K11 Owners Group

[Hobieone]

I just saw an article about a bronze bushing replacement for the needle bearings in the rear drive swing arm interface ........ it said they are a weak spot in the entire assembly and prone to failure. The replacements were some bronze bushing and a steel bearing race that supposedly outlasted the factory needles ... made by a JL something or other ......... anybody have any experience with this ? My 93 K11LT is just over the 40k mi mark and I have no reason to worrry about this, just wondering if I should file it away for futre ref or consider it as a genuine improvement over factory design.

TIA

[rkildu]

When I first got my LT, bought used, I took it to my dealer to get the a couple of out of spec valve buckets replaced. In talking to the tech about the K maintenance in general he advised me to replace those bearings every time I removed the final drive. He said that they were inexpensive and easy to replace as well as being quite small for the job they do.

The first time I pulled the drive, for my 1st spline lube at 45K, the bearings sort of came apart, needles falling out, etc. Fortunately I had heeded his advice and had a set of replacements on hand.

I have since then replaced the needle bearings with the bronze bushing replacements.

I have often wondered if some of the u-joint failures on our bikes could be related to those small bearings failing?
_________________
Rod Kilduff
97 K1100LT HighLine
82 R100Lufty

[old guy old bike]

When I pulled mine apart this winter ('93 with 87,000) I was prepared to replace mine but I have to believe someone had replaced them before I bought the bike with 69,000 on the clock. The bearings were all in good shape and the races looked like new.

I wonder of part of the problem with these going away is improper adjustment rather than part failure.
Jeff
_________________
1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

[superchicken]

Yep, I replaced the bearings with the brass bushings. Works great! I had purchased a bearing set the cages around the bearings seemed frail. Better idea.

That was last spring or over 25,000 miles ago.

tim lindstrom
95 k1100rs,

[gaillarry]

Are the brass bushings a BMW item or aftermarket?
_________________
1997 K1100GT

[Ernie-NH]

Hello all.....

Relative to this replacement. I THINK, but not sure, that this solution was developed by Tom Cutter of the Rubber Chicken Racing Garage in Yardley PA. Somewhere I have this documented and will find it and advice the group.

Best regards............// Ernie-NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

[SugarHillCTD]

Phil Marvin told me about this guy:

http://www.beemershop.com/

I think I have seen the Beemershop ads in the MOA magazine and the ad specifically mentions the swingarm bushing replacements.

John
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

[Ernie-NH]

Hello all...

In addition to John's resource link, here is the link to Tom Cutter who can provide the exact parts required to replace the needle bearing...

<<< http://rubberchickenracinggarage.com/bushings.html >>

Good luck and best regards.........// Ernie-NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

[Stoked Steve]

So how would these relate to U-joint failure?

When I replaced my driveshaft last year, I checked these bearings and they seemed OK, nice and smooth, but now you guys have got me paranoid about them and my u-joint failure last year, I don't want a replay of that!
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

[old guy old bike]

[mnb]