Rubber Drive Boot Replacement

[XSPastor]

Just did the second gear fix. It's nice to have a strong second gear again. Thanks to all the folks on this forum for making that procedure so clear. Went ahead and put new friction plates and springs in the clutch too while I was at it. It got up to 60 degrees yesterday so I got in a nice ride!
Does anyone know if you can replace the rubber drive boot between the middle drive and the rear swing arm without removing the arm and/or the driveshaft? If I just remove the 4 bolts at the middle drive u-joint, will I be able to squeeze it in there?

[jwoell]

Good question, I was wondering the exact same thing too . I have the new drive boot and everything, I just haven't had the time to fiddle around and see if I can get it in there. Hopefully someone who's replaced it will chime in here, I'm hoping it's relatively quick and easy. If I get a chance to go mess with it I'll post what I find out.

[XSPastor]

I found a thread to help me with this. Just search "driveshaft boot replacement"

Tim

[randy]

At the very least, you'll have to remove the swingarm pivots to get enough room. Others have posted that they removed the middle gear unit! If I were you, I'd remove the swingarm and rear drive too, that way you can lube the driveshaft splines while it's off.

[XSPastor]

This is a good thread too...

"Question about driving shaft"

[XSPastor]

Newbie here. Trying to insert a link to the above thread.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4619&highlight=middle+d rive+boot

[XSPastor]

Thanks, Randy.
You're right. I need to grease the shaft too, from what I've read. Makes me wonder why Yamaha even put that good for nothin' grease fitting on there! I bought this bike in October off Ebay and have been enjoying working on it. I'd post a picture if i could figure out how...
I've rebuilt the carbs, replaced the headlight bucket and a bunch of other cosmetic things, put in a new fusebox, did the second gear fix and rebuilt the clutch too, and rebuilt the brake master cylinders. Rode bikes in college but went away from it for years - you know - kids and all... I'm having a blast! Thanks so much for your advice! I value your opinion with that many posts!! Proud to be a newbie xsive.

[planedick]

Boot change

I had no problem installing the rubber boot as we forgot it while replacing the engine and had to do it after. The hardest part was putting the springs around the ends.....

[trbig]

Just as a side note... the boots are still available through Yamaha. A bit pricey at 50+ bucks, but mine was gone. I did re-use those springs though since they wanted another $8 a PIECE for those friggin things!

It seems I had a heck of a time because my motor was in also... but the mounts weren't bolted up yet. So I jacked up the rear of the motor to get the boot on. I don't have an air box in the way though.


Tod

[Pat Kelly]

I repladed the boot on my MNS.
I removed the rear wheel and unbolted the final drive from the swingarm. I moved the final drive to the side.
I removed the old boot and unbolted the driveshaft. I pushed the driveshaft rearward. This created a gap I worked the new boot through.
Mostly time consuming but not difficult.

[XSPastor]

Someone had said that he pushed the driveshaft out the back of the swingarm and had a whale of a time getting it back in because the U-joint wouldn't align with it. Anybody know anything about that? I don't want to shove it out the back if I can't get it back in. I thought there was a circlip that kept it from doing that... I'm getting ready to dive in here and I just want to know what I'm in for.

[XSPastor]

I'm going to tear into this Friday. I'll try the simpler things first and work toward the more time-consuming/complex. I may just do the complex procedure (complete disassembly) to start with because the shaft splines probably need greasing anyway. I know I'd feel better going down the road if I had done that... Ah, so much time, so little to do!

[XSPastor]

I got the drive boot replaced. I ended up pulling the rear wheel and final drive to allow enough clearance to get the boot in. It was probably a good time to grease the drive shaft anyway. It didn't take long. The springs that secure the boot are a chore to install though - especially the one on the swing arm. It might have gone eaiser if I installed the springs on the center of the boot and rolled them into position after it was installed. Here's hoping this one lasts 27 years like the last one...

[XSPastor]

A Picture!

[Jerry]

A note on installing the boot springs...

I was having a heck of a time installing mine. I finally took a piece of very thin wire (for hanging pictures, I think) about a foot long - stuff is cheap - and did thusly:

Get the spring roughly in place. Ends will be a few inches apart.

Run one end of the wire run through the little hook on one end of the spring, other wire end through the other spring hook.

Pull the wire ends together. Pull hard enough - not really that hard - and the spring ends will come close enough together to either hook with a needle-nose pliers (one hand on the wire, other on the pliers) or I found I could use the wire to "steer" and hook the ends together without any other tools.

Once hooked, a gently tug and the wire comes right off the spring.

It took me a couple tries with the drive shaft end spring, which I tried first, but got it first time on the middle drive end. Hooking both springs took about 5 minutes with this technique.

Aligning the drive shaft for re-insertion after taking it out: I had problems here as well; U-joint kept falling to the right (as seen from the rear tire) and I couldn't get the drive shaft lined up. Took a piece of brazing rod, about 1/8" inch diameter, and bent a leg of about 2.5 inches (?) in one end. I slipped this end into the gap between the middle drive and drive shaft. Leg was long enough to hold the joint straight as I slid the drive shaft into place.

Having a shaft go bad on me coming home from last year's Olympia rally, I am now an advocate of pulling the drive shaft and greasing it with every rear tire change. With a couple techniques to help install the springs and shaft it doesn't have to be that big a job.