The odyssey begins !

[Rocket Scientist]

For those of you who weren't at the RAA event in Colorado, my rocket pooped it's dress on the last ride of the last day. Fortunately it happened about 50 miles from the hotel. Rick (Vanguard 138) gave me a ride back to get my trailer and didn't even make me sit backwards ! Almost left the car keys in the saddlebag. Thank god Rockethead asked me if I had the keys ! The problem started a couple days before (I just didn't know it). Every so often I would hear a click. It sounded like a piece of plastic getting caught by the wind and slapping something metal. Very subtle, most people probably wouldn't have even noticed it. Looked at the bike a couple of times and didn't see anything loose. Didn't sound at all like a mechanical problem. On the fateful ride we had passed some cars and had some fairly straight rode so I goosed her up a bit. All at one it started making a really loud slapping sound and felt like the rear tire was trying to lock up. Got it off the rode thankfully. Was pretty sure it was the output shaft bearing and so far that appears to be the case.

Here is the victim;

Beginning to remove pieces;

and more pieces;

Got her supported now;

More pieces;

And more pieces. It takes a lot of bits to make one of these !

Got the pan off, definitely bearing race material. Looking up into the motor it's coming from the back of the output shaft.

Finally got a good look at my drive shaft. Not good. Splines are worn about half way. Bike only had 16,000 miles when I got it. I've always greased the splines at every tire change. Bike has 53,000 now. Not real good life expectancy.

Tomorrow I'll figure out how to either let the back of the engine down with the front motor mount bolt still in, as I'm told you can, or I'll take it completely out. What a horrendous amount of horse$hit to go through and I haven't even got the engine out yet !

 

[HansO]

Wow!!! ..... Ouch ... that second last picture tells a nasty story out put shaft bearing looks to be on the money

 

[Steel]

**** that sux, but I'm sure glad it didn't lock up the back tire.

On the plus side you looked good riding *****.

 

[DJ]

That sucks big time.
luckily no shiny bits were damaged - and that includes brain buckets!

 

[rayjay]

Well done Fred..wish I had those skills

Rj

 

[TOMCAT]

Glad you're ok and bikes fixable mate .. pain in the ass none the less

 

[mexican]

The only reason Rick let him ride behind him is because he knew he was safe with the rider's backrest

 

[mexican]

It was a catastrophe for me also, since i'm not as smart as Frerd i have to pay somebody to fix the spyder, about $2800 spent so far and the spyder is not even at the repair shop yet!

 

[vanguard138]

Yes, no way that back rest can be "penetrated" .

 

[mexican]

Yes, no way that back rest can be "penetrated" .