confused about greasing drive shaft

[kjoslin]

First time attempting this. I have the rear wheel off and ready to get started (almost)...but I need some advice. One post says to REMOVE the drive shaft to grease both ends. Another post says that when attempting to grease the shaft where the final drive attaches..the shaft SLIPPED out and it took 16 hours to line it up and get it back in. Another post said BE CAREFUL that it doesn't slip out when greasing the back end.

What do I do?

Should I totally remove it or not?

If not, how do I secure it while I disconnect the final drive?

Do I disconnect the rear shock?

How much grease do I pack in? Can you put in too much?

Hope I don't sound too much like a novice...REALLY, I'm capable!!!

Any help would be appreciated.

Keith

[bikerphil]

greasin'

Take rear wheel off and left shock. Take off the 14mm bolts (4), that hold the final drive to the swingarm. Don't pull the driveshaft out but grease the splines on shaft and final drive with liberal amount of grease. Bolt final back on, bolt left shock on, grease splines on the rear wheel itself. Put everything else back togeather and you're good to go.

[prometheus578]

"Grease is the word."

Yep... what Phil said.
Once the final drive is off, the now loose end of the drive shaft will flop down a little. The fun part is in getting the final drive spines to line up with the downward tilted drive shaft.
It's fun, but not too fun. Might take a few extra minutes.
I've been know to stick a screwdriver past the drive shaft boot, by the middle drive, and prop the drive shaft up that way, for easier alignment.
Don't forget about that little spring for the shaft/spine area.

[fredintoon]

little spring?

" Don't forget about that little spring for the shaft/spine area. "
Hi Prom,
I had my final drive unit off and slathered the spline with grease the minute I saw a post saying the outside grease nipple was a snare and a delusion. I don't say there was no little spring but I for sure didn't notice one. Exactly where is it, what's it look like and what does it do?

[prometheus578]

Part #35
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/parts/home.aspx



Spring goes between the splined end of the driveshaft and the splined coupling(#13) of the final drive.
As the rear end bounces merrily down the road, pivoting on the swing arm bearing, the drive shaft and the splined coupling that it mates with tends to move in and out a bit, hence the need for greasing the splines.
The spring's purpose may be to soften, or absorb some of this movement.
I can't recall if it's the same on our bikes, but on some Vulcans, once the final drive is removed, one can grab the drive shaft, yank it back, and have it disengage from the tranny.
The spring, in this instance, may also be to provide a positive force holding the drive shaft forward.

[egsols]

Hi Fred,

I think prom is talking about the this spring....see

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36

[John]

The end of the spring sits over the end of the pinion shaft. It may be stuck on the bolt, and not easily removed, and that could be why you haven't noticed it.
The drive shaft will not fall out, as it has a retaining ring at the U joint end, and the shaft must be forcefully pulled out of the U joint. The retaining ring must be removed if one is doing the 750 FD swap.

[fredintoon]

Next question

Hi Prom,
that little spring? OK, now I've seen the drawing I vaguely remember it being there.
But what about the front end of the drive-shaft? There must be a U-joint inside the rubber boot but I'm reluctant to risk wrecking the boot just to look inside it so I have never looked inside there. Are there grease nipples inside there for the U-joint or is the U-joint "lubed for life" or what? I'd hate to think there's a routine maintenance that I have neglected through ignorance.

[prometheus578]

Lubed for life, it is, Fred