Subject: Rear drive progress
Author: Ray Hale
Date: Mar 2, 2005, 5:50 AM
Post ID: 1718479046
I'm enjoying reading about all the last minute preps for Bike week. Wish
I were among you. Won't be riding for a while yet. I actually sat on the
bike a few days ago and was not able to lift my right hand high enough
to grab the throttle. Damn. Good luck to you all. Exciting, aint it?
Saw the surgeon yesterday for my first follow up and he released me from
my sling soooo...slipped out to the shop last night while Lea's band was
practicing in the house and with much info and encouragement from Greg
(hey, stop hurting yourself!) and re-reading everything I could find on
the subject, began rebuilding the rear drive.
My main concern was that the roller bearing race spun freely in the old
case. The only thing holding it in was the screwed down plate that is
there for just this reason, making me think maybe this is somewhat
common. But, I've never heard of a bearing and race spinning together.
Of course, maybe the race stops spinning when pressure and heat are
active. Still seemed spooky. Looking into the old case there are no
signs of damage from the race and no signs of damage to the outside of
the race either. Bearing is in great shape.
The new case I recently purchased is different in that the race does not
fall into it. Last Saturday while at Stan's I found another old Eldo
rear drive that had the same situation as mine. The race spun freely
with light finger pressure. Typical? So, last night I installed the new
seal and the race, requiring some tapping but not much. Couldn't have
done much due to my arm anyway. Dropped the bearing in and installed the
hold down tab. All looks and seems well.
Does any of the above sound familiar to anyone? I'd sure like to hear
from you guys who've done the rear drive rebuild before I start with the
pinion shimming. I thought about engaging Stan in conversation about
this but he was bouncing between four lifts doing last-minute race bike
assembly, just like some of you guys. Didn't seem appropriate at the
time. I recall a photo I took several years ago at the Vintage Races in
Daytona. A mechanic is working on a race bike in the pits. There's a
hand-scrawled sign hung over a folding metal chair. "Please don't talk
to the mechanic. He might make a mistake. Thanks, The Racer!"
I know I've said it many times and we hear it almost weekly on this list
but it's so cool to be able to interact like this with so many people. I
was just able to walk someone on another list through the install of a
hydraulic primary chain adjuster. The sharing of what we know just goes
round and round. Feels good.
Ray
pax sine tedio
73 Eldo "19"