U-joint question

[chris22indy@att.net]

So I just got home from a 1600+ mile trip to the mountains. I have noticed a clack when taking off. I think it is the U-joint but I don't have any other symptoms. I hope it is not the transmission. I don't have any vibrations or like I said any other symptoms. I rode hard in the mountains and the clack isn't getting more frequent or louder. It also doesn't happen all the time. I don't notice it on slow smooth flat take-offs.

Is there a way to diagnose the U-joint without removing it? Something like turning the wheel and watching/listening to confirm the u-joint is loose.

94 GL1500 SE 120000 miles.

Thanks in advance.

[jtornese]

When I purchased my 93 about 8 years ago,it had 96,000 miles on it. Took my wife on a trip and she mentioned vibration in rear footrests. ONLY Upon deceleration. Posed that question to this forum and unanimous results were U-Joint! I did it myself with to guidance of the how to video. I will tell you it is not a fun job, but do-able. biggest problem was that you NEED to use 2 hands, but can only get one hand in there. Needless to say, I got it done, and bike was great after that. Front pegs do not do it. You need to take someone for a ride and see it it vibrates the rear footrests during deceleration.

[chris22indy@att.net]

I asked my wife and she said she didn't feel anything that she hasn't felt since we got the bike a year ago April about 25000 miles ago with a lot of mountains and hard riding. I'm assuming it wouldn't last long.

[RockportDave]

Check the boot to see if it is torn. If it is, chances are it’s going out.
If you do need to replace it, replace the boot also. There are great how-tos on how to replace them and what to check and grease while doing so. Below are photos of mine when it went out. The boot was torn and after removing the U-joint I found the bearings were gone.
Dave

[WingAdmin]

Mine was torn as well, which caused my bearings to fail just the same way:



Keep in mind that the replacement U-joints now available are the larger ones from the Valkyrie. The old boot you show will NOT fit over the new U-joints. You have to use one of the newer, larger boots:



See: How to replace your universal joint (and driveshaft)