rear wheel locked

[jecklc80]

My dad has a 1981 xs1100 and about a year ago it started acting up and the rear wheel became locked up. We think it is something with the final drive. But we don't know much about the shaft driven bikes. Any ideas on what it might be or things that we should look for as we tear into it would be much appreciated. Thanks

[trbig]

Most of the time, the middle drive is the culpret. (The part on the motor right in front of the driveline.) Many people think the motor oil takes care of this, and it doesn't. It is it's own seperate compartment that needs gear oil.

It's not too tough to take the final drive off though to check it out. Take the rear wheel and brake off, then there's just 4 nuts that hold the final drive onto the shaft housing. Take it off and see if you can turn it with your fingers. If you're worried, then take pics of each step so you can put it back together right.

Either the middle or final drive is easy to replace.. but not so much repair. Your best bet is someone off of here or Ebay.


Tod

[jecklc80]

So basically there's no fixing it just replace the middle drive? Any idea on a price range.

[latexeses]

Have a look at these and ask about the bike they were on before you bid on anything. Sort of a cover your a$$ thing. You know miles, was it wrecked and if so how. for heavens sake look at the feedback. That doesn't get mentioned enough.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

Good luck.

[trbig]

So basically there's no fixing it just replace the middle drive? Any idea on a price range.

Well.. you can, but it's not cost effective. By the time you buy the stuff, it's going to be way higher than just replacing it... and you'll still be trusting a unit that locked up at one point.

Personally, I wouldn't give more than $40 for one, and you may find a member on here willing to sell you one. You could also contact a guy on here named andreashweiss and see if he has one around there. There's a "Parts wanted" section if you scroll down after clicking on the top "Forums" button.

BUT... make sure that's the problem before you do that.

Another thing you can do, which is probably going to be a PITA since you can't move anything, is remove the front spring off of the rubber boot on the front of the driveline. Pull back that boot (Be careful and try not to tear it) and you will see four 12mm bolts that hold the driveline to the middle drive. If you can get in behind there and remove all four of those bolts, that will seperate the connection between the rear wheel and the motor. If the bike will now roll, it's the middle drive. If the bike still won't roll, it's the final drive.

Unfortunately, even if you do need to replace the middle drive, you will still need to undo those four bolts under the boot.

Tod

[matt@mbdetail]

rear wheel locked

I am no expert .....I just acquired a 79 XS11 this past sunday afternoon. and i had the same problem. I asked thes guys for help and then i pulled my middle gear. the tire and the middle gear turn now.....so my problem must be in the tranny. I have also read on this site about bent shift forks can put the trans in 2 gears in the same time...locked up...
The guy i got it from said he was giving his son slow rides up and down the side road that they live on and was sure he was in first when it locked the back tire. by the looks of the tire i believe him..
Now its into the tranny in the next nite or so....good luck
let me know how you make out.

[trbig]

I asked thes guys for help and then i pulled my middle gear. the tire and the middle gear turn now.....so my problem must be in the tranny

Does your middle gear turn freely in your hand?


Tod

[xs11lover]

This is going to sound really stupid but are you sure the back brake isn't just frozen up?

[DGXSER]

This is going to sound really stupid but are you sure the back brake isn't just frozen up?

I agree start with the stupid easy stuff first, Check the back brake, if it is not the culprit. Then Tod has the easiest check for the middel or fd check of disconnecting the joint under the rubber boot., if you can't seem to get to those bolts, then pull the FD and see if the that joint under the boot turns now. If not, sounds like MD.

[jecklc80]

I'm pretty sure that we already checked that, but it would never hurt to check. It would definitely be a bonus if that was all that it was.

[Ivan]

Anyone needing a middle drive, I have a couple spares. Or 4....

[DiverRay]

I have two 1978 engines in storage with bad transmissions! The one I've pulled apart need a new MAIN SHAFT gear set! This can only be replaced with splitting the cases! I also have my '79 that locked the rear wheel at about 80 MPH. I have NOT looked at it as of yet, but I DO suspect the main shaft gear once again, as it's a low serial number '79.
I've not heard of many transmissions going in this manner, but I now have three, two from one PO, and one from me.
The easy check is pull in the clutch, and see if the engine runs ok. If so, with the bike on the center stand, and the transmission in neutral, let the clutch out. Does the rear wheel turn??? If it does, it's the transmission. If the engine dies, it's probably the middle drive.
Hope this helps, and welcome to the forum!

[jecklc80]

Anyone needing a middle drive, I have a couple spares. Or 4....

Yeah I may want to get one of those from you. I live in Topeka. I think we might tear it apart this weekend.

[trbig]

Ray...

The one I've pulled apart need a new MAIN SHAFT gear set!

Yeah, I've seen a couple of those tore up also. It wasn't my fault this time though!


Tod

[jecklc80]

Can't figure it out

We tore into the driveline today and took it apart to the transmission. We couldn't find anything wrong to that point. All of the joints were pretty hard to turn, is that normal? It seems like they should move more freely than that. Also the transmission was hard to turn by hand, is that normal? Everything just seemed very tight. Visually though there was nothing wrong with the final or middle drive. They both looked clean and nothing was broken. Any ideas?