Neddle Roller adrift.

[Alex Poole]

Symptom/fault

I have just found a small pool of oil just in front of the rear wheel. The leak was coming from the rubber gaiter that protects the driveshaft coupling at the rear hub. I removed the zip tie that secures the gaiter and lifted the gaiter, a small amount of oil ran into my drip tray.

I have checked both the Hub and gear box oil levels and both are fine. I admit to having over filled the gear box in the past but sorted that out reasonably quickly.

I also ran a rag around the inside of the drive shaft housing before fitting new zip ties.

On tidying up and wiping out the drip tray I had used I found a single small needle roller.

Question

Where did the oil come from? it was gear oil and is it worth worrying about or is it normal?

Where would a needle roller come from? I suspect from one of the universal joints but I am not getting any knocking that i would expect from a worn drive shaft UJ.

I get about a Tourance tyre block of free play (back lash) at the rear wheel in first gear is this normal?

There is a minimal amount of play in the rear wheel bearing (rim rock) so I guessing that wont last much longer.

The 1150 GSA has just clocked 33K miles.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Mine occassionally dribbles oil, but this has happened for, possibly 15,000 miles & hasn't got any worse. Just monitor the oil levels in the FD & gearbox.

As for the needle roller, not sure. I don't see how this could have passed a seal and come from the FD (final drive) or the gearbox. My opinion is that it may be the Paralever bearings. ( don't see it being this really) This is the pivot point of the swinging arm to FD just forward of the rubber gaitor.
Sorry not to have a concise answer on this

 

[Colban]

If the needle roller is about 6mm long and about 1 mm in diameter i would say paralever bearing as well.
Get someone to hold the rear brake on while you rock the rear wheel again.
If you feel movement,you may need to replace the paralever bearing(s).
Normally you can simply adjust these,but since you have found a needle roller,they may be starting to break up.
Since you have the thing in bits,it may be worth changing the big bearing as well.Do a search to check out the procedures.
The amount of backlash sounds normal.

 

[Alex Poole]

Thanks, for your help I was wondering if the bearing was paralever or a UJ.

I think the oil leak is worth just watching for the time being. I wondered if it might have been because the bike spent a bit of time on its side when I dropped it in Spain last month. But thats another story. Thanks again

 

[Alex Poole]

Colban

the size of the roller is about right. The play in the wheel bearing does not go away with the brake applied (this was confusing me and I tried to adjust the swinging arm bearing) Im glad the back lash is normal. Im of to look at the thread now

Thanks again Colban and Eliminator

 

[ktmmark]

I had an oil leak, not bad on the 1100 output shaft & had some forte seal revitaliser, it says it makes the seal soft again & reseal , And thought worth a try, ( as it was free ) it has not leaked for 3000 mile