Rebuildable U-Joints

[Joe Hummer]

I have just replaced my second u-joint and caught this one before it went ballistic.  Since this one appears to be in good shape, I am interested in making it rebuildable.  I know there was talk a couple of years ago about this when the u-joints became scarce and people played around with the idea and made a couple.  I haven't heard lately how these u-joints are doing.  Is it worth the time and cost to make a rebuildable one?

Hopefully someone who is running one will chime in.  I would also like to hear from someone that has made them. 

Joe

[old grouch]

I had a rebuildable one on my '99 IS Trike.  I had it made by a local machine shop.  Cost was about $85, IIRC.  I put a bit over 60K miles on it before I sold the Trike.  No issues.  I would think it would suffer more stress on a Trike than on a two wheeler, but have no way proving that.  I have no idea if it is still good.  I told the guy who bought the Trike to let me know if he ever had any issues & I would be glad to help fix them but I have never heard from him.    I would say if you have one that is not ruined, it might be worth it to have it modified since the cost of new is probably right up there with having one machined.  The sticky "My rebuildable u-joint" at the top of the page has all the info a good machine shop should need to do the work, and once done a replacement cross is about $15 & you can easily install it.  Hope this helps.  Stan

[sandy]

Joe: I remember replacing yours at Inzane in Dillon. It's gone out already?? I was your helper on the right side of the bike.

[Joe Hummer]

Joe: I remember replacing yours at Inzane in Dillon. It's gone out already?? I was your helper on the right side of the bike.

Yeah Sandy.  That was when I last replaced my u-joint.  Don't remember how many miles I had on it then (I want to say somewhere around 60k)...but I have 139k miles now.  Picked up a vibration riding around last weekend.  Finally got around to tearing it apart on Monday and found the u-joint wobbly in ways it was not supposed to be.  Luckily, I had a spare laying on the shelf but I also found my u-joint boot had a small hole in it.  Wasn't putting that one back on.  New one is in town...will be picking it up tomorrow.  Unfortunately, the bike won't be going back together this weekend but it will very early next week.  Hope to still get some riding in this year.  Guess time will tell.

[Willow]

..., I am interested in making it rebuildable.  I know there was talk a couple of years ago about this when the u-joints became scarce and people played around with the idea and made a couple.  I haven't heard lately how these u-joints are doing.  Is it worth the time and cost to make a rebuildable one?

Joe, maybe what you need is in a pinned thread at the top of this board.  Free Pass was rebuilding and offering them, but at the end of the conversation talks about how members can make the contact and have it done themselves.

[Joe Hummer]

..., I am interested in making it rebuildable.  I know there was talk a couple of years ago about this when the u-joints became scarce and people played around with the idea and made a couple.  I haven't heard lately how these u-joints are doing.  Is it worth the time and cost to make a rebuildable one?

Joe, maybe what you need is in a pinned thread at the top of this board.  Free Pass was rebuilding and offering them, but at the end of the conversation talks about how members can make the contact and have it done themselves.

Carl, I saw that thread but was hoping for some updated information about the longevity of the rebuildable u-joint.  Either not enough people tried it when there was a u-joint shortage, they moved onto other bikes, or just haven't seen this post yet...

If I don't get any responses from this thread, I may go out on the limb and test its strength under my weight.  (Insert hefty sized jokes here...  )