Lost all drive to rear wheel

[jwellemeyer]

On the road with my 75 Wing. Cruising down the highway, no unusual noises, it just went to neutral. Coasted to the side of the road and everything feels normal, clutch lever feels good, and I can shift the transmission through the gears but nothing is getting to the rear wheel. Must be something in the final drive???? 67000 miles and no previous problems.

Any ideas?

[WingAdmin]

I think if the final drive had gone, you would be hearing a hell of a noise as stuff was being ground up inside.

With it on the center stand and in gear, can you turn the rear wheel? Then try it in neutral - any difference in the amount of resistance turning the wheel?

[jwellemeyer]

Rear wheel turns freely in any gear or neutral. Can the drive shaft some how disengage from the transmission?

[virgilmobile]

Not really.Pull the rear apart.You'll probably find stripped splines at the drive shaft coupler.
Its #2 in this picture.

Here's the back end.

.
These parts seldom get removed and greased.
It should be done each time the rear wheel is replaced.

[jwellemeyer]

Thanks, that's the first place I will look. I wont be back home for a couple of weeks, but I will post what I find.

[jwellemeyer]

Found the problem with my Gold Wing. A circlip popped out of position at the coupler between the drive shaft and the final drive pinion shaft. The coupler slide aft and disengaged from the drive shaft spline but still in position and alignment. Instant neutral! Cheap fix, a couple of new circlips, local Honda should have them. Someone had been in there before and replaced the drive shaft, found some u-joint needle rollers stuck in some old grease, and some gouges inside the housing. Apparently the u-joint let loose at sometime. The circlip was sprung out of shape, probably was never seated correctly.

Should have it back together and off the lift on Wednesday. Getting a new rear tire mounted while it is off.

[WingAdmin]

Glad to hear it was a simple (and cheap!) fix. I was thinking the worst...