Final drive rusted onto driveshaft.

[Jmhill]

Hi,

After an advisory for swing arm play on last years MOT I have removed the swing arm from my r1200s to fit new bearings and found that water has got in and not only completed rusted one of the bearings but the final drive is seized onto the drive shaft. I have tried angling a screwdriver onto the end of the splined shaft through the U-joint and hitting it with a lump hammer with the drive shaft clamped in a vice to no avail. I’ve used WD40 to try and un-seize i, apparently WD-40 isn’t the best for this so I have ordered some Plus-Gas. I can’t use heat as this will destroy the seals in the drive shaft and final drive. Any tips on how I can separate them?

Regards,

Jon

[milleplod]

Instead of heat, you could try going the other way, as it were - a freeze spray might work. Amazon has some listed at around £12 a can.

Pete

[Hay Ewe^]

Can you post a picture?
that may help with understanding the problem

[Jmhill]

FEB1AE97-A819-4235-AA04-1B038AB9DA9E.jpeg (702.74 KiB) Viewed 10663 times

You can see the end of the splined final drive shaft in the centre of the U-joint. It should just pull out. It’s soaking in plus-gas at the moment. Tried freeze spray (thanks for the tip)and lump hammer/screwdriver combo still no good.

I’m thinking of soaking the whole thing in Diesel for a week or trying the local BMW dealer for any ideas.

Regards,

Jon

[Humbug]

It needs to be levered out as there is a self applying circlip that locks it onto the driveshaft. It takes a bit of levering to release the circlip. Removed and replaced mine a few thousand miles ago, left the swingarm on and withdrew the shaft from the final drive end. Takes a bit of time to get the UJ in the exact position to fit back in so if you are removing the swingarm for bearings, better from that end.

[Hay Ewe^]

mmmmm tricky
You may also get some advice from UKGSer and ADV
whilst yours isnt a GS, the basic construction assembly is the same.

[Mitch1100]

No maintenance there ..so much for sealed for life final drive!

[Hay Ewe^]

have been away for a while, has this been solved?
how did you solve it?
any damage?

[jmhill373]

Hi

Ok I have solved this one so here is how to do it.

There isn’t a circlip on the final drive end it should just pull out.

Also my bike has a full BMW service history!

Clamp the drive shaft in a vice so that the thicker cushdrive is against the jaws acting as a stop to prevent the driveshaft moving.

Heat one side of the U-joint around the final drive shaft with oxy until glowing red. Place a conical drift between the end of the shaft and the inside face of the U-joint and tap down hard with a club hammer use a thinner drift to tap the shaft all the way out of the U-joint.

I used oxy as it heated it quicker and seems to have left all the seals intact. I would try the conical drift first as you might get away without heating it.

Hope this helps someone.

Regards,

Jon

[Humbug]

Yes, you are right, my bad, no circlip on the final drive end, just the other end