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R12RT Driveshaft Reinstall Challenge


Svensk

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I made a big mistake today.... :dopeslap:

 

In preparation for the ride to NC I dropped the final drive on my 2007 R1200RT to change the fluid and lube the splines. Then I made the big mistake.. I pulled on the driveshaft and it disconnected from the transmission splines.

 

Try as I might to get the front universal back onto the shaft, I can't do it. I pulled the tupperware on the right side and pulled back the boot that covers the front universal/shaft connection. By sticking my fingers into the space between the transmission and the swingarm it seems as if I can line up the universal but it refuses to slide on. :mad:

 

I've added lube (Moly 60) and tapped on the final drive end of the shaft with a rubber mallet but it refuses to slide into place.

 

Any suggestions and ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

The manual says I need a slide hammer to pull the swingarm and if I have to I will try to locate one locally and pull the swingarm.

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aggieengineer

I would start by taking a look at the U-joint on the end of the driveshaft. Is there anything that would offer resistance to installation? Perhaps a circlip that holds it in place? I'd be surprised if there is any indexing. It may just require good alignment and a tap with the mallet. Dirtrider should be by any time now, and he offers very accurate and reliable advice.

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You don,t need a slide hammer to pull the swing arm,,,you can put a bolt in it and pull it with you fingers,,If you can line up the splines with your fingers,,It takes a good wack not a tap to get it to go back on,,There is a Circlip you have to over come,,

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Yeah, don't pull the swingarm. Theres a circlip there, hard to get to. As stated, our resident guru DR will probably show up shortly with words of widsom.

 

Edit--from the Reprom:

 

(+) Installing universal shaft

(-) Installing universal shaft

 

Grease the splines of the universal shaft.

 

Consumables/lubricants

Optimoly TA

High-temperature assembly grease

18 21 9 062 599

 

 

Push the universal shaft onto the splines of the output shaft.

 

Tap the universal shaft with a rubber-headed mallet to seat it on the output shaft.

 

The universal shaft snaps perceptibly into engagement with the output shaft and can no longer be pulled off by hand.

 

(Obviously that last statement is wishful thinking as this happens to *lots* of folks!)

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Another thought; it would make sense that, when tapping the shaft to seat it, that the shaft be as perpendicular to the transmission face as possible (i.e. in-line with the output shaft) so that the full force of the tapping is transmitted thru the spline area. If it is angled slightly down or up (or left or right), this might deflect the tapping forces enough to make seating difficult. I haven't actually had to do this yet (thank God) but maybe this will help. You have my sympathies. Please let us know what works for ya. :lurk:

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Thanks to all for the guidance. I'll give this another try tomorrow.

 

There is definitely a groove in the shaft which appears to be where a clip would logically fit but I'm not getting the universal far enough onto the shaft for the clip to be an issue (yet).

 

Getting the proper alignment seems to be the issue. There's only enough room between the transmission and the swingarm to fit one finger to guide the universal onto the shaft. Supporting the shaft from the final drive end while applying pressure has so far resulted in a fair number of censored expletives.

 

Perhaps a night's sleep and a fresh attitude will make a difference. Thanks again for your help.

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At the IBR check point in Jax, they swapped out 2 drive shafts in the parking lot. You need someone to look and help align the front through the boot at gear box outlet, and the 2. person from the rear, using a long skinny rod or extra long screw driver. Once it is aligned and it has started to slide on, then insert a larger rod in the rear u-joint, and bang it home. You have to have a lot of patience.

It may help removing the shock, as that will let you lift or lower the swing arm.

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I have seen the front wheel drive shafts on cars go in that hard. You have to hit it extremely hard to go in, to overcome that lock ring. But then they don't come out easy, either.

dc

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Woohoo its back together again! :clap: Thanks to all who through this thread and through PM's helped me figure out how to make it work. I doubt I'll make that mistake again.

 

Now I have to go buy a new Torx 45 bit as the cheap alloy I have finally snapped putting the caliper back on. :mad:

 

Its a great relief to have this part done though. For a while it looked like my goof might keep me from heading south to the Un next weekend.

 

Thanks again!

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Woohoo its back together again! :clap: Thanks to all who through this thread and through PM's helped me figure out how to make it work. I doubt I'll make that mistake again.

 

Now I have to go buy a new Torx 45 bit as the cheap alloy I have finally snapped putting the caliper back on. :mad:

 

Its a great relief to have this part done though. For a while it looked like my goof might keep me from heading south to the Un next weekend.

 

Thanks again!

 

Well, what DID you do to make it seat? Inquiring minds and all that.....

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I found the same situation on my 1150R.

 

Second time I had the trans out, I didn't pull all the stuff behind the trans apart, so had to put it back together that way.

 

I used a small bar / really big screwderiver to get into the U joint from underneath (the driver shaft was pretty much vertical), then held the free end of the screwdriver and gave it some pretty substantial whacks with a 3 lbs hammer on the shaft right up near the U joint. Kind of zings on the hand (use a thick leather padded glove or something, or put a block ahead of the handle so you don't have to hold it) but if you've got the splines lined up (which they should be if you've got it that far on) it will go on. YOu just have to be persistent.

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Well, what DID you do to make it seat? Inquiring minds and all that.....

 

First, I made sure there was plenty of lube on splines as recommended by bobbybob.

 

After a frustratingly large number of attempts to align the splines with my stubby little fingers I decided instead to slide a tire spoon into the boot and used it like a lever to lift the front of the driveshaft. With a little trial and error this approach worked. Making sure the transmission was in neutral also made the job easier (as suggested by LPOL).

 

Finally, when I was pretty sure the splines were lined up I lifted the rear of the shaft and whaled on it a few times with a rubber mallet. I think I had been a little shy to really whack it but it took a fair bit of force to close the deal (as noted by Bernie and David13). I also made sure both universal joints were as in-line as possible so that the force from the mallet was transmitted more directly (another bobbybob recommendation).

 

You are absolutely correct, macx. I wish I had your advice of the glove earlier but aside from a small blood blister all's well the ends well, right?

 

I think as much as the mechanical suggestions helped, the support and encouragement from board members gave me the confidence to get the job done. Big smile when I got the tupperware back on and took a quick 10-mile run last night and everything worked the way it should! Thank you all - this is an awesome group! :thumbsup:

 

 

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hermanninct

How to lube spline on 2006 R1200RT ?

 

Hello-can someone help? I have the (expensive) "BMW repair CD"--but there is nothing on it about lubing the spline ! I read that some folks had trouble re-assembling it -so I'm trying not to run into the same problems. Is there any documentation that shows the procedure?Any help is appreciated! tx! hermanninCT

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Are you talking about the rear drive spline, between the drive shaft and the rear drive housing?

Just search for rear drive oil change, it is part of that procedure.

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The final drive splines can be lubed after dropping the final drive. Here's a good step by step pictorial.

 

If you're talking about the splines at the front of the driveshaft on the transmission, I would encourage you to have plenty of patience getting the universal mated back to the splined shaft. :grin:

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