U-Joint

[Dag]

I will receive a package from HDL Friday with a new U-Joint.
I will start pulling things apart tomorrow so I can get the new one in Friday so I can go for a ride this weekend.

[HayHauler]

I just replaced mine last night.  I was worried that I would have a problem on the Michigan trip, so I just replaced it for peace of mind.
I checked the backlash on it and it was barely detectable, less than 1/32".  This was checked by twisting the joint back and forth.  I don't know if the one I removed was getting bad, or not.  It has 56,000 miles on it.  The splines in the pinion cup and drive shaft looked like new.  I just cleaned them out, lubed them back up and put everything back together with the new joint.

I didn't see, or hear of you having a problem.  How do you know it's bad?  Like the wheel bearing the other day?  Did you notice balls from the bearings rolling out of the swing arm? 

Good luck on replacing yours.  Mine took me 4.5 hours in my driveway.  Should only take you about 2 with the shop you have.

Good luck with it,
Hay 
Jimmyt

[Dag]

I bought a u-joint 4 years ago because of a clunk. I have planned to change it every winter. A month ago a buddy har a u-joint failure, so I brought mine and changed it for him. Two days later I could feel some vibration and the clunk was getting worse. I rode my bike about 20 miles after changing the wheel bearing, but I found it more safe to leave the bike in the garage until I get the new u-joint installed. You are welcome to visit me tomorrow. I will start about 5PM (-7)
I will keep the cam on 

I ordered another u-joint today, so I will have another change in a couple of weeks.

[HayHauler]

There are a couple of things that I noticed that made me feel like I needed to change the joint. 
1.  At high speed, around 70-80, when I let off of the throttle, I could feel some slight vibration.  I had heard that was one sign of the joint going bad.
2.  Last weekend, while on the lift looking for the source of some rear brake noise, I ran the bike through the gears while up on the lift.  I heard all kinds of clunks and other noises that sure sounded like a u-joint flapping back and forth.

So, I changed it with the one I had bought new just after the GOTF and Dave's u-joint failure.

Again, peace of mind for me, even though I don't think mine was THAT bad when I got it apart and looked at it.

I will try to look for your cam tomorrow, but work has been particularly stressful here lately.


Best wishes,

Hay 
JImmyt

[Wildman]

Be sure to check your wheel bearings.
They can make a clunking noise also.
If the spacer between the wheel bearings can move much left & right you probably need to replace them.
There should be no space play after the bearings are correctly seated.

[Daniel Meyer]

I checked the backlash on it and it was barely detectable, less than 1/32".  This was checked by twisting the joint back and forth. 

If you can detect any when twisting by hand...yeah, it's bad...

[HayHauler]

Yep, Daniel, that's how I felt also.  ANY movement when twisting in my hands, replace. 

Do you think this one will make a good replacement for someone that has had theirs explode on them?
Or just throw it away?

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Daniel Meyer]

Yep, Daniel, that's how I felt also.  ANY movement when twisting in my hands, replace. 

Do you think this one will make a good replacement for someone that has had theirs explode on them?
Or just throw it away?

Hay 
Jimmyt

I'd toss it. But I keep a new one in stock...

[HayHauler]

Be sure to check your wheel bearings.
They can make a clunking noise also.
If the spacer between the wheel bearings can move much left & right you probably need to replace them.
There should be no space play after the bearings are correctly seated.

Bearings and dust seal are new, as well as dampeners.  I have another wheel where the dampeners make a little noise.. 

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Valkpilot]

2.  Last weekend, while on the lift looking for the source of some rear brake noise, I ran the bike through the gears while up on the lift.  I heard all kinds of clunks and other noises that sure sounded like a u-joint flapping back and forth.

If you rotate the rear wheel while the bike is on the lift with the swingarm hanging down, it makes all kinds of racket.   The angle of the dangle is too severe for the u-joint to rotate smoothly.

[Rio Wil]

Yep, Daniel, that's how I felt also.  ANY movement when twisting in my hands, replace. 

Do you think this one will make a good replacement for someone that has had theirs explode on them?
Or just throw it away?

Hay 
Jimmyt

Try chucking one end up in a vice and grasp the other side with a pair of big pliers or channel locks and to to rotate.....you might be surprised at the slack in the joints.  Also watch the cups as you flex the joint.  Three of mine were loose enough to rotate!

[Rocketman]

Yep, Daniel, that's how I felt also.  ANY movement when twisting in my hands, replace. 

Do you think this one will make a good replacement for someone that has had theirs explode on them?
Or just throw it away?

Hay 
Jimmyt

I'd say hold on to it, unless someone else has one in the area.  Once we get a new one in our parts stash, you can chunk the old one.  (Speaking as a confirmed pack rat:  It's easier to keep it and decide not to use it, than it is to want it and find that it went to the dump 2 months ago)

[Ken 11861]

My U-joint failed at 17,000 miles. You could definitely hear clicking especially rolling it into the garage with the motor off. When I took the joint out it was shot/real rough in one plane.
My replacement is still going strong, I have 70,000 on the bike now (let's see 17 from 70) the new U-joint has gone 53,000 already. I think U-joints can be like bearings, they can fail early or run forever.

[Dag]

Nothing wrong with the u-joint.
I installed the old one, and the noice is gone ????

Here is a few pictures of the axle and the pinion cup.

[matt]

hey Dag I missed your web cam worked late   as I mentiond to you I also had a clunk found flange and gear in pumpkin with wear lubed everything up noise is gone had clunk for a few miles ordered a new flange hoping to tighten up