U joint

[arbalest]

Can the driveshaft u joint on a /5 be replaced without replacing the driveshaft?

Mike Lydon

[George Ryals]

I believe that any driveline speciality shop can do it. They know all there is to know about universal joints. They could probably install a sealed joint with a grease fitting. No more lub in the swingarm.

[ME 109]

I don't know if the /5 set up is like my 81 rs but I replaced my universal joint prolly 15 years ago and all is well.
The original joint is peened in place, but I was only a novice peener then
So I welded a washer at each of the 4 point of the uni to retain it.
I used a Hardy Spicer uni joint for a perfect match.

[blitz]

Do you have the part number for that U-joint? I remember a few years ago i was unable to find one with the correct dimensions.

Thanks very much.

blitz

[arbalest]

Me109,

I just left the local driveline specialist and they were unable to help me. They could not find replacement u joint.

Mike Lydon

[ME 109]

I can't remember the part number but it was a Hardy Spicer.
I just measured and cross referenced.
The overall width of the part I used may not have been exactly the same as original.
The diametre of the caps was the same as original.
I used a washer on top of each cap as a retainer and spot mig in 4 places, each cap.
The washers were just plain steel, and finished flush with the outside of the yoke, making it easy to perfectly align the new joint in the yokes.
I took care to keep weld heat to a minimum.
It has stood the test of time/torture.

[teo]

Bruno up in Canada rebuilds U-joints/drive shafts. http://www.brunos.us/

He does nice work.

Teo

[Duane Ausherman]

Even if you replace it with a pre-greased sealed U joint, still use lube in the swing arm. Something has to grease the splined drive coupling just in front of the final drive.

[George Ryals]

Why not use spline lube on the spline to the rear drive and forget the drive shaft liquid lube?

[gspd]

That's what they did with the Paralever.
On ALL Paralever bikes, it is normal to see the ring of grease that was flung out of the OE nipple-less joints onto the inner swingarm walls.
Scary but normal.

Centrifugal force propels all lubricants out of the U-joint roller bearings.
The only lubricant those rollers ever get is what they left the factory with,
or what can be introduced via a grease nipple, if you add one.

IMO -The fact that the single joints on the wet-swingarm older bikes last longer than the dry double-jointed Paralever joints has more to do with sharper angles (longer suspension travel) than it does with lubrication.

Most OE automotive U-joints, tie-rod ends, ball joints, etc. have no grease nipples and usually outlast the vehicle's warranty.
Quality after-market replacements usually have grease nipples and will outlast OE parts, but only if they are greased at regular intervals.