tranny bearings.

[RUSH]

My bike developed some vibration durring the trip home from maine. It started out as a buzzing in all gears around 3k rpm and eventually worked itself up to 4500 and got worse when I would downshift to slow down. Ive pulled the clutch cover off and was looking at the tranny bearings and found that I could get them to shift approx. 1-2 mm. is this normal? or have i found the culprit.
here is a link to picturesbearing

[auxtian]

Can't get to the pix site with either Mozilla or IE says there are errors on the site

[RUSH]

]
http://img276.echo.cx/img276/8121/p52701787lu.jpg

[auxtian]

Oh yuk see it now, I am having a similar reaction from my bike I was going to split the cases and check the crank but may look at this though mine still vibrates in neutral either way not a nice job
Thanks

[RUSH]

Ive got no vibration from the motor when in neutral or stopped with the clutch in. it only happens when the motor is really warmed up and in gear moving, but it dosent matter what gear, only the rpms.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Rush,

It's been a while since I've been in the engine(Dremmel Fix), but I don't recall those bearings being able to shift sideways along the shaft direction any?? Due to the stresses on that countershaft and the gears, I would think that it should be pretty snug. The oil channel cover and bearing combo on the other (gearshift)side was a pretty snug fit, where it fit onto the end of the shaft after putting 5th gear back in!

After reviewing some photos in my tech tip, it looks like you're pointing to the bearings around the Primary Shaft, in the picture below I'm pointing to the bolt/washer that secures the countershaft on the shift/clutch side!


If the bearings you're pointing at are bad, I think Splitting the Cases is in order, but others with more experience in that area may chime in here!?

But many times vibrations that you feel in the footpegs can be simply loose muffler/exhaust brackets, or even loose/worn motor mounts!?
T.C.

[RUSH]

I wish it was from loose exhaust bolts and the like, but its too bad to be that simple. Looking at your picture the bearings that are feeling sloppy are on the right. the primary shaft is the one to the left and down. That is what I checked first, at least at the easy side. I havent taken off the clutch basket yet ( dont have the socket to fit) but I will be checking the bearings on the primary shaft side too. I was actually hoping they were the problem because it looks like they could be changed without pulling the motor and splitting the case.? But you answered the main question. There should be no movement or slop in the bearings. Are replacements hard to find? Should I stay with the same ball bearing type or see if they make a roller type bearing?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Rush,

Forgot to tell you that picture was taken with the engine upside down! Checked on BikeBandit, some bearings are available, some are discontinued!

Primary shaft parts
11: BEARING (SHIFT SIDE)359779-001 $17.05
#14 bearing(CLUTCH SIDE) is discontinued(DC)

Bearings on the clutch side counter shaft are DC

Bearing in the oil channel cover shift side
5: BEARING 359539-001 $22.74

Bearings on Final Drive shaft set of 2/same
36: BEARING
(B6207N) 359904-001 $26.83

SO....you may have to get the bearings from a parts bike?? T.C.

[lsippell]

I was able to get all the bearings I needed when I rebuilt my XJ from NAPA. I didn't get them all, but I believe most if not all were available. I got a bearing catalog from them and looked them up.

Louis

[RUSH]

thanks I caught that the pic was upside down. Isnt the primary shaft the one at the top front? Its the one that the primary chain rides on. That is the one I hoped was going bad, but it looks like the bearings there are good.

[RUSH]

has anyone replaced the ball bearings with roller bearings?
I figure the roller bearings would last longer and carry more force than the ball bearings esp. if there is lack of oil, ie. hard long rides.