ujoint boot, how I put it back on

[al v]

Inspected the ujoint yesterday, have read about the boot being a turd to put back on. I could see right away there isn't enough room in there to work.

After several failed attempts and being my first time at this...

The solution I found was to push the ujoint to the rear of the bike as far it would go. All the way off the engine shaft. This gives just a bit of room to stick your hand inside of the boot from the front. I started the rear edge of the boot in the groove and then used my hand from inside to push the opposite side of the rear edge on. I'm not sure if it's reproducible or if I just got lucky, but it snapped on all at once. I was then able to grip the ujoint through the boot and use the drive shaft to push it back on the engine shaft. The front lip of the boot seems to go on no problem...

[Valkpilot]

Inspected the ujoint yesterday, have read about the boot being a turd to put back on. I could see right away there isn't enough room in there to work.

After several failed attempts and being my first time at this...

The solution I found was to push the ujoint to the rear of the bike as far it would go. All the way off the engine shaft. This gives just a bit of room to stick your hand inside of the boot from the front. I started the rear edge of the boot in the groove and then used my hand from inside to push the opposite side of the rear edge on. I'm not sure if it's reproducible or if I just got lucky, but it snapped on all at once. I was then able to grip the ujoint through the boot and use the drive shaft to push it back on the engine shaft. The front lip of the boot seems to go on no problem...

That sounds like a good approach.

I say, "screw it."

I get one spot on the rear lip of the boot into the groove on the swingarm.  Then I hold a couple of fingers there to keep the boot lip in the groove and turn the boot, which kind of screws it in place. 

Spraying it with silicone lube before hand makes it much easier.  Some recommend rubbing alcohol for the same purpose.

[hubcapsc]

Lady Draco sez she rolls it back on itself, and then unrolls it into place...

The only time I messed with mine was a time that I also had the starter off...
it is easy to deal with the boot when the starter is off.

The starter is such a pain to get on and off, though, that if I ever have to take
mine off again, I'm just going to get another motorcycle instead 

-Mike

[pancho]

Take the side covers and center cover off, undo all wiring harness clamps, remove the four bolts on the battery box and relocate it back............... plenty of room for starter removal

[hubcapsc]

Take the side covers and center cover off, undo all wiring harness clamps, remove the four bolts on the battery box and relocate it back............... plenty of room for starter removal

Take the ... center cover off

That's one of the other least fun Valkyrie things to do that I know of... 

-Mike "alternator, center cover, starter, ..."