Airhead Driveshaft Rebuild

01-19-2008, 05:28 AM

Does anyone know if there's a reliable driveshaft rebuilding service out there?
I've got a notchy u-joint that's got to go. Thanks

kbasa · 01-19-2008, 05:55 AM

Bruno's?

jtwind · 01-19-2008, 06:17 AM

Two fellows I know have had their driveshafts rebuilt by these folks and have been very pleased.

Machine Service Industry
100 Ashwaubenon St.
Green Bay, Wi 54304
Call Mitch 1 800 677 8711

Stagehand · 01-19-2008, 07:04 AM

investigate HPMguy, also.

jtwind · 01-19-2008, 07:06 AM

You also need to know why it went bad. If it is out of phase that needs to be corrected also or it will just fail again and sooner.

SOLO LOBO · 01-19-2008, 07:54 AM

Mine's with HPMguy,

I believe he is the only one who put in the replaceable, zerked u-joints as well as replacing the rubber cush with something more durable. He has a post in the vendors forum.... $450 for the complete service (inc's return shipping)

01-19-2008, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbasa

Bruno's?

Who is this Bruno of which you speak. I've been away from airheads for too long I guess.

01-19-2008, 09:59 AM

Thanks for all of the good info.

Stagehand · 01-19-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoboyvfr

Who is this Bruno of which you speak. I've been away from airheads for too long I guess.

I have heard nothing but good things about this place.

http://www.brunos.us/

01-19-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stagehand

I have heard nothing but good things about this place.

http://www.brunos.us/

Thanks, their website looks great.

Dratharr · 01-20-2008, 08:28 AM

I just sent mine off to Guy at Henderson Precision Machine, take a look at the website; that made my mind up on who I was going to send mine off too. He also has an exchange service that is available if you have a good core.

01-20-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dratharr

I just sent mine off to Guy at Henderson Precision Machine, take a look at the website; that made my mind up on who I was going to send mine off too. He also has an exchange service that is available if you have a good core.

Ditto that.
But there are some other importent done by Guy, he replaced the MAIN cause these shafts go bad and ruined the unis, the rubber dampening.
When dampening gets old, it slips and the two shafts are twisting causing the whole shaft getting out of phase, and THIS causes the unis to go down the drain. I'm not saying this is the only and whole reason of driveshaft failure, but it is a big part of it.
I had mine replaced by HPMGuy, he changed the unis by some greaseable easy removeable ones, due to circlips, together with new dampening of Polyurethane. WORKS PERFEKT.
Think the photos are speaking for themselves.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...ight=hendersen

He is also a thrustworthy person, I'll reccomand him to anyone.
Nice work as well.

Helgaairhead :-)

mark1305 · 01-20-2008, 02:23 PM

At risk of causing undue thread-drift, when is a good point in time/mileage to check the shaft for twist?

Having recently joined the airhead community with a 83 R80 ST under 35k miles, I've done all the peace-of-mind things like all fluids & oils, spline lube, SHB and swingarm bearings check & lube, valve check & adjust, etc., but am trying to get away from the tear-everything-apart-and-check-it mentality I've used on other bikes.

If I see no other symptoms of drive train gremlins I hope to go for another year before spline lube and check-whatever time.

Is this one of those "don't fix it until it broke" problems that can be detected by checking for drive train lash and strange new noises?

BTW, if you've seen me post around you know I've been wrenching cars and bikes for about 40 years, so if nothing else I have the "feel" for problems that I have a description of. But like every kind of machinery, you have to know what is good play/noise vs bad play/noise. And airheads are unique in some ways.

Stagehand · 01-20-2008, 02:45 PM

Info I've gathered says that 70% of originals go south by 70K miles. Not many have gone before about 30K.

It's apparently influenced by riding styles, minimally... keeping the driveline straighter (two-up and loaded) and keeping undue impact loads away help longevity. I myself wonder if the fact its a dry shaft, and that sometimes the shaft has some fluid in it from leaky trans seals has a little to do with throwing some grease out of hte U's... but thats just something I thought up.

It can come on in as little as 500 miles, (me) although often its more subtle. I check it often, now. Thats easy enough- any clunking at all with rear wheel spin is cause for closer observation.

SOLO LOBO · 01-20-2008, 07:55 PM

I had 15% of twist on my 1993 R100GS at 42K miles.....

01-19-2008, 05:28 AM	#1
motoboyvfr Guest Oddometer: n/a	Airhead Driveshaft Rebuild Does anyone know if there's a reliable driveshaft rebuilding service out there? I've got a notchy u-joint that's got to go. Thanks

01-19-2008, 05:55 AM	#2
kbasa Tinaversal Joined: May 2002 Location: Marin County, California Oddometer: 59,638	Bruno's? __________________ IMHO. Fuck Cancer. Ride bikes. - dave + tina

01-19-2008, 06:17 AM	#3
jtwind Wisconsin Airhead Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Madison WI Oddometer: 3,451	Two fellows I know have had their driveshafts rebuilt by these folks and have been very pleased. Machine Service Industry 100 Ashwaubenon St. Green Bay, Wi 54304 Call Mitch 1 800 677 8711 __________________ JT www.northwoodsairheads.com www.jefftrappwindsors.com "Between two explanations, choose the clearest; between two forms, the most elementary; between two expressions, the shortest." Between two motorcycles the simplest (DW) Eugeni d' Ors (1881-1954); Spanish writer.

01-19-2008, 07:04 AM	#4
Stagehand +/- V TDSPP Joined: Oct 2004 Location: "Poughkeepsie?!?!" Oddometer: 20,326	investigate HPMguy, also. __________________ Dont try to out-weird me, mister. I get things stranger than you free with my breakfast cereal.

01-19-2008, 07:06 AM	#5
jtwind Wisconsin Airhead Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Madison WI Oddometer: 3,451	You also need to know why it went bad. If it is out of phase that needs to be corrected also or it will just fail again and sooner. __________________ JT www.northwoodsairheads.com www.jefftrappwindsors.com "Between two explanations, choose the clearest; between two forms, the most elementary; between two expressions, the shortest." Between two motorcycles the simplest (DW) Eugeni d' Ors (1881-1954); Spanish writer.

01-19-2008, 09:59 AM	#8
motoboyvfr Guest Oddometer: n/a	Thanks Thanks for all of the good info.

01-20-2008, 08:28 AM	#11
Dratharr Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Western Nebraska Oddometer: 221	I just sent mine off to Guy at Henderson Precision Machine, take a look at the website; that made my mind up on who I was going to send mine off too. He also has an exchange service that is available if you have a good core.

01-20-2008, 02:23 PM	#13
mark1305 Old Enough To Know Better Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Merritt Island, FL Oddometer: 5,526	At risk of causing undue thread-drift, when is a good point in time/mileage to check the shaft for twist? Having recently joined the airhead community with a 83 R80 ST under 35k miles, I've done all the peace-of-mind things like all fluids & oils, spline lube, SHB and swingarm bearings check & lube, valve check & adjust, etc., but am trying to get away from the tear-everything-apart-and-check-it mentality I've used on other bikes. If I see no other symptoms of drive train gremlins I hope to go for another year before spline lube and check-whatever time. Is this one of those "don't fix it until it broke" problems that can be detected by checking for drive train lash and strange new noises? BTW, if you've seen me post around you know I've been wrenching cars and bikes for about 40 years, so if nothing else I have the "feel" for problems that I have a description of. But like every kind of machinery, you have to know what is good play/noise vs bad play/noise. And airheads are unique in some ways. __________________ Mark J Merritt Island, FL When a person asks you for advice, they don't want advice. They want corroboration.

01-20-2008, 02:45 PM	#14
Stagehand +/- V TDSPP Joined: Oct 2004 Location: "Poughkeepsie?!?!" Oddometer: 20,326	Info I've gathered says that 70% of originals go south by 70K miles. Not many have gone before about 30K. It's apparently influenced by riding styles, minimally... keeping the driveline straighter (two-up and loaded) and keeping undue impact loads away help longevity. I myself wonder if the fact its a dry shaft, and that sometimes the shaft has some fluid in it from leaky trans seals has a little to do with throwing some grease out of hte U's... but thats just something I thought up. It can come on in as little as 500 miles, (me) although often its more subtle. I check it often, now. Thats easy enough- any clunking at all with rear wheel spin is cause for closer observation. __________________ Dont try to out-weird me, mister. I get things stranger than you free with my breakfast cereal.

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