Bottom paralever bearing question...

[duckspeed]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the shaft drive design the problem is caused by selecting inferior components governed by cost.

 

[Sunny Jim]

I think Duckspeed sums it up adequately but I'm with you 100% Bendy - the manufacturers aren't bothered at all once the bike has left the warranty stage!

Anyway, long ride around the Forest of Bowland and the Dales today resulted in not a smidge of grease showing so I am going to assume the ride over the cobbles did the damage - going to keep a close eye on it and sort it when I have time.

Mickey - what is this chain and sprocket magic you speak of

Johnny - 1150 and airhead still in the fold and a certain little lady keeps telling me something has to give

 

[TLSgazza]

I've just bought a 530 DID X ring heavy duty chain and steel sprockets for my TLS, good quality off eBay for 82 quid, I get between 15 and 20.000 miles from a kit except for the last kit I bought cheap at the bmf which developed a nasty tight spot at around 10.000 so I replaced it.

 

[Micky]

Mickey - what is this chain and sprocket magic you speak of

It'll catch on one day lad, it'll catch on, you mark my words

 

[Sunny Jim]

 

[Bendy toy]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the shaft drive design the problem is caused by selecting inferior components governed by cost.

I beg to differ. The BMW final drive is quite well made but has a main bearing design flaw so the wheel bearings fail. They also don't have a cush drive so shock lads including power pulses attach the internals.

The final drive used on on virtually all Japanese shaft drive bikes is not costly and for sure will be built to a price but it lasts and lasts. However it only has to handle power stresses. The wheels have their own bearings and there is a fat cush drive between wheel and shaft splines. Some bikes jack under power (like the old airheads), but the built to a price Diversion 900 was fine until the rising rate linkage bearing failed. So suspension design is part of the issue.

 

[comberjohn]

FD failure was rare on the mono lever system on the K series brick, despite having no cush drive, most went well over 100k miles with minimal maintenance. So, while desirable, not sure it's critical for a successful system.
I seem to remember that Yamaha licensed their shaft drive system from BMW in the 70's for the XS750 and XS1100. It was a mirror image of the BMW system of the time.
Funny how things go around.

 

[Bendy toy]

The Yamaha shaft FD box seems to have been around since the early 1980s. Honda CX500 used it Suzuki GS 850 and of course various Yamahas. Its entirely possible the Honda Pacific Coast and Dullsville used the same unit.