Vulcan Drifter Riders

DISCUSSIONS => Drifter 1500 only => Topic started by: drifterbob on June 14, 2011, 13:57:48 PM

Title: Trouble in the drive/wheel area
Post by: drifterbob on June 14, 2011, 13:57:48 PM
Hi all, geting some bad bearing sounds from the back of my bike, can't tell if it the wheel or drive. Looks like I need to tear into things back there, any info on how to or advice on where to start would be helpful.   Thanks,  Drifter Bob   PS everything still smooth while rolling, just sounds like an axle bearing going bad on a rear drive car.
Title: Re: Trouble in the drive/wheel area
Post by: chief on June 15, 2011, 12:23:06 PM
Start simple... make sure the final drive has the correct amount of oil, check the shaft u-joint... been known to be a problem....
Title: Re: Trouble in the drive/wheel area
Post by: drifterbob on June 15, 2011, 16:53:28 PM
Thanks Chief, I'll start off there.
Title: Re: Trouble in the drive/wheel area
Post by: Troll on June 15, 2011, 18:35:05 PM
I read somewhere about a great number of angle drive box bearing failures on 1500s, Nomads, and Vulcans....
Title: Re: Trouble in the drive/wheel area
Post by: chief on June 16, 2011, 15:20:46 PM
Hmm. haven't heard of that problem myself... except in BMW's... If it is in the final drive box, I'd take it to the dealer for repair. Shimming is required, and I'm not interested in going through all of that, personally.  8)
Title: Re: Trouble in the drive/wheel area
Post by: Troll on June 16, 2011, 19:38:20 PM
The angle drive attached to the transmission is where the bearing failures I read about are happening. Apparently the outboard support bearing is getting noisy, or perhaps they mean the output shaft bearing going to the prop shaft. Either way, it makes a "gear whine noise". Just an idle thought...
Title: Re: Trouble in the drive/wheel area
Post by: drifterbob on June 19, 2011, 12:59:51 PM
Probley be a week before I truck it back from my brothers to start on it, thanks for the ideas.  Is there a place here that gives a step by step on tearing it down?
Title: Re: Trouble in the drive/wheel area
Post by: chief on June 19, 2011, 15:13:47 PM
I'd invest in a Kaw service manual and Clymer's (M471-3)... together they make a pretty good manual... 8)
Title: Re: Trouble in the drive/wheel area
Post by: VN1500 on July 03, 2011, 09:48:53 AM
Quote from: Troll on June 16, 2011, 19:38:20 PM
The angle drive attached to the transmission is where the bearing failures I read about are happening. Apparently the outboard support bearing is getting noisy, or perhaps they mean the output shaft bearing going to the prop shaft. Either way, it makes a "gear whine noise". Just an idle thought...

Afriend of mine is going through that right now, on a 1500 Classic.

Said it started as a 'clicking' noise when moving the motorcycle by hand, in / out of the garage, that sort of  thing.

Ron
Title: Re: Trouble in the drive/wheel area
Post by: drifterbob on August 20, 2011, 15:07:39 PM
Took awhile to get the time to tear into my ride but findlly got to it last week.  Tear down was much easier than exspected.  I found the outboard bearing on the pinyon going bad (about 1/32 or so play).  Should have the what I need to replace next week and will check in when I test it out.