New guy says hi

[billsbike]

Hello all! I picked up a 1980 XS11 Special recently and found your site right away. It is fantastic! I have 30k on mine and already changed a few things. The bike runs great, but the tank was rotten and kreemed so I put on an XS touring tank after I refinished it. I replaced the hacked off mufflers w/ a set from a Moto Guzzi, and the handle bars from a BMW. Don't worry, it really looks and sounds great... it's a world bike! While doing a full service on it, I found the drive shaft splines almost worn out. I found a nice rear end and shaft and put it in. I want to service the wheel bearings but the disc side bearing on the rear wheel looks as if it will be damaged if I try to remove it. The seal and circlip are out, but there is no access to drive it out from behind w/ the axle spacer in the way. Any ideas? Most everything else is done including the valve adjustment, oils, filters, etc. Thanks, Bill.

[don07tncav]

Welcome to the site!! These folks know all, tell all, and help all!

[DiverRay]

Bill;
You will have to replace the bearings if you drive them out of the wheels. That was one of the first things I did on my '79 when I bought it in December of '04. The wide rear bearing is a Yamaha only part. It isn't used in anything else in the world but the rear wheels of the shaft drive bike.
I hope you put grease on the splines of the drive shaft when you put it back together. The grease fitting won't allow the grease to flow into the splines, so they tend to dry out.
Check the tech tips in the forum, and they should help you with whatever you need to repair.

[sixtysix]

A few years ago I wrote this tech tip when I changed my bearings, if you still have questions after you read this, just ask.

Rear wheel bearing tech tip

Welcome to the site!!