Update U Joint - Was a Bearing Issue instead

Re: Update U Joint

Just an update to mi problem.Honda North originally said maybe August,they were having a hard time getting parts.Primarily swingarm
I called Warranty people they are more helpful than shop,and return calls.Honda North said with the help of Warranty Honda they will have all parts by June 5
Got a call from Honda Warranty said the swingarm is @ Honda North as of may 12. Hoping it gets done SOON.
YAY
 
Re: Update U Joint

Interesting.. when Shuey had his failure he was back on the road in 5 days, just luck I suppose in finding parts.
 
Re: Update U Joint

The 03 is getting there have fuel punp ordered hope that'll take care of it
 

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Re: Update U Joint

Ok, i have been reading these threads regarding the U-Joints. I inherited a ST1300 from a good friend of mine. It was in great running condition before he passed away. However, the bike set for five months in an old shed in Florida humidity. My noise is much more than "Mellows" example. The Honda shop wants about $600+ to do the job and that is assuming it is the U-Joint which I really believe it is.

If I plan to do the work myself, other than the U-Joint, what other seals and or parts should I replace while I have it apart. BTW, this is a 2003 ST1300 (non-ABS) with 38K miles. I've already fixed the no clutch problem and finished all the full maintenance items but it sure sounds as if I will be replacing my drive oil again.

I just don't want to replace the U-Joint only to find out later I should have done something else while it was apart. Thanks for your help.
 
Re: Update U Joint

I'm not sure if we are allowed to use links to other sites, but here is a helpful diagram that would be useful to me to indicate which addition seals, bearings, or parts i would need to complete a DIY U-Joint replacement. If it not appropriate to post this link, by all means, please delete. I'm not trying to promote this site but this is the only place I could find an exploded drawing with part numbers. Thanks

http://www.powersportsplus.com/parts/search/Honda/Motorcycle/2003/ST1300+AC/SWINGARM/parts.html
 
Re: Update U Joint

Troy, I haven't had to replace mine, however I have spare parts on the shelf. IMO, it would be wise to have a spare boot #5 ($11) on hand. Also, if the u-joint is failing, the shaft may be slightly offcenter and oil seal #14 ($8) could have been damaged. T'would be a shame to go that far into the bike and find that you needed to replace them but not have them. Even if they're found in good shape, it's peace of mind to put new ones in.

With the bike that far apart, many also pull off the rear differential and make sure to lube (with Moly 60 paste) the sliding splines on the rear of the shaft.

Be sure and post pictures of what you find... we're always interested in learning what is found.
:)
 
Re: Update U Joint

You don't have to replace the final drive oil,you can unbolt it and set it to the side.
The real problem is the tools to take the swing arm off,get those first before you start taking it apart.
Putting the boot back was no fun tight space.
 
Re: Update U Joint

Thank you very much for such fast answers. I can either make the tool to remove the swingarm or buy one. I will probably buy one if in stock. When I attempt this DIY, would you like for me to start my own thread or just add on to this one. I have good camera gear, Canon 5d MkII and 7D with plenty of nice glass so i should be able to post some nice pictures and sounds before and after. Just don't expect me to tear into the U-Joint until after the 15th. I was planning on riding some but after seeing the damage done by Gandolkf failure, I think I will put off any further riding until it is replaced as it is making some pretty audible noise.

If the person that has parts would like to PM me, that would be fine.

Again thanks.
 
Re: Update U Joint

RCS said:
Other than the special Honda swingarm wrench, what are the other special tools that you are referring to?
Click to expand...

I would have made the job easier to have some long needle nose pliers w/angled tips. That boot is a bear especially doing it alone. Not really a 'special' tool but I didn't have one laying around.
 
Re: Update U Joint

I was wondering from "Gandolkf", u mention you knew you had U-Joint problems before the disaster you show in your pictures. What were your symptoms? I have a noise just like "Mellows", probably a little more louder. When on the center stand, either in gear or neutral, I get a clunk sound up the drive shaft by moving the rear wheel back and forth. More so in gear. Under power, it is not a constant clunking, but persistent enough to bother me. I'm not sure if the U-Joint is already hitting the swingarm or it is just the U-Joint making the noise. I'm old, and old school, as soon as i heard it I said U-Joint, immediately, my young son in law from front wheel drive only, asked what a U-Joint was and said motorcycles don't have U-Joints. But to me, it was a very familiar noise. But, back in the old days, you could run them for quite some time before the drive shaft would fall out, LOL. But, now that I've seen your damage to the swingarm, I'm very hesitant to ride at all. I wish there was a Zerk to shoot in some grease. I bet when I pull it, it will have rusted badly from setting up and the boot was probably leaking. I know my friend rode his bike hard and liked to demonstrate his ability to a wheelie for a long way with this bike. LOL
 
Re: Update U Joint

I initially thought it might have been a boot issue but, I'm thinking it's just luck and you might get a u-joint with enough grease from the factory or you might not... they're sealed pretty good. If you had the noise I had, 1/2 of mine was seized up. Once it breaks, that's when it will hit the swingarm, prior to that some vibs will occur but I'm not sure how much time you'd have at that point.

It's a pretty low failure rate given you can take any statistics from this site, only a handful of us have had the issue.
 
Re: Update U Joint

Left Chicago and was no noise
Around St Louis small click/gear grinding sound when rolling in gear,when i pull in the clutch it was quiet,stoped at a Honda dealer in Joplin(he thought the noise was more gear box or around the clutch and the damage was already done,didn't think it would do more damage)waste of time .It ran fine little clicks turned into loud clanks---could not turn my music up loud enough.I was worried about it locking up so I stayed in the right hand Ln.When the noise got unbearable Mcalister OK I stoped @ a gas station with the intent to get my wife heading north while i continued south And that when it cought on fire(small fire under the seat i think the boot got too hot)put the fire out and waited for the van
 
Re: Update U Joint

I had mine go on my 06' last year with 85000 miles on it. I was on an Iron Butt ride from Reno NV to Russellville AR. I made the first 1120 miles in 18 hrs but on the remaining 380 miles (1500 in 36hrs) I lost the U-joint quite a ways outside of Amarillo TX. I was able to limp it in to Amarillo at about 5-10 mph. I was down for 2 days getting it fixed. I was about 180 miles short of making the Iron Butt qualifier. Honda covered it and I had a great time at the Bikes, Blues and BBQ in AR anyway, no fires though.
Slo~
 
Re: Update U Joint

troykahack, I have the Honda tool for swingarm. give me your address an I will send it your way. No need to buy it. will send the 19mm socket with it. It's no big deal pulling it apart or putting back together. CLEANING & regreasing the swing arm bearings and like is very X consuming.
BoB or Ace
 
Re: Update U Joint

Acedantinne. You are awesome. PM sent. Thanks. What a great site.

Bearings??? Are you saying I should also change the Pivot Bearings and Dust Seals or just clean and re-grease? What about the Pivot Collar? My SM indicates it takes special tools to remove the Pivot Collar Bearings???

All I ordered was the U-Joint, Oil Seal, and Boot. Should I order the other bearings? I guess if I have it this far apart, the bearings should be checked but that was going a little beyond my skill level. Maybe I can do it.
 
Re: Update U Joint

I'm doing the swingarm bearings right now and I have an observation and advice.

Use something other than the old race to seat the new bearings...
I'm trying to figure out how to remove the old one from on top of the newly seated one right now... DOH!
I think I'll use a 'deep impact socket' to seat the next one (and if I have to ruin the new one to get the old race out I'll use the impact socket on that one too!).
Live and learn...
 
Re: Update U Joint

If someone has an old u-joint, and willing to send it to me (US address), condition unimportant, I would be happy to see if there's a way to drill and find a way to grease it. There are a couple of ways, one would involve simply disassembling it (carefully), the other would be to see if the X part can be drilled and a fitting installed (or use a needle greaser and plug it). Nobody seems to know if the X part is cross-drilled though.... any takers?
 
Re: Update U Joint

Success.
Cut some slots with a diamond blade on a fordham tool and then used a straight screwdriver in those slots with multiple raps with a big persuader.

Ray,
Mine is an ST1100...
(I haven't taken the U-Joint off the drive shaft either)
 
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