Rear End Thrust Washer

[BudMan]

I'm doing my 10,000 mile rear end maintenance and found the plastic thrust washer had fully disintegrated. All that remained of it were several individual pieces of plastic and one barely identifiable strip from the outer edge of it.
This is the second time I have seen this condition.
Is it normal for the washer to be eaten completely up this way, or am I putting something together improperly?
Everything else in the rear end looks fine.

[Joe Hummer]

Hey Buddy,

  That thurst washer should be able to be re-used many times.  There is no real load on it that would cause it to dis-integrate as you described...normally.  The only two things I can think of that would cause it to wear out is over-tightening the axle nut and/or worn wheel dampers.  The rear axle nut gets 81 ft-lbs of torque.  The rear wheel dampers should be tight in the wheel.

Joe

[gordonv]

I would think it would be a pounding that is causing it to break down. I would think that the axle isn't fully into the rear, axle nut tightened, and there is some slop left over, allowing the rim to move left/right and strike the washer.

Axle nut gets fully tightened before the pinch bolt is tightened. I just did my 88 GW today, they don't even have a thrust washer on the early model GL1500.

[BudMan]

Thanks guys,
Joe,
I kind of thought the washer should not be eaten up like that, All it does is sit there and slide around in the grease.  The dampers are definitely worn out. I wanted new ones last time I did this but didn't have them at the time. I do now. We'll see if that was it. I always use a torque wrench setting things like this up so I knot the torque was correct.
Gordon,
What pinch bolt? I'm not sure what you mean.

[gordonv]

Gordon,
What pinch bolt? I'm not sure what you mean.

Ha? Isn't there a pinch bolt holding the end of the axle on the LH side of the swing arm, like the original GL1500 GW? I'll need to look at the fiche.

Just looked at the 99' IS. Doesn't seem to be there. Hmmmm, I don't remember what my swingarm looked like. How does the axle stay in on both sides? The large nut on the RH side, and what on the LH side? The GW is like the front axle. Suck it in with the nut, then hold the LH side with the pinch bolt.

[PharmBoy]

BudMan, Those new dampers you are installing should solve your problem.  A little grease or molly on both sides of that thrush washer makes it last longer, but I'm sure that you know that.  It was good to hear from you yesterday, but you didn't mention anything about your problem.  Take care, my friend...Jim

[Chrisj CMA]

Gordon,
What pinch bolt? I'm not sure what you mean.

Ha? Isn't there a pinch bolt holding the end of the axle on the LH side of the swing arm, like the original GL1500 GW? I'll need to look at the fiche.

Just looked at the 99' IS. Doesn't seem to be there. Hmmmm, I don't remember what my swingarm looked like. How does the axle stay in on both sides? The large nut on the RH side, and what on the LH side? The GW is like the front axle. Suck it in with the nut, then hold the LH side with the pinch bolt.

The head of the axle just butts up against the outside of the final drive on the right side.  On some bikes you have to "hold" the axle from turning with a hex wrench while at least starting to tighten in

[Rio Wil]

You said your dampers are worn out.....I would be curious to see a few close up pic's to see that they look like. Also, what does the wheel look like near the bearing where the washer sits up against the aluminum wheel.

[Patrick]

There is no pinch bolt on the Valk rear axle. There is on the front axle.

[Daniel Meyer]

Yeah, those things should last and last. Mine's got 200,000 miles on it...make sure ya give it a little grease when ya install it.

I would also inspect the wheel surface around the bearing where the washer sits...if it's been gouged/damaged/etc that could be what's eating the washer...

[BudMan]

Thanks everybody!
Jim,
The thrust washer was disintegrated on this Bike the first time Studi31, you and I took it apart down  at your place right after I got it. It has been that way every time. That was 30K miles ago. So far so good. 
Rio,
The dampers are not visibly any different from the new ones; however, they have about 1/8 inch of play all the way around them! If you turn the wheel over they will fall out. Even frozen the new ones are a snug fit.
Patrick / Daniel,
The surface is smooth, but with a VERY SLIGT (1/64" in?) ridge just outboard of the bearing seat. I coated the new one with MDP, but I did the last time two times also.
Daniel,
If you are going to do another clinic this year on the rear end I'll try to make sure to look at that surface on the one you do. I have never compared it to another one.
Until the other day this was my only Valkyrie. Why yes, I am proud of my new Green N Cream, why do you ask?