Author Topic: Drive Shaft Rubber  (Read 2624 times)

Offline Udor1234

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 13
Drive Shaft Rubber
« on: February 15, 2024, 03:12:40 AM »
Does anyone know what the drive shaft rubber part is? And does it matter is its torn or can that rubber part be replaced?

  • Oz
  • K75S

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 11299
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2024, 10:18:48 AM »
Consensus I've read indicates it is likely to be for vibration damping; so far, your post is the only one that I've found discussing damage to it. I haven't yet found a listing for a replacement part. It this were on my Brick, I'd consider repairing it with RTV-type silicone adhesive. The RTV adhesive also could be used to adhere it to the driveshaft and driveshaft housing but it would help if those surfaces could be cleaned with solvent and dried thoroughly. Regardless, I would allow the repair to cure for a few days before riding. Attached photo shows how the ring is seated on the shaft housing and driveshaft. Have you noticed excessive vibration when riding?



  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Duckbubbles

  • ^ Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 56
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2024, 11:05:28 AM »
The rubber is in the original manufacture of the shaft and is not replaceable.  Yours looks like it is on the way to failure.  When that happens you will lose all drive to the rear end.  Better to replace it with new or a good used shaft before it leaves you stranded.

Frank
  • Austin, Texas USA
  • 1985 K100/1100RS
'85 K100/1100RS 40 years, 331,000 mi.
'23 R1250RS
'03 R1100S BCR #6/200
500,000+ BMW miles

Offline frankenduck

  • Adrninistrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 5511
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2024, 01:25:34 PM »
I highly doubt that RTV would hold up to the shear that that rubber-metal contact area is subjected to. As you can see in the cutaway diagram below, all of the power/torque to the final drive is transmitted via that rubber insert from the front half of the drive shaft to the rear half.

Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 6843
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2024, 02:26:38 PM »
I highly doubt that RTV would hold up to the shear that that rubber-metal contact area is subjected to. As you can see in the cutaway diagram below, all of the power/torque to the final drive is transmitted via that rubber insert from the front half of the drive shaft to the rear half.



What he said. 

The rubber is probably vulcanized in place in the driveshaft and is intended to absorb torque shock from the inconsistent rotational speed of the shaft due to the universal joint(it's why the axles of front wheel drive vehicles use constant velocity joints).  The amount of torque and the rotational speed changes will break whatever adhesive you try to bond it with.

Having said that, one of the strongest adhesives that I know of is 3M 5200 urethane adhesive.  I have seen sailboat keels weighing well over 2 tons held firmly in place by a contact patch of less than 1 square foot of 5200 adhesive.  Anyone who has attempted to break the bond this stuff makes will attest to it's strength.  One of it's features is that besides being unbelievably strong, it is also flexible which can be useful.

You could give it a try, just make sure that the surfaces to be bonded are spotlessly clean and follow the directions.  Get it at Home Depot or a marine store as it is mainly used in boat construction and repair.  It's not terribly expensive, about $20 for a tube with enough to do your drive shaft.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b40066983/

One word of caution, NEVER use it on anything you might ever want to take apart.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 11299
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #5 on: February 15, 2024, 02:32:41 PM »
What he said. 
Leave it to BMW Motorrad.  Just the thing for my boots' lugged soles. :laughing4-giggles: Never seen or read of this particular failure.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Udor1234

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 13
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2024, 03:32:02 PM »
Ahh well. Lets see if there is anything on ebay.
  • Oz
  • K75S

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 6843
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2024, 03:43:03 PM »
Data sheet with application instructions.  DO NOT use alcohol for prep cleaning.  No shear strength data for rubber, but it is rated at over 500#/sqin on steel.  Should be able to handle the drive torque.

https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/2366044O/3m-marine-adhesive-sealant-5200.pdf?&fn=3M-Marine-Adhesive-Sealant-5200.pdf
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Martin

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 4475
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #8 on: February 15, 2024, 06:42:44 PM »
Just curious, before you go to the trouble of trying to repair it. What are the splines like??
Regards Martin.
  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
  • 1992 K75s Hybrid, Lefaux, Vespa V twin.

Offline Duckbubbles

  • ^ Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 56
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #9 on: February 15, 2024, 07:50:55 PM »
Never seen or read of this particular failure.

I had the rubber fail on the original driveshaft of my '85 RS in the later 80's at about 125,000 miles.  Since then, I have replaced the driveshaft before it gets to 100,000 miles.
If buying a replacement driveshaft be aware that sometime during the production run of that type of shaft the spline count changed.  I don't know the specific dates or number of splines involved.  Count the splines on your present rear drive to be sure you get a compatible one.

Frank
  • Austin, Texas USA
  • 1985 K100/1100RS
'85 K100/1100RS 40 years, 331,000 mi.
'23 R1250RS
'03 R1100S BCR #6/200
500,000+ BMW miles

Offline frankenduck

  • Adrninistrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 5511
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #10 on: February 15, 2024, 08:22:04 PM »
85 model year and earlier K100s are Z16 count. Z20 for 1986 on.

Per the parts catalog the manufacturing changeover date is 2/86.
Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

Offline Udor1234

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 13
Re: Drive Shaft Rubber
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2024, 01:33:17 AM »
Just curious, before you go to the trouble of trying to repair it. What are the splines like??
Regards Martin.

The splines are good to reasonable.
  • Oz
  • K75S

Tags: