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Universal Joint - can they be lubed?

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Simmy, Dec 11, 2019.

  1. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    I searched the forum but haven't really seen any discussion about re-greasing the U joint.
    Is it even possible? Any grease there is almost 40 years old.


     
  2. kerriskandiesinc

    kerriskandiesinc Active Member

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    Interesting observation, I can only say, having owned and ridden....let me think 6 XJ's,since 1988, I have NEVER had a UJ joint, or any of the driveshaft mechanism fail...one of my XJ's went to 240K......there were no metal shavings under the boot ( removed motor in that bike a few times) but it WAS getting very sloppy in 1st take off....but not in 5th...

    Can it be re greased, and if so , does anyone know how/what grease to use ?
     
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  3. DaygloDavid

    DaygloDavid Active Member

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    The Haynes manual for XJ650 & 750 says.

    "The universal joint should move smoothly and easily with no signs of roughness or notchiness. If roughness or excessive slop is noted, it will be necessary to renew the joint."

    No mention of it being serviceable.
     
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  4. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    I was able to take apart the u joint on my XJ11 and re grease it.
     
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  5. kerriskandiesinc

    kerriskandiesinc Active Member

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    How was it for grease, when you took it apart...was it difficult to pull apart, how many miles on the UJ when you performed this surgery?

    Thanks!
     
  6. DaygloDavid

    DaygloDavid Active Member

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    The Yamaha XJ650LJ & LK (Turbo) Service Manual says.

    "Move the universal joint up and down and from side to side. The universal joint should move smoothly. Without tightness, binding or rough spots that could indicate damaged bearings. If damaged, replace the universal joint assembly."
     
  7. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    i tried a needle through the rubber. it made a little difference but like you said, it's full of old grease.
    i don't think i got much new in with the old still in there. at least i didn't stick myself with the grease needle :)
     
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  8. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    we have a member who lives in south america Argentina I think. he found a u joint to replace the oem one with . he went through the size charts to find the replacment that Matched
     
  9. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    It has been a few years since I did it but if I remember it was not too difficult. Much like changing a U joint on a drive shaft. Press it apart and clean and re-grease. Be careful not to loose any of the needle bearings.
    The grease was all dried out and made the joint hard to move. That made the driveshaft vibrate when the suspension moved.I figured I could not make it and worse so I gave it a try and succeded . Its still in the bike and running good.
    Chacal has replacements if you need one.
     
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  10. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    do you recall if it looked like a zerk fitting could be put in one, internal passages?
     
  11. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    No, the joint was too small to put a grease fitting in. There was no place to put one and it was not drilled to accept one.
     
  12. cds1984

    cds1984 Active Member

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    The best I could do on a crunchy uni-joint was clean it, soak it completely in engine oil and move it slowly back and forward over an extended period.
    Then I used copius amounts of spray on grease, (https://crcindustries.com.au/produc...ducts/crc-white-lithium-grease-300g-5037.html) over another extended period, working it in, and eventually packed/coated the hell out of it and messily with roller bearing grease.

    The soaking in engine oil part was probably the winner in the equation as the uni joint literally barely moved it was so seized to start with.

    at any rate, it works now.

    I spoke to a few people about pressing out the bearings and replacing them and the costing and end result (whether it worked or not) was all over the place.
     
  13. k-moe

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

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    Th XJ11 u-joint is serviceable. The other XJ u-joints are not (at least not without a great deal of effort since the bearings are staked into place).
     
  14. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    did not know that for sure. thanks. I have never had a XJ smaller than 750 and that was 30 years ago, all XJ11s now.
     
  15. chacal

    chacal Moderator Moderator Supporting Vendor Premium Member

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    We do have rebuilt u-joints (called a cross-joint by Yamaha) available. They include a new joint (rather than just being re-greased) and are then balanced.
     
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  16. kerriskandiesinc

    kerriskandiesinc Active Member

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    Quite amazing you blokes have everything, lol !!

    Just out of interest is there a demand for them??
     
  17. chacal

    chacal Moderator Moderator Supporting Vendor Premium Member

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    Demand: we sell a few of them a year, there's not much demand because they are so durable. And new ones (while they were still available) were crazy expensive.
     
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