Drive shaft into U-joint issues.

[Alpha Dragon]

Okay, I figured I would post here, because I am sure others changing their own tires to be darksiders have this same issue.  To get the tire out from under the bike, I had to unbolt the final drive from the swing arm, resulting in the drive shaft coming out of the U-joint and staying with the final drive.  No issues, I wanted to lube the drive shaft anyway.  But, upon putting back together, I am having trouble getting the drive shavt back up into the U-joint.  I am sure others have had this problem, so what did you do?  Thanks.

[Valker]

Turn the final drive with the bike in gear to hold the u-joint in place. It will go in. You can also pull the shaft from the final drive ( a good thing so it can be cleaned) by quickly and firmly pulling it. It just 'snaps' into the final drive.

[Alpha Dragon]

Turn the final drive with the bike in gear to hold the u-joint in place. It will go in. You can also pull the shaft from the final drive ( a good thing so it can be cleaned) by quickly and firmly pulling it. It just 'snaps' into the final drive.

Okay, you can ignore the private message.  Can you explain the first sentence in a different way?  I don't get it.

[timk519]

The splines of the drive and the u-joint need to match - and the way to do that is to turn the tire which turns the final drive which'll turn the drive shaft so it'll eventually line up with the u-joint splines.

[Alpha Dragon]

At the moment, the tire and wheel is seperated from the final drive, which is also seperated from the u-joint.  I'll get it though, in the morning.

[don07tncav]

AD. I've used three different darkside tires and haven't had to unbolt the final drive.

On my sears motorcycle lift with an adapter, the tire can be angled in. I do disconnect the shock bolts on both sides and leave the mufflers attached too.

[MP]

Put the bike in gear, so the front will not turn.  Lift up the rear, so that it is horizontal, not with the rear low.  That helps some.

MP

[oldman]

AD  What MP said:

Put the bike in gear, so the front will not turn.  Lift up the rear, so that it is horizontal, not with the rear low.  That helps some.
MP

Plus, I have found that I have to "tap" the drive shaft into the U-Joint a little.  It doesn't just slide in.  Tight fit.   By having the swing arm nearly horizontal, it makes it easier in the drive shaft to match up with the joint.

As a side note, I was able to remove the wheel (MC tire) off without taking the "punkin" off when I replaced the rear tire and had to replace the U-Joint, so it wasn't a problem.  But, I ended up taking the "punkin" off as well as the drive shaft to get my DS tire on.  Both ends of the driveshaft needed to be lube anyway.

[JetDriver]

But, I ended up taking the "punkin" off as well as the drive shaft to get my DS tire on. 

What's the "punkin?"

[Alpha Dragon]

Jet:  Punkin = final drive. 

Old Man:

My problem is traced back to the harbor freight bike lift and my floorboards not being compatable to raising the bike as high as I needed it to be.  So, I couldn't drop the wheel all the way down.  Next time, I do this next to my gravel drive way, putting the lift on the concrete of the garage floor, with the rear tire over the gravel.  Get it on the lift, then simply dig a hole in the drive way to drop the tire all the way down, no muss, no fuss!  I will get it done this morning, (I hope).

[Alpha Dragon]

Okay, after a nights sleep, I tried the nylon tie down strap/golf club shaft technique.  Worked like a charm.  Take a flatened steel golf club shaft, use it to stuff some tie down strap under the u-joint to stabilize it, and the drive shaft slips right in.  I did have to seperate the drive shaft from the final drive though, so I could see.  Don't forget to pull out the tie down strap!

Anyway, going together was easy after that.  Now, for the test ride.

[Smokinjoe]

I'm sure you got this back together by now however I wanted to share the easy way ( for me anyway )..... Get some cable TV wire or something close to it...Take a flashlight and shine a light to the u-joint. Take a stick( I use a old cb antenna from my Mack truck ) and pick the u-joint up and slide the cable tv wire under it this will hold it up perfect to line up when it goes in just pull the cable out. I've fought these things for well over a hour before tryin' to get the drive-shaft in ...Doing it with the tv cable wire I can have it in in less than 2 minutes ...I works everytime.

[Valker]

Nice tip, Joe. Thanks.

[Alpha Dragon]

Yeah, nice tip.  (Where were you two weeks ago?)

[Smokinjoe]

Yeah, nice tip.  (Where were you two weeks ago?)

It always works out that way don't it    ...Try the ol' cable TV wire under the drive shaft trick next time you service as stated above it works perfect.