01-11-2020, 05:15 PM
Bruce, as you may have seen from now, the whole reason all this started was the failure on Darrell's bike - more specifically the failure of the universal joint which apparently starts to disintegrate at the yoke after X,000 miles. We noted that the driveshaft and universal joints are not serviceable and is $1200 alone, let alone the labour to install.
In Darrell's case, the catastrophic failure of the universal joint led to other damage in the transmission as a result, and had he known that the universal joints were failing, he would have only had to have the driveshaft replaced. Instead, and we all know the story, the repair was much more and his 3000 mile trip was reduced to failure at 300 miles.
Upon further investigating on the ADVrider forum it seems as though other people are experiencing U-joint failures, and some are mentioning rust also. Now these people are riding GSs and likely fording streams etc. so are likely submerging the driveshafts.
I have said in a post before that the joint between the rubber boot and the metal part of the shaft housing is BS when it comes to watertightness. At best it is weathertight. BMW does not state that their shaft-driven bikes should not be driven through water. AAMOF, many of their ads, marketing pubs etc show riders going through water.
Our initial concern (and still my concern) is not the rust - it is the U-joint and its impending failure after a certain number of miles (which apparently varies wildly). Mike started to take his driveshaft out so that he could inspect the U-joint for play and other signs of failure. The operation, though tedious, was not one that should cause any harm and was seen by several of us as a good preventative maintenance operation, so that we can catch this failure and limit it to $1200 instead of $12,000.
His bike was not making any noise before he started to take the driveshaft out and neither is mine at over 44k miles, but I also intend to take mine out soon and inspect it for U-joint wear.
Now, thanks to Mike and others' experience, I will also use this opportunity to re-seal the boot-housing interfaces and re-lube these splines. Hopefully I will not find water in mine and it come apart easily.
Unlike Mike I own 2 pressure washers, one (gas) more powerful than t'other (electric), and I suspect that I have used the latter once on the bike in the 4 years of ownership. I use the pressure washer on a "fan" setting and at the right distance the water spray is more gentle than a garden hose. I typically wash the bike with a garden hose and am not shy about spraying in the driveshaft housing (metal part) although I "ease off" around the boots. I never forded any streams and the bike has been heavy rains less than 5 times. I don't believe that I have any holes in my gaiter and I will be inspecting the silicone seals as well to see it they are incomplete also.
You - and BMW if they care to watch - will all likely see all of this on video.
In Darrell's case, the catastrophic failure of the universal joint led to other damage in the transmission as a result, and had he known that the universal joints were failing, he would have only had to have the driveshaft replaced. Instead, and we all know the story, the repair was much more and his 3000 mile trip was reduced to failure at 300 miles.
Upon further investigating on the ADVrider forum it seems as though other people are experiencing U-joint failures, and some are mentioning rust also. Now these people are riding GSs and likely fording streams etc. so are likely submerging the driveshafts.
I have said in a post before that the joint between the rubber boot and the metal part of the shaft housing is BS when it comes to watertightness. At best it is weathertight. BMW does not state that their shaft-driven bikes should not be driven through water. AAMOF, many of their ads, marketing pubs etc show riders going through water.
Our initial concern (and still my concern) is not the rust - it is the U-joint and its impending failure after a certain number of miles (which apparently varies wildly). Mike started to take his driveshaft out so that he could inspect the U-joint for play and other signs of failure. The operation, though tedious, was not one that should cause any harm and was seen by several of us as a good preventative maintenance operation, so that we can catch this failure and limit it to $1200 instead of $12,000.
His bike was not making any noise before he started to take the driveshaft out and neither is mine at over 44k miles, but I also intend to take mine out soon and inspect it for U-joint wear.
Now, thanks to Mike and others' experience, I will also use this opportunity to re-seal the boot-housing interfaces and re-lube these splines. Hopefully I will not find water in mine and it come apart easily.
Unlike Mike I own 2 pressure washers, one (gas) more powerful than t'other (electric), and I suspect that I have used the latter once on the bike in the 4 years of ownership. I use the pressure washer on a "fan" setting and at the right distance the water spray is more gentle than a garden hose. I typically wash the bike with a garden hose and am not shy about spraying in the driveshaft housing (metal part) although I "ease off" around the boots. I never forded any streams and the bike has been heavy rains less than 5 times. I don't believe that I have any holes in my gaiter and I will be inspecting the silicone seals as well to see it they are incomplete also.
You - and BMW if they care to watch - will all likely see all of this on video.
Regards,
Grumpy Goat
2016 BMW R1200RS
2023 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
Grumpy Goat
2016 BMW R1200RS
2023 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro