Final Drive Swap 06 to newer 08 - Help!

[Disco Dean]

Have been lurking for a while but wanted to see if anyone here has done this. I post a bit on advrider but thought I would post this here first... I am rebuilding my FD with some help from this site mostly from patzx12's thread. I have got it all apart now and am thinking... which can be good or bad

My 06 Adv final drive bit it after 40,000km this fall. Pinion Gear movement... took it apart and it is the Pinion Needle bearing that is done. I am glad that I found it as the rest of the FD is fine.

However, my FD is the 06 model before the needle bearing upgrade in August of 06.

I am rebuilding the FD I have and am thinking of selling it and buying the newer - 3 times upgraded FD from the 09-08's that also have the bottom oil drain plug and various bearing upgrades.

I know that the final drive will mechanically slip on - BUT the wheel sensor is the issue, as they are different specs and sizes. The bike won't read the new one when plugged in so no speedo and no ABS.

I am wondering if anyone has swapped out one of these and made it work. If it is just a matter of machining a different size hole or spacer and making sure the old sensor will work in the hole then cool... But, my concern is the Sensor ring... if it is not the same then the reading will be wrong. And, you can't tell by the parts fiche as it comes with the ring gear set - so I can't check part numbers.

Any thoughts?

Dean

 

[patzx12]

Hi Dean,
Its a mystery why the pinion bearing fails the updated bearing is only slightly bigger to recap the old bearing was a custom non standard size. BMW would have had to get these made up for the application.
The new size is a standard bearing you can get from any bearing supplier.
Maybe a replacment needle bearing may be of better quality than the origional.
Looks like you caught the damage early. If you are happy with the rebuild and keep regular oil changes you shouldnt have any more problems.
Hows the winter in Canada? I used to live in Windsor.

 

[GSmiles]

Watch out, if you fit the '08/'09 unit you'll substantially shorten the overall gearing of the bike...the newer drive unit has a 32 tooth crown wheel, compared to 31 teeth of the old unit. And is there actually a sensor ring? Like you say, you can't see one on the fiche-it doesn't mention a sensor ring at all... ( http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/fiche.aspx ) maybe the sensor just reads the back of the crownwheel....

 

[george81]

Watch out, if you fit the '08/'09 unit you'll substantially shorten the overall gearing of the bike...the newer drive unit has a 32 tooth crown wheel, compared to 31 teeth of the old unit. And is there actually a sensor ring? Like you say, you can't see one on the fiche-it doesn't mention a sensor ring at all... ( http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/fiche.aspx ) maybe the sensor just reads the back of the crownwheel....

yes the sensor reads the back of the crownwheel and this is the reason why you cant swap a 08-09 FD to a pre 8/2006 model. if you look at the sensor ring which is fitted to the front wheel you will see the difference betwheen a 2004-8/2006 model and 8/2006 and newer model. the same marks are stamped at the back of the crownwheel.
if your bike was a 8/2006 or newer model you could do this swap.

 

[Disco Dean]

Thanks guys...

That makes sense to me and the one thing I thought was... I seem to remember a new sensor pattern on the front...

So, I have to make this one work then.

I was thinking of milling a new race in the case for the bigger needle bearing.

But, there just seems to be too much to line up for that to work perfectly and those bearings have to be dead nuts.

Thanks patzx12 - your post helped me figure it out. The biggest pain for me was fabbing the pin socket to get the pinion out. We worked with a little interference fit to get it right and it took 3 days of mill work.

Then it all came apart really well.

I am going to post a pictorial on advrider and I guess here for anyone else to do it.

And,... The winter in Canada does suck... but not this year. We have the weather UK normally gets - in Ontario - I am in Burlington not far from Windsor.. it has been rideable all winter and now it is in the teens and my bike is apart... so I am not a happy camper

Oh well. Thanks guys,

Dean