lubing the u joint

[mason79]

i got it apart to grease the swing arm bearings, i can't seem to get the drive shaft to come apart from the u joint.
and they say lube the u joint, but how do you take it apart to do that? thanks

[randy]

There are spring clips inboard, holding the bearing cups into the yokes, remove the clips and you can press the cups out and grease each cup. I know, if any part really needed a grease fitting, this one does!

Be very careful. If you've never serviced a u-joint before, the bearings are the needle type and the needles roll free inside the cup, they may all fall out as you remove the cup. There's like 20 or 30 of them in each cup!

This one is crying for a tech tip. Are you listening, T.C? I'll try to get some photos together this weekend

[mason79]

thanks but i don't have a press, and how do i expose the clips?

i never serviced u joints

heck i don't need the hassle of 30 needle pick up, they feel smooth should i just forget about it?

[John]

It's possible to press them apart and back together using a couple of sockets and a vise. Do you have access to these? It can also be done with a hammer and a socket, if all else fails.

[randy]

OK,

You don't need a press. The clips are visible. The yokes are shaped like a "C", with bearings at each end of the cross. Inside, each yoke "C" where the cross meets the yoke, there is a spring clip that runs 3/4 of the way around the circumference of the bearing. Push the clip out with a small screwdriver. Now with a small hammer, tap on the perpendicular yoke to get that bearing out. This is where you can run into trouble, the tapping can knock the needles loose as the cross begins to come out of the opposite bearing. I hope this is clear? Can you wait for pictures?

[mason79]

thanks i see the clips they are spinning on me but, i get the idea, no vise hammer and socket..

[mason79]

Help I broke a clip!!

now what, that hopeless feeling again

[mason79]

i managed to get to the needle bearings, there were grease, could of used more so i put more in,

is there any way to remove the clips without busting them?

i broke the two i tried to get off, can i use some snap rings?

thanks gent sfor the help...

[randy]

Busting clips is bad. If you twist them they will snap. You have to sort of roll them straight out of the groove without levering them or twisting them. Haven't had to replace any yet, but they're not on any parts list from yamaha (bad). I believe that snap rings are almost full circle, so would not be suitable. Why don't yo measure one good one and post your findings here. i'm sure something suitable can be found, we'll just have to research it.

[goldcoastguy001]

i broke the two i tried to get off, can i use some snap rings?

I didnt break a clip on mine but i lost one during the rebuild.....wasnt a problem though, i took one of the good ones down to our local "nuts and bolts shop" (thats the name of thew shop.....lol) and they matched it up and cost me bout 10cents each so I got 4x new ones and replaced them all.

[mason79]

thanks guys for standing by and helping, called it quits for the day, i'll need to buy a vise, and i contacted andreas for a u joint, why can't this snafu be near the end of the job and not the front?

i live in los angeles, i cn't even find a m8 stud, let alone specialty clips.

[planedick]

McMaster Carr

Mason, try McMaster Carr supply co. I have extra catalogs if you eanna pick one up. About 3500 pages of anything you need and I'll bet both the studs and clips are in there.

[mason79]

okay sorry about the big pictures i know it is annoying, i'll downsize the camera.



yeah dick you gave me that huge book, i still have it and have looked at it, found the stud, but cant imagine ordering just one via mail, i threw a bolt down there and called it.

but i contacted andreas for a u joint, it will have the clips, thanks

okay maybe you can answer this while i wait for the clips...

i read in my manual to torque the swingarm adjusters ( pivot shaft bolts)to something like 47 ft lbs, now how in the heck can i apply that kind of force with an allen wrench, whats your experience?

is it critical to measure the lash for the swingarm?

[skids]

Whoah! There is a correction to that as I recall. I would wait until you know fer sure!

Originally posted by mason79

okay maybe you can answer this while i wait for the clips...

i read in my manual to torque the swingarm adjusters ( pivot shaft bolts)to something like 47 ft lbs, now how in the heck can i apply that kind of force with an allen wrench, whats your experience?

is it critical to measure the lash for the swingarm?

[Ken Talbot]

My Yamaha shop manual says to loosen the lock nuts on both sides. As you need to move the swing arm to one side, loosen the pivot shaft on that side by about a half turn, then tighten the other side to only 3.6 to 4.3 ft*lb Work back and forth like this until you have the swing arm centred. Then, tighten the lock nuts on each side to 72 ft*lb being careful not to let the pivot shaft turn whole tightening the lock nut.