastic!

It doesn't take a lot of force either.

More so it's a spacer.

There is no instant death if the thing is left out for a spell.

It will just allow the flange to wallow around a little more when riding!

***

[Chrisj CMA]

I know they call it a thrust washer but it's plastic!

It doesn't take a lot of force either.

More so it's a spacer.

There is no instant death if the thing is left out for a spell.

It will just allow the flange to wallow around a little more when riding!

***

Flange wallowing around=wear to splines and to the hub holding the right wheel bearing.  Not instant death, but let the flange wallow and eventually you will need a new rear end and a new wheel.......

[Daniel Meyer]

I know they call it a thrust washer but it's plastic!

It doesn't take a lot of force either.

More so it's a spacer.

There is no instant death if the thing is left out for a spell.

It will just allow the flange to wallow around a little more when riding!

***

Actually, it's real purpose is to keep the star from wearing down the aluminum surface of the wheel that it rides against...the star has some forward/backward rotation due to the give of the dampeners...and it rides on the aluminum ridge on the wheel that the right bearing is mounted in. without the thrust washer the star will eat the wheel and then you need a replacement wheel. I've seen several really bad ones (pibit's was the worst).

It is more of a long term thing...but I wouldn't ride more than a couple days (waiting for part) like that.

[Chrisj CMA]

I know they call it a thrust washer but it's plastic!

It doesn't take a lot of force either.

More so it's a spacer.

There is no instant death if the thing is left out for a spell.

It will just allow the flange to wallow around a little more when riding!

***

Actually, it's real purpose is to keep the star from wearing down the aluminum surface of the wheel that it rides against...the star has some forward/backward rotation due to the give of the dampeners...and it rides on the aluminum ridge on the wheel that the right bearing is mounted in. without the thrust washer the star will eat the wheel and then you need a replacement wheel. I've seen several really bad ones (pibit's was the worst).

It is more of a long term thing...but I wouldn't ride more than a couple days (waiting for part) like that.

Daniel, I saw a bad wheel hub recently as well.....Im in the process of designing a bronze bushing that will make future "wallering" of that "star" (flange) impossible.......Ill let you know when I have a prototype

[Hoser]

"DON'T remember that you forgot to install the thrust washer or the elusive 3rd o-ring right after you torqued the 4 bolts holding the pumpkin to the drive shaft."

That sounds Familiar!  hoser