Question about U-joint replacement

[98 T]

I'm starting to see more people replacing u-joint...usually at a really bad time (like there is a good time for it to fail)...

I have 43,000 miles....  but I just read Grumpy's post about pre-emptively changing it out...

When is a good time to change it?   60,000?  75,000?   Mine's not making any noise, but it seems to be a long-term maintenance item... just like timing belt around 75,000....peace of mind thing.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Loth...

[Chrisj CMA]

I feel they are good for 100,000 if not abused.  If you do wheelies, drag race, violent burnouts all the time then all bets are off.  If you ride like an adult then it shouldnt be a problem.  Maybe at like 75K you could pull it and check it out for any looseness.  Anyone can have a bad part which can fail at any time.......but assuming you dont, you have nothing to worry about with only 40K miles

[Ricky-D]

A u-joint going bad telegraphs plenty of warning.

There is no sense in making a change as preventive maintenance.

A smarter move would be to have a new one on hand for the time when it becomes necessary to change the u-joint!

***

[Red Diamond]

Ditto to Ricky and Chris. A friend rides two up most of the time, his went out around 125k.

[98 T]

Thanks guys!!

I feel better... maybe I'll order a new u-joint and  driveshaft and pinion cup and have it ready for some day.  I've had the wheel off a few times in the past 2 years and the drive spline is in great shape and nicely slathered up in moly grease  - 

 Blackdog has helped me out in the past too and always reminds that soon I should change out the o-rings and seals on the rear end.... probably for the next tire change coming up in maybe 5K.

Every time I see a picture of one of a drive spline all dried up and rusty, I cringe 

Thanks again..... I promise to ride like an adult. 

Loth

[fudgie]

Thanks guys!!

I feel better... maybe I'll order a new u-joint and  driveshaft and pinion cup and have it ready for some day.   
 

And a kickstand spring and bolt. 

[98 T]

Fudgie,


That's what I have Adrian V for... to cover my a$$ when that spring and bolt break on a trip   

Loth

[Disco]

If it turns out the boot isn't properly installed, they can fail as early as 22,537 miles.  In retrospect, there were symptoms that I had incorrectly attributed to other factors.   

[Grumpy]

I did a preemptive, as I had the swing arm out to  change the bearings, as I was in that deep, decided to change the u-joint also. The old one seems fine, so I will seal up it in a bag and keep it. I plan on doing about 12,000 miles this year and figured better safe that sorry, plus easier to do on a lift than along side the road some where.

[Jeff K]

A u-joint going bad telegraphs plenty of warning.

There is no sense in making a change as preventive maintenance.

A smarter move would be to have a new one on hand for the time when it becomes necessary to change the u-joint!

***

I've had two of them fail. Yes I am harder on my bike than most, but neither one gave more than 10 miles of warning be before they exploded. And both failed on the highway, not during extreme use. The last one failed at 85 miles per hour, It gave a short rumble in the pegs, I let off the throttle and it exploded. I was able to limp to the next exit but it was running "yoke to yoke" Maybe I missed the "telegraph"?

[paul]

That the 6mm kickstand bolt in the ipc..???

[Scott in Ok]

I'm one of those defined by Jeff as not riding like an adult.  Though I'm not sure if thats an insult or a compliment?

I replaced my Ujoint after inspection at 92k.  It had a little bit of slop in it, so I replaced.  A few too many wheelies I suppose.



-Scott