MOTOBRICK.COM
TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: kris on March 05, 2015, 11:56:32 AM
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Has anyone attempted to put a grease fitting on their OEM u-joint? Mine is notchy. I suspect it is from dry grease, much like the head bearings. Any experience out there? What sort of life expectancy is there with the OEM joint?
Thank you
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I could be wrong, but I can't say as I've heard of anyone being able to modify the existing oem joint for grease.
I have heard/read of others modifying the yoke to accept a new u-joint with a grease fitting. Some have had a local machine shop open up the interior span enough to allow installation of a joint that uses retaining clips on the inside of the yoke.
Another option that is mentioned quite often is to send it to Bruno's to have new grease-able joints installed.
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Thanks Scott. I've got an email in to Bruno's to see what that might cost. I've also got a local mechanic who is a decent guy and I'll see what he says. It looks very tight in there for a grease fitting but I guess Bruno makes it work. I doubt the dried up grease (if that's the cause of the notch) will do me any favours down the road!
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its been said that you gotts to pick up the phone and call bruno cause he doesnt use email...
j o
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Thanks Johnny. I thought it was the other way around...I'll call and post his price once I get it....for general info.
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We are truly a blessed group to have such fine folk to share knowledge with. It's fantastic. So let me share a little. When I pulled the shaft out of my '86 K100RT (61,000 miles) I noticed the u-joint seemed to have a little notch at center. I'm thinking I better get this fixed or pay later. So I email Bruno's Machine Shop (up in the wilds of northern Ontario somewhere...the town is Iron Bridge). Johnny kindly suggests (see below) I call instead. Bruno doesn't do email. So my phone rang about 15 minutes ago and this friendly honest guy tells me the joint is fine. He explains that, due to a serration in the grease cups, it will feel like what I described. Further, that unless there is evidence of rust around the joint, as a result of no grease, moisture infiltration, etc., that I can expect another 40,000 miles out of it. I asked what a u-joint swap out would cost and he told me $200 Cdn.. I assured him that, when the time comes, my drive shaft will find its way to Iron Bridge for service. He replaces the OEM joint, where possible, with a joint with a grease fitting. In some models/years he has to put a Beemer joint back in. He can explain if you need him to. So a happy ending was had and I hope to begin re-assembly next week. I continue to be impressed with the quality of the parts that went into this bike.
PS - you cannot retrofit the OEM joint to accept a grease fitting....according to The Man!
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The original will feel notchy. That is normal. Bruno can machine for clips and if needed replace stock unit with one that takes a grease fitting. Bruno has replied to email from me, and then he called.
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Thanks Elipten. I appreciate your reply.
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The original BMW has little metal fingers form the driveshaft. These have to be machined out, then a grove machined in for the circle clips. If you send to Bruno he can do this work, and check your u-joint. If it needs replacing no issue, if not he will grease and put it back in. Then you can pull and grease even though there is no grease fitting.
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My UJ is notchy at the centre point too, at only 14,700 miles. I did think 'dried grease', but if it is it's the only bit of grease on the bike that has dried out. Front wheel bearings are really smooth, the steering head bearings were a bit dirty but no dried grease, and the swinging arm bearings were similar.
I must admit it's got me a bit spooked though. If you look almost anywhere else, you'll be told that notchy equals imminent failure. Except for the guy who found notchiness at 30,000 miles and at 75,000 found exactly the same.