Drive shaft early warning?

[March]

I have ridden my GSA (17000 miles) all winter on lowest suspension setting. Two days ago I put it to the highest 'rough terrane' setting. I noticed that under acceleration in 5th & 6th I was getting a regular but faint vibration through the bike that was as if I was ridding over evenly spaced expansion gaps in a concrete road (the road was smooth) the effect was connected to road speed not engine revs. This went away when I returned to the lower suspension setting. My immediate thought is that this may be an early warning that the drive shaft UJ may be on the way out, The more extreme angle of the drive shaft and joint on the higher setting exaggerating the effect?
Has anyone experienced a similar effect, or have a suggestion as to the cause?

 

[RickG]

There was a guy touring some distant land a few month back complaining of a similar problem which seemed related to the angle of the driveshaft. It may just be a combination of engine/transmission/tyre vibrations that add together to give you the vibes. However, it's easy enough to drop the FD by letting it rotate on the lower bearing on the swingarm (it slides off the spines that connect to the UJ) If you do this you can get hold of the rear UJ to check for play as well as checking the FD input shaft bearings by trying to wiggle the input shaft from side to side

 

[anthonybrown]

What can cause vibration with the drive shaft as well is if the spline is getting stiff, I would reove the drive shaft off the rear spline and check it for free movement first and re grease it then try it again.

 

[good'oleboy]

What can cause vibration with the drive shaft as well is if the spline is getting stiff, I would reove the drive shaft off the rear spline and check it for free movement first and re grease it then try it again.

Not only that take the swing arm out grease the lot splines and swingarm pins. the 3 GSs i have had have had so little grease it was virtually metal to metal. when done the whole lot is so smooth. Not a hard job. no special tools. Dave

 

[March]

Thanks for the Feedback. I think I will start to take a little more interest in the rear drive if the maintenance is that easy. I will try to find the link to the great 'how to change the rear oil' video that was posted a few months ago, as it shows the dropping if the rear drive and follow the instructions. any suggestions on what grease to use?

 

[Narcoda]

Not only that take the swing arm out grease the lot splines and swingarm pins. the 3 GSs i have had have had so little grease it was virtually metal to metal. when done the whole lot is so smooth. Not a hard job. no special tools. Dave

how do i do this please? I need to know, I have 48 hours off work and I would like to grease my shaft drive

 

[March]

how do i do this please? I need to know, I have 48 hours off work and I would like to grease my shaft drive

Hmm.. Greasing shafts! not sure if thats a cheeky comment. If someone out there can point us in the direction of the great video link that has been posted that shows a step by step guide to changing the drive oil and greasing the drive shaft splines that would be great.

 

[RickG]

Just go into Youtube.com, or Google (video) and type 'GS final drive oil change' in the search window, and as if by magic you will find several videos of shaft greasing and box oiling in several different languages. No subtitles but the use of the tools is obvious

 

[March]

Yep Thanks RickG thats the video I was looking for

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjg5fK1ZMTk