U-Joint Replacement Poll

[Valkpilot]

I'm curious about actual failures.  I fell into the #3 camp: replaced mine before a long trip, just in case.

[lucky_1_chris]

I think mine's on it's way out. I'll be pulling it this weekend if I have time between work. I'll post back after I have a look at it.

[3W-lonerider]

141,000 miles and my u-joint is just fine. 72,000 as a 2 wheeler and 69,000 as a trike. u-joint has been open to all the elements since triked. takes me 10 minutes to drop the drive shaft check the u-joint, grease the splines and back on.

[StLRider]

My u-joint would make a clunking noise when I slowed for a stop sign with the clutch not quit all the way pulled in. As I was going to be going to the Smokies in a few weeks, I had Joe Hummer look at it to be on the safe side. Apon taking it out, it about fell apart! Joe said I probably would not have made it there, much less returning on the same u-joint. Thanks again to Joe for saving my vacation!
Drive Safe People, StLRider

[Jess from VA]

Semantics, I guess.  I mean, I was able to limp about 15 miles with clunking and grinding (holding my breath), but when it was removed, it was FUBAR............. it totally failed.   The 15 miles didn't make it a partial failure.

[Valkpilot]

Semantics, I guess.  I mean, I was able to limp about 15 miles with clunking and grinding (holding my breath), but when it was removed, it was FUBAR............. it totally failed.   The 15 miles didn't make it a partial failure.

I'd call that a complete failure.

[Valker]

No spot for this vote: I replaced mine simply because I had the rear apart at 96,000 miles for other stuff and had a new U-joint laying around. I still have the old one in nice shape. It will go with me on my trips until the new ones are available.

[Valkpilot]

No spot for this vote: I replaced mine simply because I had the rear apart at 96,000 miles for other stuff and had a new U-joint laying around. I still have the old one in nice shape. It will go with me on my trips until the new ones are available.

Please log that under option 3.

[Jess from VA]

Semantics, I guess.  I mean, I was able to limp about 15 miles with clunking and grinding (holding my breath), but when it was removed, it was FUBAR............. it totally failed.   The 15 miles didn't make it a partial failure.

I'd call that a complete failure.

When this is tallied up, I think you have to add 1 and 2 together and compare to 3.  I mean, if the UJoint is failing in any noticeable, meaningful way, who's just gonna say screw it and keep riding until it breaks when he's out on the road somewhere?  I think failing+failed -vs- maintenance.

Hmmmm...I suppose the same guy who goes for that last 400 miles on bald tires.   OK, never mind.

[B]

Complete failure in 2009 ... We are talking tow truck AND that is JUST WRONG to hafta put the Big Girl thru that!  :s

[Valkpilot]

When this is tallied up, I think you have to add 1 and 2 together and compare to 3.  I mean, if the UJoint is failing in any noticeable, meaningful way, who's just gonna say screw it and keep riding until it breaks when he's out on the road somewhere?  I think failing+failed -vs- maintenance.

I agree, but I wanted to distinguish for purposes of the poll.

[Daniel Meyer]

At about 135,000 mine was failing (play in the bearing cups). I felt it when it started.

[alph]

there was a tiny bit of play in my universal joint, but i replaced it because my driveshaft/pinion cup were shot.  i thought that maybe that's were i was getting vibration that ruined my shaft/cup, but it also could have been my wheel dampers, replaced those also, so, the only thing that's original on my drive line is the rear end.  my splines (the part everyone seems to really freak out about) are just perfect.  68k miles by the way.....

[0leman]

My was total failure, almost.  Started vibrating/noise about 10 miles from home (after a 250 mile ride).  Made it home, still working but making lot of noise.  Tore it apart to find one of the yokes totally broke and the other one nearly. No damage to the swing arm, but boot was trashed.  Got lucky.  Had 52K on her.

[Valkpilot]

Over 300 views, but only 72 votes?!?

Please log a response.  It's as important to count the ones that haven't failed as it is to count the ones that have.

[Mr. Nuts]

Replaced mine at the first sign of a clunk figuring that way I could keep it on hand as a spare for long trips. (about 45,000 relatively easy miles) Barely discernible by hand but noticeable on acceleration/decelleration. Glad I have it now.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Replaced mine at 100k just cause I had a new one. The orginal one is wrapped in a towel and travels with me on long rides. Better to have a spare and not need it than to need it and not have it.

[Westsider]

dont know what cat. this falls in ...was doing drive line maint. and i think i got the phantom "play" in it when i stood just right so i now have a spare that i would run any time just fine.....

[Tropic traveler]

No spot for this vote: I replaced mine simply because I had the rear apart at 96,000 miles for other stuff and had a new U-joint laying around. I still have the old one in nice shape. It will go with me on my trips until the new ones are available.

Ditto at 100K on the miles.  
The old one is in the parts stash.

[Gear Jammer]

I responded with #4. Hasn't failed (knock on wood)    , but I carry a spare anyway 

[bigdog99]

86000 and still the factroy one,
the more i read, the more i want a spare shaft and gears along with the pumpkin

[Scott in Ok]

60k on my 97 Std and the U-Joint was fine when I sold it.  To my knowledge, it is still fine.

Replaced the U-Joint on my '01 Interstate at 85K because I could feel it was starting to have some play in it.  Inspection confirmed that is was failing.  However, it was VERY hard on that U-Joint on multiple occasions....so  you could say it was self inflicted....



-Scott

[Red Diamond]

60k on my 97 Std and the U-Joint was fine when I sold it.  To my knowledge, it is still fine.

Replaced the U-Joint on my '01 Interstate at 85K because I could feel it was starting to have some play in it.  Inspection confirmed that is was failing.  However, it was VERY hard on that U-Joint on multiple occasions....so  you could say it was self inflicted....



-Scott

Some people just play hard. Unless you ride your Valk like this all the time, you should not experience any u-joint failure. I logged under never replaced my u-joint. Keep it lubed and ride to enjoy it.

[HayHauler]

I'm curious about actual failures.  I fell into the #3 camp: replaced mine before a long trip, just in case.

+1.
Replaced before InzaneIX.  Old one had very little play in it, so it is now one of 2 spares until the new ones are produced.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Black Dog]

'97 Standard, close to 80K miles.  Original U Joint.

I have replaced the rear drive unit, and splines @ 70K.

Black Dog

[Wolfgang1952]

My U-joint started to go out on a the way to TX right after I got it.    That was back in 2000 and with only around 30K on it.   At least it was still under warranty.   So Honda did ate that one.   The rear hub went out just under 100K.   I ate that one.    Right now I have right at 170670 and no more trouble.   Although I am 5'8" tall and weigh in at 150*, I haven't been able to get the front wheel off the ground yet.   When I do my Drags I am usually just sitting there smoking, and shifting gears.   Everyone says it looks like it just bows up and then straitens out like a rocket.

[Dodis]

Haven't replaced mine, but I do have a spare (in a safe deposit box with $100K insurance till new ones are produced ). Luckily decided to order one while placing an order a while back, just in case.

Mike "Dodis"

[RainMaker]

Mine still good at 66K but I bought a used spare from a salvage yard to keep in the saddlebag and have 3 more new ones on back order for over a year - while I don't need 3 more, I figured that if I can get 'em, I might be able to help someone else out.

[Valk1520]

Some people just play hard. Unless you ride your Valk like this all the time, you should not experience any u-joint failure. I logged under never replaced my u-joint. Keep it lubed and ride to enjoy it.
[/quote]

how do you lube the u-joint.  I just had to replace mine after a complete failure with 58000 on my IS ( thanks MP).  Do you just pack in extra greese around the joint?  thanks for any info you can give me.

[Disco]

With lots of help, mine was replaced last April when it grenaded at the GOTF.      It came out in two pieces with only 22,537 miles on the odometer. 

We found the boot was not fully seated on the engine side.   

[oliverjb]

 I replaced mine at 75,000 just in case. Now have 130,000. Old one is safely wrapped and on my parts shelf for spare

[R J]

242K+ and still on the original.

Almost replaced it at 184K, but found a broken cord in the tire.

Replaced it and the thump thump went away.

Just lucky I guess.

[Willow]

2001 Standard; 160,00 miles; original U-joint

Although I am 5'8" tall and weigh in at 150*, I haven't been able to get the front wheel off the ground yet.   

Interstates come up fairly easily.  Standards and Tourers not so much.

[Big Tom 10628]

18 total failures out of 155 responses? That's not as bad as I was led to believe. Still not a great record for Honda.  I had a total failure at 41,668 miles. Never did a wheelie or even spun the tire. Just got one of the bad ones I guess....

[MarkT]

Mine failed at 73k while on a local 200 mile day ride.  Made a lot of noise, knew what it was, and babied it to get home.  The cups/bearings were shot.  Lucky I made it home without it grenading and locking up.  Seems negligent to me they didn't make these with zerks.  I should look at my spare to see if I can easily add a zerk.  Only gonna bother if the cross is hollow center to the bearings, meaning only need to drill and tap the zerk hole - not drill out grease passages to the bearings.  It's possible these same U-joints are used in some aps with zerks, they just haven't been installed for Valks.  If so - adding a zerk is easy enough.

[Daniel Meyer]

Still not a great record for Honda.

I wouldn't say that. The vast majority of the motorcycle fleet never makes it to 50,000 miles.

In many models, 50,000 miles is 20 years old and slap wore the heck out.

We are the exception.

In a Valk, it's a couple years old and just getting started!

The current availability thing...now THAT'S a not good for Honda and their rep.

I've never had parts problems with them before.

[Fuzzy (Louisiana)]

     Replaced mine (actually Warlock  replaced it) around 52,000 miles.  Had a terrible noise around 45 miles per hour.  Could not track it down.   Brought it up to David, we (He) tore it down.  The u-joint was falling apart in his hand.  Glad he had a spare one on the shelf.

Mark
Fuzzy (Louisiana)

[Jay]

Mine went out after Labor Day weekend last year on the way home from Durango, Colorado.  I could feel slight vibration/knocking in the pegs, mainly going downhill on the Million Dollar Highway.  I was able to get home, rode to work the following week, then took it apart that weekend.  The u-joint wasn't blown apart, but the needles in two of the cups were toast.  Also had to replace the propeller shaft and pinion cup because they had not been getting lubed.

[Valkpilot]

Bump.

[Redline +]

...adding a zerk is easy enough.

I think you will find the u-joint cross and caps to be hardened. I would call this challenging not easy.

Redline