Paging the Guzzisti - UJs

My Quota's just passed 35K miles and I'm about to replace the UJ - a
replacement I ordered arrived a week or two ago.

It looks fairly straightforward apart from the support bearing, which
I notice is retained with a circlip.

How difficult is the bearing to remove? Any hints/caveats? Bear in
mind that I can probably machine up simple pullers & other tools.

Ta.

 

Do you need to replace the support bearing at all? In my experience of
Guzzis, it's the UJ that fails, but the support bearing seems to last
forever.

 

Do you need to replace the support bearing at all? In my experience of
Guzzis, it's the UJ that fails, but the support bearing seems to last
forever.[/QUOTE]

Well, I assumed that I would,: when I asked Spares GB (or whatever
they call themselve now) if I needed anything else, the bearing was
mentioned as a possibility and it seemed logical to replace it all in
one go.

If its rarely necessay though then I won't bother.

Actually, I can easily check it in situ.

 

Well, I assumed that I would,: when I asked Spares GB (or whatever
they call themselve now) if I needed anything else, the bearing was
mentioned as a possibility and it seemed logical to replace it all in
one go.

If its rarely necessay though then I won't bother.

Actually, I can easily check it in situ.[/QUOTE]

Just do that. When I sold my last Spada, it had done over 50k and eaten
two UJs, but the bearing was fine.

 

The Older Gentleman says...

How much is a UJ for a Guzzi?

 

I've had my T3 for 11 years, 60,000+ miles (the bike has probably done
over 200,000) and it's on the same UJ and support bearing as it came with.

My tip is to get the inner race face and UJ bearing face totally
degreased and spotless. Use lashings of loctite bearing fit on the UJ
and assemble in the swing arm with it sitting as a "U" on the bench.
Leave for a few hours (6 or so) then fit to bike.

Practice fitting the swing arm before you fit the UJ as it's a bit of a
knack getting the swing arm back in the frame and you want to avoid
knocking it about too much.

 

"They all do that sir"

 

Something like £120.

 

<snort> that's brightened up my morning... ta

David

 

Well, I may just be being paranoid, but the footpegs seem to be
getting a bit tingly and some people reckon that UJs only last this
long on road bikes, let alone a trailie with high articulation.
There's no obvious slop or clunks or anything in the transmission, but
having heard stories of rear wheels locking up, it's not something I'm
prepared to gamble on.

Ok, ta.

 

Heh.

 

*Ding*!
I've had one go at about 55-60mph. It split the ~3mm thick steel
'tube'/swinging arm it lives in. Shat myself big time. It did indeed lock
the wheel up. I had previously ignored the tingling footrest for about
1500miles too.

JB

 

Just how big is your fuel tank?

 

Always about a litre smaller than needed to get to the next petrol staion.

JB

 

Ah, the variable unit L, a unit of capacity thet will always almost,
but not quite, get you there.

L may be linkable mathematically to R, though this has never been
proven.

 

<g>

JB

 

Pip Luscher says...

About the same price as a quality chain and sprocket set, which I'd
expect to see 25K from.

Are these shafties really as maintenance free and cheaper to run as
people reckon then?

 

I nearly said "slightly cheaper overall and less hassle that a C+S"
but restrained myself.

Well, shafts generally are lower maintenance overall, especially if
you take cleaning both the chain and the bike into account. 35K miles
vs IME ~= 15K miles, depending on the bike - remember I tend not to
ride fours, which I'm sure makes a difference to chain life. Shafts
tend to be quieter, too.

Ah. That was a bite, wasn't it?

 

How does it smell?

 

Aherm...

<points at 200+Kmiles shaft and rear drive assy on ShiteOldGS>

Some just get it right. This problem with Guzzi shafts baffles me - it's
been happening for decades.