Paralever Driveshafts - Keep 'em Flying

[GlobalRider]

I have a few questions about two statements made in that article:

The BMWNA recommendation is that the shaft be changed every 40,000 miles or so to prevent sudden failure.

Was that recommendation made in some sort of a Service Bulletin by BMWNA? I never heard of such recommendation, at least not officially.

BMWNA recommended checking and applying grease to the gearbox end u-joints every 8000 miles when the R100GSs were being sold in the early 1990s!

Once again, was that an official BMWNA recommendation, and if so, how did BMWNA expect us to grease a sealed u-joint without a grease nipple installed?

I ask because the spare OEM driveshaft that I have sitting on my shelf in the shop does not have any grease nipples.


Thanks for the tip on the Wurth SIG-3000. I'll check into it.

[Boxerkuh]

I read the same article last night. The 40K on the drive shaft I heard about; but it was to check it and not to necessarily change it. It is recommended due to the "steep" angle, however, if you have the luggage on there, are a bigger rider, say around 200 plus pounds it is more than likely a little better for the angle. Now the U-joint, I have not heard anything about and I wonder if this pertains only to the GS model or all; I am guessing on the GS models... :dunno :scratch
It would be great to know what, if anything, the offical version is...:ear

[lostboy]

I don't remember seeing any bulletins from BMW regarding replacing driveshafts every 40K, either. A BMWNA employee may have made a comment to Matt and it's been remembered as a bulletin. I have never heard of greasing the u-joints at any time. I've never seen an OEM R100GS driveshaft with grease fittings. I assumed the pictured driveshaft was one rebuilt by one of the suppliers Matt mentioned.

[The_Veg]

I read the same article last night. The 40K on the drive shaft I heard about; but it was to check it and not to necessarily change it. It is recommended due to the "steep" angle, however, if you have the luggage on there, are a bigger rider, say around 200 plus pounds it is more than likely a little better for the angle. Now the U-joint, I have not heard anything about and I wonder if this pertains only to the GS model or all; I am guessing on the GS models... :dunno :scratch

I think you are right, which is why shaft-problems are virtually unheard-of with the R100R and Mystic, which use the same components but have a more conventional 'street' ground-clearance and therefore their shafts run almost without bends when under load.

[GlobalRider]

I have never heard of greasing the u-joints at any time.

Neither have I simply because as far as I know, no BMW driveshaft have ever had grease nipples. But then I've only been around Paralever GSes.

I assumed the pictured driveshaft was one rebuilt by one of the suppliers Matt mentioned.

That it is, by Bruno's.

[DarrylRi]

Neither have I simply because as far as I know, no BMW driveshaft have ever had grease nipples.
Not so; all the "plunger frame" bikes had grease nipples in their u-joints:

http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/mcpics/2006/r51-3/slides/P2262063.JPG
That's the grease nipple poking out in front of the lower rear yoke.

I realize that this has nothing to do with paralever u-joints, but I can't resist throwing in my historical 2c worth...

[bmdubyou]

nice pic...was that a busted one too?

[DarrylRi]

nice pic...was that a busted one too?

Yes, but... not because BMW's design. It was busted because another bike ran into me.

http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/mcpics/2005/bashcrash/slides/P9161489.JPG

[bmdubyou]

aww...bummer. Sounds like a long story!
Awesome old bike there! That shaft has quite an angle on it too...but at the other end.

[DarrylRi]

aww...bummer. Sounds like a long story!
Awesome old bike there! That shaft has quite an angle on it too...but at the other end.

Yes, but it has a happy ending!

http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/mcpics/2007/r51-3/P5124354_med.jpg

[bmdubyou]

what a gorgeous work of art~! I could see myself falling in love again! what bike is that & whats the happy ending??

[DarrylRi]

It's a 1953 R51/3. You can read the whole thing on my website (http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/mcpics/2007/r51-3).

The happy ending is that it is back together and better than when I got it.