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XJ650 Drive shaft removal

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by SwIrv, Apr 25, 2019.

  1. SwIrv

    SwIrv New Member

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    I have been trying to remove the drive shaft off the frame and I'm having a problem with the screws that are on the drive shaft joint. Super tight and I've been hitting it with penetrative lubricants but no luck.

    The picture below is rotated but I'm talking about the nuts closest to the top. I started to slip off and felt like I was stripping the nut. Not sure if I should be using a chain wrench, but so far no luck with a pipe and vice grips. IMG_0846[1].JPG
     
  2. jayrodoh

    jayrodoh YimYam Premium Member

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    Yah, those are tight. BTDT. You definitely don't want those coming loose while riding. I would not use visegrips or a pipe wrenh on those. You should be using the correct size six point close end wrench (not a twelve) as this will grip the bolt properly. A little persuasion from a rubber mallet on the wrench usually works for me. Looks like you rounded one off a little already, that will make it much harder to get out.
     
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  3. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    You can leave the U-joint alone. The drive shaft is on a spline and will slip right out of the U-joint.
     
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  4. jayrodoh

    jayrodoh YimYam Premium Member

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    Ah yes, I misread. If you are just pulling the shaft and not the engine then you can leave these bolts in place. Thanks @Simmy

    Some of those shafts have a little circlip on the end where it meets the UJoint and will require a little bit of a tug to get it out. I've seen both styles on the same year bike so not sure when the changeover was.
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2019
  5. SwIrv

    SwIrv New Member

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    Sorry for the confusion but I am trying to remove the u joint and drive shaft off the frame. I have been using a 12mm 6 point wrench close but not having any luck.
     
  6. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    Don't think I'm being snarky Swlrv but why are you doing this?
    You can remove the final drive from the swing arm and pull the drive shaft right out without breaking the u-joint apart.
    You can remove the swing arm after that, again not removing those bolts you're having difficulty with.
     
  7. SwIrv

    SwIrv New Member

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    I'm trying to get the frame by itself so I can send it off to my cousin for power coating.
     
  8. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    1. remove the final drive from the swing arm (4 nuts) then the drive shaft will pull right out of the u-joint.
    2. remove the swing arm pivot bolts and remove the swing arm
    3. remove the motor with the u-joint attached, no need to break that flange you're having difficulty with.
     
  9. SwIrv

    SwIrv New Member

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    Thanks, I'll try it out when I get home from work.
     
  10. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    here's a pic of my current project, the motor can be removed with the u-joint attached.

    View attachment 34550
     
  11. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    turbo motor in stand.jpg
     
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  12. SwIrv

    SwIrv New Member

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  13. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Man, you guys are good.
    Problem solved before morning break.

    And not only was it solved, but it was solved in a way that prevented a new problem.
    If you remove the u-joint from the engine first it becomes much more difficult to remove the driveshaft from the u-joint, and doesn't really make it easier to remove the engine.
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2019
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  14. SwIrv

    SwIrv New Member

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    YO Simmy!!

    Thanks for the help, swing arm and all came out with not much effort at all. I appreciate this forum more and more each day:D.
     
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  15. MTerlouw

    MTerlouw New Member

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    Excellent post! I was wondering how to get those flange bolts off with the rear wheel already removed. Tried to pull the shaft from the pivot arm after removing the 4 final drive nuts but can't move it more than 0.2" / 5 mm. Would that be because of a circlip near the U-join? Any ideas on how to do this?
    Thanks, Mike
    (750 SECA '82)
     
  16. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Yes. Some of the driveshafts had spring clips for driveshaft retention. Tug hard.
     
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  17. MTerlouw

    MTerlouw New Member

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    Thanks, was expecting to see the final drive + shaft come off as one but the shaft stayed in the swing arm. As there is hardly any room left to pull the shaft out with some force I will start taking out the swing arm first, or would that be a bad idea? (need to do that anyway to powdercoat the frame)
     
  18. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    There's room to use a rope with a slip loop tied at the end. Tug.

    The driveshaft will clear the entire tunnel if you pull the swingarm first, but that can be a bit awkward IMO.
     

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