Zero Knievel Posted March 16, 2024 Posted March 16, 2024 This has been going on at least since I removed the driveshaft for inspection. The front of the boot keeps popping off. Grease and grime. It’s right above the rear universal joint of the shaft. Any ideas? I’m thinking I need to remove the shaft and reinsert it…if only to thoroughly clean the boot. Quote
RXX Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 That’ll suck. How much real damage will it do to just live with it? (My default is to let a bike get dirty. Not like you’re going to wear it out) Quote
CBR-RR-XX-CESS Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 3 hours ago, Zero Knievel said: I removed the driveshaft for inspection Why? 1 1 Quote
superhawk996 Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 My best guess is that you're not getting the boot fully over the lip that retains it. You may need to use a pick or bent wire to pull it over. Quote
tomek Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 Try to spray offending areas with soapy water. 1 hour ago, CBR-RR-XX-CESS said: Why? BMW. German Engineering. Quote
superhawk996 Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 Because he made a Zerological decision to replace it with a BMW. 2 Quote
Zero Knievel Posted March 17, 2024 Author Posted March 17, 2024 7 hours ago, RXX said: That’ll suck. How much real damage will it do to just live with it? (My default is to let a bike get dirty. Not like you’re going to wear it out) Don’t know. It’s to shield the driveshaft from the elements. Get dirt into the joint and it will wear faster. 6 hours ago, CBR-RR-XX-CESS said: Why? To inspect the front and rear universal joints for wear…they aren’t serviceable, but you don’t want a failure while riding. You also should liberally grease the splines so oxidation doesn’t make it jam in place. Quote
blackhawkxx Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 2 hours ago, Zero Knievel said: To inspect the front and rear universal joints for wear…they aren’t serviceable, but you don’t want a failure while riding. You also should liberally grease the splines so oxidation doesn’t make it jam in place. I didn't think you had that many miles on it. Did the manual recommend it at your mileage? A couple of years ago I pulled the shaft out of my 1994 (that I bought new) to grease the driveshaft. After pulling it did it need it, NO. Total waste of effort. 2 hours ago, superhawk996 said: Because he made a Zerological decision Made me LOL! A new word. 1 Quote
Zero Knievel Posted March 17, 2024 Author Posted March 17, 2024 Oh well, this was a productive morning. I decided to remove the rear drive and inspect/clean the boot. The driveshaft wasn’t fully seated, although I don’t think that was the issue. It takes a good shove to fully seat it, and it isn’t much extra distance. What I did discover is that the left side bearing for the rear drive was disintegrating. Thankfully, I caught this now, and there doesn’t seem to be any damage to associated parts. I’ll have to take it into BMW and have both bearings replaced. I hope I can just carry in the rear drive as it’s already off the bike. Quote
superhawk996 Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 Looks like a mechanic/DIYer induced failure. 2 Quote
Zero Knievel Posted March 17, 2024 Author Posted March 17, 2024 40 minutes ago, superhawk996 said: Looks like a mechanic/DIYer induced failure. Possible. Maybe I didn’t keep things clean enough…or maybe I over tightened the bolt? Quote
Zero Knievel Posted March 17, 2024 Author Posted March 17, 2024 23 minutes ago, CBR-RR-XX-CESS said: Curious to know the mileage? I’m pretty sure I’m still under 30K. I say that because I have a while to go before I can bring it in for the free driveshaft replacement. Quote
SierraKLR Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 8 minutes ago, Zero Knievel said: Possible. Maybe I didn’t keep things clean enough…or maybe I over tightened the bolt? …or .maybe you should have left it alone in the first place, but appreciate your efforts so we can all enjoy the journey! 1 Quote
XXitanium Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 7 hours ago, superhawk996 said: Zerological 😄 FWIW - one of our group lost his drive shaft. He went and got a Spider. His wife loves it. The Beener is collecting dust as he dreams of buying parts to repair it. She wants him to just dump it. 28 minutes ago, SierraKLR said: …or .maybe you should have left it alone in the first place, but appreciate your efforts so we can all enjoy the journey! ...some things are better left to experts OR get yourself really well educated on the subject. Free driveshaft, Recall Notice or what? Quote
superhawk996 Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 36 minutes ago, Zero Knievel said: Possible. Maybe I didn’t keep things clean enough…or maybe I over tightened the bolt? If it was induced, my guess is that you did something that damaged/dislodged the cage, the thing that keeps the balls separated. It appears that the balls and races are ok, no obvious metal destruction, but it's hard to say from the photos. If that's correct then you probably did something that hit/pushed on the seal causing it to pop the cage out. If you could flatten the seal I bet it could be reassembled and be fine, if there's no metal damage. Quote
Zero Knievel Posted March 17, 2024 Author Posted March 17, 2024 47 minutes ago, SierraKLR said: …or .maybe you should have left it alone in the first place, but appreciate your efforts so we can all enjoy the journey! You do that and you risk the first warning is the driveshaft shearing. These failures are a big enough of an issue that while BMW doesn’t have a service interval for it, owners encourage each other to check it every couple years and replace if there are doubts. Quote
Zero Knievel Posted March 17, 2024 Author Posted March 17, 2024 19 minutes ago, XXitanium said: Free driveshaft, Recall Notice or what? I thought I posted about it elsewhere. BMW is now giving a free driveshaft replacement after 36K miles on all LC models other than 1300 series. It’s been an ongoing issue. Quote
XXitanium Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 About 3 hours fom home. The trip was 4 years ago... Quote
SierraKLR Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 2 hours ago, Zero Knievel said: You do that and you risk the first warning is the driveshaft shearing. These failures are a big enough of an issue that while BMW doesn’t have a service interval for it, owners encourage each other to check it every couple years and replace if there are doubts. Of course they do. 🤣 Quote
Zero Knievel Posted March 17, 2024 Author Posted March 17, 2024 1 hour ago, SierraKLR said: Of course they do. 🤣 Snark aside, it has been a contentious issue among BMW owners as to why such a critical component is more user serviceable or at least durable. Quote
SwampNut Posted March 17, 2024 Posted March 17, 2024 Ahahahaha, EVERYTHING is a contentious issue amongst BMW owners. I gave up on the local group when they argued about the muffin quality at different coffee shop meetups. Like gun owners, there are groups I am part of that I hate to be part of because of the other members of the group. Quote
blackhawkxx Posted March 18, 2024 Posted March 18, 2024 5 hours ago, SwampNut said: Like gun owners, there are groups I am part of that I hate to be part of because of the other members of the group. Sometimes it's good to be in the group of one. 😉 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.