Where to send drive shaft for rebuild

[conybeare]

Hi All,

I am not having much luck finding a used drive shaft in decent condition for my '90 K75S, so I'm considering a rebuild instead. Is Bruno's (http://www.brunos.us/) the only option? I have done some searches but haven't turned up any other places. Just wondering if people have heard about any other shops that will do this.

And in case anyone is curious, Bruno quoted me $160 for the rebuild without a new u-joint (just new spline collar), plus $30 for shipping.

Thanks!

[DRxBMW]

Hansens:

http://www.hansensmc.com/default.asp?page=spline

For the record, your are NUTZ if you choose NOT to R&R the UJ. Consider the repair to be proactive.

$160 is a bargain, ride a sport-bike sometime. Chain & sprockets will set you back $200 - $300 or more.

Bruno does good work, I have a revamp done by him that has 130K mileage factor, very minor wear on the splines.

[conybeare]

Thanks for the info! I thought the u-joint was something that doesn't wear much :embarass:

Looks likes Hansens charges $200 for the same job... so Bruno's it is! And I'll go with the u-joint, too  :2thumbup:

[frankenduck]

Hansen's doesn't rebuild drive shafts, only final drives.  They recommend buying a new drive shaft from BMW.

[DRxBMW]

Hansen's doesn't rebuild drive shafts, only final drives.  They recommend buying a new drive shaft from BMW.

:hmm:  you are correct about the above comment.

Seem to remember Curry mentioning something about Hansen and drive shafts but I'm WRONG, case closed.

Bruno must be the "only game in town" then, interesting.

[frankenduck]

They emailed for some part a couple of months ago.  I was curious about their spline work so I asked.

Here's what I got back:

We rebuild the spline on the pinion, but we don’t rebuild the driveshaft.
$199.99 for the pinion repair out of the rearend.
Driveshafts we replace new, but give a 20% discount on shaft with pinion repair.
About 2 weeks turn around once the pinion has arrived.
If you don’t have the tools to remove pinion, send us the complete rearend.
1 ¼ to R&R pinion & reseal, or 2 ½ to for complete rearend plus parts.
Craig Hansen

[wmax351]

I had great luck with my shaft from Bruno's. He makes it better than it came from BMW, which is good. The shaft is the main weakness on these bikes.

[Krock]

Hi everybody

My drive shaft is about to break!

Bruno's will deliver a fully rebuild dual u joint drive shaft for a k1100 for $450 + taxe(s) + delivery: Witch equal to too much money for a somewhat simple part.
 
I am presently searching for the U-joints only in order to  replace them myself. Anybody knows the dimensions of the u-joints or a manufacturer? I figure $100 is what it should cost including a little machining.

K1100 92

Thanks

[frankenduck]

I had great luck with my shaft from Bruno's. He makes it better than it came from BMW, which is good. The shaft is the main weakness on these bikes.

A drive shaft kept properly lubricated can easily last 100,000 miles or more so IMO it's more of a wear item (or failure caused by lack of proper maintenance.)

[wmax351]

I had great luck with my shaft from Bruno's. He makes it better than it came from BMW, which is good. The shaft is the main weakness on these bikes.

A drive shaft kept properly lubricated can easily last 100,000 miles or more so IMO it's more of a wear item (or failure caused by lack of proper maintenance.)

That is true. Although with the upgrade and proper lubrication, it is a lifetime item.

Not sure why they cant do the shaft splines like the old airheads. Big beefy thing, bathed in gear oil.

[jay1622]

Well, I removed the final drive off of the swingarm and some gear oil came out. The source is the input seal for the final drive. Have you guys had any luck replacing these (the seal), or do you recommend sending it out? Are the two places mentioned in this older thread still recommend? Anybody newer?  This final drive is very tight; absolutely no backlash. None at all. The bike only has about 32,000 miles on it. I don't imagine a rebuild as necessary; just the final drive input seal perhaps?

I am not sure if you can see it in the picture, but just sitting on my table, the gear oil is pooling at the bottom of where the seal is.

Oh, and the last knucklehead that worked on this bike? There was black RTV at the mating surface between the swingarm and the final drive. Somebody got lazy.

[Kontoboy]

Just received an email and Bruno's is not taking any work right now.  I'll check back in a couple months.

[FONG]

Has anybody heard from Bruno's about this?  My K75 splines just took a header and I've had no reply them (and the phone number gave a suspiciously generic message).

[Motorhobo]

I read here last year that Bruno will be out of commission for 2016 due to health issues. We wish him the best and hope for a full recovery -- he's been an irreplaceable resource for the K-Bike community over the years.

In the meantime there's this, but apparently only for UK customers.

https://www.motobins.co.uk/displayfinal.php?s=0&function=show&subs=073b&title=K+20+SPLINE+DRIVESHAFT+EXCHANGE+SERVICE&model=

Doesn't address the U joint, seems to be only a weld-on spline replacement.

This motobrick.com topic gives the rebuild roundup -- but most of the parts mentioned are for the R100, so not even sure whether they're K-ompatible.

http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,6675.msg45399.html#msg45399

[K1300S]

I just bought a new  Ei new driveshaft from Ted at beemershop.  Awesome.  It is how  bmw should have made them in the first place.

[Laitch]

Awesome.  It is how bmw should have made them in the first place.

Except for that one little correctable glitch supporting the ancient maxim Errare humanum est. :giggles

[K1300S]

Lol, yes....but company shipped new one from Taiwan overnight to make it right.  Impressive!  Now I just need to install the replacement....

[Motorhobo]

You mean this one?

http://www.beemershop.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=TRA54063

That is made in Taiwan?

I would have considered that but I had a $200 gift card at Bob's BMW, so I went OEM.

[K1300S]

Yup.  Greasable/replaceable u-joint.  Shock dampers built into fat part of tube.  Very nice part.

The R-bike community swears by these things.

[qwertymotobrick]

Bruno still works?

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I don't think so.  Bruno has had some serious health issues in the past year or so.

There was a video from Chris Harris a few weeks back explaining how he(Chris) sold his home and shop and was invited to come up to Bruno's shop in Ontario to run it, but he was not allowed entry into Canada. 

[technostructural]

I don't think so.  Bruno has had some serious health issues in the past year or so.

There was a video from Chris Harris a few weeks back explaining how he(Chris) sold his home and shop and was invited to come up to Bruno's shop in Ontario to run it, but he was not allowed entry into Canada.

That is some exciting news. Based on his video, it appears that he is still trying to make this happen. The K community needs both Bruno and Chris. I hope that this can work out.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

It's a shame that borders only exist to block the movement of people from civilized countries...