R3 Captains that have had Drive Lines Rebuilt?

[gldean]

Hey guys . .. curious if there is any pattern to these problems arising from too much traction or weight on board.

How many of you guys are really heavy . .. say over 250lbs. or carry pillions on a regular basis.

With this much torque . . . the additional weight has to cause more bind on the driveline.

Another question . . . how many of the lighter fellas . .. say under 200lbs. have had the drive lines fail?

Okay .. . now that I'm over thinking all this . . . can I please get some feedback . . . now where'd I put those cookies and milk. :lol: :shock:

 

[Gothlander]

I think you are on to something there. A friend of mine who knows tractors has told me when PTO drives are loaded up they can push the bearing back into the gearbox. That could also push the output bearing as well on the Rocket. This can happen even with good grease on the splines, the good news is you can mod the splines to ball/race and fix this issue. Riding two up with bags and gear is ok unless the bike hits a pothole or bump under heavy exceleration, this will bind up the splines and put pressure on either bearing.

 

[Jimmy Rocket]

I weigh about 215 and carry no passengers on my R3-never have. My rear end failed at 26k miles.

 

[gldean]

I remember when I had my Jeep with the AMC360 and a torque cam installed it would climb a tree . . . but the weakest link in the drive train would also explode under extreme loads or being over loaded in the payload department.

Say climbing an nice rock face with with me on board, spare tire, some tools, spare fluids and a winch would be close to 4000lbs. Usually not problems.

Add a couple large passengers and you would raise that 400-500lbs.

Don't sound like much and it isn't going in a straight line, but when you put that much additional weight going up a steep incline and add the fact that it's not flat or smooth (rocks tend to vary in shape especially the very large ones) . . . you now have the possibility of the main shaft in the tranny, the transfer case, 8 U-joints connecting all the drive shafts and front axles as well as the rear axle exposed to a very rough and strenuous scenario.

I've seen entire axles explode under load off road.

I'm inclined to believe that adding additional weight (I did run to the limits of the suspension for while riding 2up) can induce more strain on the drive line . . . especially if one is running a tire that gives much more traction and is less prone to breaking loose like the 240 or a Car Tire. :idea:

End Rant . . . dang I hope all that made sense. :?

 

[gldean]

I weigh about 215 and carry no passengers on my R3-never have. My rear end failed at 26k miles.

May I ask . . . are you a heavy hander, do you like burn outs, strong full throttle take offs up to say 80-100MPH before backing off etc. etc etc.???

What rear tire have you run on your R3?

I ask these questions because of my Mechanics training decades ago . . . I like to analyze peoples riding habits to see if there is a pattern. Thanks!

 

[TurboFan]

My drive line was replaced under warranty on the recall way back in the beginning. I weigh (ahem) 240 before breakfast. I can get the front tire off the ground in SECOND without the clutch but usually use the clutch to coax the front up with what I think of as some measure of control in first gear.
#1 I frequently lift the front tire, not real high but a foot or two.
#2 I frequently clutch it and rip a really squirrelly burnout across the parking lot at my dealer.
#3 For the past 6 months (but only about 2,000 miles) I have been doing these stupid things with a Riken Raptor car tire that probably TRIPLES the load on the drive line. At least I know it is twice as hard to hang on to the monster.
#4 On one occassion two years ago I missed second gear in a moment of extreme stupidity and busted the transmission. (Which was still under warranty at the time!)

The bike has performed flawlessly. The driveline never wimpered. (I have greased the splines myself with high pressure MDS grease on at least one occassion.

I would not be afraid to pull a trailer two up. I wouldn't do it as abusively as I usually ride, I would treat it with respect, as you would subjecting it to twice the work. But I wouldn't be afraid to try it.

 

[gldean]

Thanks TurboFan,

Can you tell me how many miles u currently have on your R3?

Pleeease.

 

[gldean]

It would be interesting to find out how many people under 200lbs. have had drive line rebuilt or replaced.

Anyone? Common, it's just us guys here. What women are here are married an won't care if you fudge on your BWeight. :shock: :lol:

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jimmy Rocket]

I weigh about 215 and carry no passengers on my R3-never have. My rear end failed at 26k miles.

May I ask . . . are you a heavy hander, do you like burn outs, strong full throttle take offs up to say 80-100MPH before backing off etc. etc etc.???

What rear tire have you run on your R3?

I ask these questions because of my Mechanics training decades ago . . . I like to analyze peoples riding habits to see if there is a pattern. Thanks!

I do frequently enjoy strong, but usually not quite full-throttle, acceleration, both from dead stops and at skin-flapping speeds. I use all five gears most of the time. I have a Yokohama 245/50 tire on the rear. I don't do burnouts, intentional wheelies or stoppies.

 

[gldean]

[quote="Jimmy Rocket":h8r1pdfc]I weigh about 215 and carry no passengers on my R3-never have. My rear end failed at 26k miles.

May I ask . . . are you a heavy hander, do you like burn outs, strong full throttle take offs up to say 80-100MPH before backing off etc. etc etc.???

What rear tire have you run on your R3?

I ask these questions because of my Mechanics training decades ago . . . I like to analyze peoples riding habits to see if there is a pattern. Thanks!

I do frequently enjoy strong, but usually not quite full-throttle, acceleration, both from dead stops and at skin-flapping speeds. I use all five gears most of the time. I have a Yokohama 245/50 tire on the rear. I don't do burnouts, intentional wheelies or stoppies. [/quote:h8r1pdfc]

In your first 26K before the diff failed . . . how many were run on a car tire?

Footnote: The moderator can delete all these posts after I've got my fill so no one feels exposed here in case Triumph would ever try to use any of this hypothetical information to not honor their warranties.

I'm only trying to surmise from the other R3 owners if there is a connection between riding styles, weight/payload and tires used to contribute to these drive line issues. Other than the obvious issues of factory defects for the older Rockets already repaired.

End Rant!
Thanks,
Gary