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Just missed a u-joint failure on the road....Thanks Steve!!

 
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markmack
Big Brick Rider


Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 70
Location: Valencia, CA

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:55 am    Post subject: Just missed a u-joint failure on the road....Thanks Steve!! Reply with quote

While cleaning my K11 after a 3000 mile road trip to Canada I noticed that the rear wheel had a very slight drag in a few spots while turning it during the bike wash. I didn't think too much of it and put the bike away. It was in the back of my mind the next few days as I pondered as to what it could be. Rear disc brake warp matched the slight drag but no brake rub noise was noticed.

I was checking out some posts in Tech on the board when I read Steve's post on his u-joint failure. Somewhere he mentioned as an afterthought that he noticed something similar to what I experienced. So I put it on the list as a possibility. I was not that concerned as about 15K ago I replaced the clutch. The u-joints checked good at the time. I almost took the bike out for a 300 mile run. I''m glad I didn't!!

What I found was very surprising and somewhat shocking as the trip to Canada was a quick up and back with many high speed miles on the super slab and some in the dark.

A big thanks to Steve (skdonlan) for mentioning it. It saved me from a road breakdown and maybe a serious crash.

Now I need to find a replacement shaft. I would have been so easy to manufacture these so the u-joint could be replaced.

Signs of excessive heat. This must have been red hot!


Cracked roller bearing housing, exposed roller bearings.


How many more mile before failure?

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markmack
R100RT 1979..First road bike, spoiled me on BMW's and a touring fairing, moved had to sell.
K75C ..Spoiled me on the K motor, smooth, sold.
K1100LT 1993..Best tour bike for me.
K1200LT 2003..Happy wife..Happy life.
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Jim
Site Admin


Joined: 17 May 2003
Posts: 3841
Location: WHERETHEFUNNEVERENDS

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mark - good catch! I don't think you'd have gone many more miles on that one.

Although Steve's experience was unfortunate, it's cool that his post was helpful to you.
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Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."
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Stoked Steve
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
Location: Virginia Beach, VA

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey Mark, I'm glad you caught that, I got your PM.

I was lucky and RAL88 linked me to a used on E-bay that was only $60.

Check your rubber boots while everything is apart, replace them if they are dried out and crusty like mine were.

Good luck!
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Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom
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Mystic Red
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 2330
Location: Twin Lakes Idaho

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

WOW, Steve and Mark, how many miles on your respective bikes? Think I'll be checking mine this winter, just in case!
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Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466
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Phil Marvin
Rider in the Sky


Joined: 03 Apr 2003
Posts: 1389
Location: El Paso, Texas, USA

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

skdonlan wrote:
Check your rubber boots while everything is apart, replace them if they are dried out and crusty like mine were.

Good luck!


Hi, Steve,
Just as long as you are talking about the rubber boots and not about your riding companions when your incident occurred!!! Laughing
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Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP
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Stoked Steve
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
Location: Virginia Beach, VA

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mystic wrote:

Quote:
WOW, Steve and Mark, how many miles on your respective bikes? Think I'll be checking mine this winter, just in case!



Right at 50K on mine, I've been told that's a bit pre-mature. I attribute it to a PO who was I believe a bit hard on the bike. Or possibly the dealer who did a spline lube (at 41K) and might not have properly phased the U-joints upon re-assembly, although that's purely speculative on my part.

My early warning sign, that I completely missed, was that when the bike was the center stand and I rotated the rear wheel, I could hear a slight clunk, clunk as the wheel rotated. It was a soft sound, so I just thought it was a normal sound of the U-joints rotatng. It wasn't unitl I got the new one on that I realized it's makes no sound at all when rotating.

Phil wrote:

Quote:
Just as long as you are talking about the rubber boots and not about your riding companions when your incident occurred!!!


Some of my riding companions are a bit old and crusty, but I'll keep 'em, I think they've got a few more miles on them! Laughing
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Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom
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markmack
Big Brick Rider


Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 70
Location: Valencia, CA

PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mine has 72k....hoping to get it to 100k!!
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markmack
R100RT 1979..First road bike, spoiled me on BMW's and a touring fairing, moved had to sell.
K75C ..Spoiled me on the K motor, smooth, sold.
K1100LT 1993..Best tour bike for me.
K1200LT 2003..Happy wife..Happy life.
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