Drive shaft/U-joint Beat to Hell

[delivery58]

Talking about drive shafts.... 03 Nomad 40,000 U-joint came apart, but the crazy thing is... It was doing this for sometime, because the "yoke" were beating away at each other, "taking up the slack" of the failed U-joint. You would have thought that this thing was making a God awful noise, but it wasn't. All that to say, Yes, lube the splines/drive shaft is important, but in my opinion.... lube the U-joint!!! (Have you seen the itty bitty amount of cheap grease that is in a U-joint with the needle bearings), Unfortunately, the factory U-joint has No provisions for a grease fitting. Also, Kawasaki does not sell "just" a U-joint for the drive shaft of a Vulcan. You have to purchase the "complete" driveshaft/U-joint/Yoke assembly. Long story short, a Kawasaki Quad 4-wheeler 450 uses the same U-joint, I had to get this part (TEAM #UJ7002) through my local Honda dealer #31-41842 ( $24.95) Good Luck

[ringadingh]

Its good that you got it before it broke and did more damage. I just changed the u joint in my truck yesterday, it must be that time of year.

[billz410]

It'd be nice if a zerk was provided, but I guess that'd make too much sense.

[VulcanE]

Originally Posted by delivery58

Talking about drive shafts.... 03 Nomad 40,000 U-joint came apart, but the crazy thing is... It was doing this for sometime, because the "yoke" were beating away at each other, "taking up the slack" of the failed U-joint. You would have thought that this thing was making a God awful noise, but it wasn't. All that to say, Yes, lube the splines/drive shaft is important, but in my opinion.... lube the U-joint!!! (Have you seen the itty bitty amount of cheap grease that is in a U-joint with the needle bearings), Unfortunately, the factory U-joint has No provisions for a grease fitting. Also, Kawasaki does not sell "just" a U-joint for the drive shaft of a Vulcan. You have to purchase the "complete" driveshaft/U-joint/Yoke assembly. Long story short, a Kawasaki Quad 4-wheeler 450 uses the same U-joint, I had to get this part (TEAM #UJ7002) through my local Honda dealer #31-41842 ( $24.95) Good Luck

A couple of months ago, I disassembled mine, cleaned all the needle bearings and cups, and relubed with the Honda 60 MOLY lube. There was a little grease in it, now I know there's enough GOOD grease in it.
Glad you found a replacement U-Joint, just be careful when you remove and install the retaining clips, you can put an eye out. ;)

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Glad you were able to repair the U-joint so economically. I can imagine that replacing all of it would have been quite expensive.

[dkdixie]

I too replaced U-joint with one for the Kawasaki 4WD mule. Same price 24.95.

Its been a few thousand miles and working fine.
The replacement eliminated a vibration, especially in 5th gear.

[macmac]

Originally Posted by "dk dixie"

I too replaced U-joint with one for the Kawasaki 4WD mule. Same price 24.95.

Its been a few thousand miles and working fine.
The replacement eliminated a vibration, especially in 5th gear.

That U joint was saying sianara....

Thew factory U joints are either greased ok or they are NOT, about 1/2 the time so far as i can tell.

At the 7,000 book mile spec the swing arm should be serviced, and all the splines greased. This allows fer inspection of the U joint, which would show, and if not, might by 14,000 miles.

And since 'we' don't always do this service on time and ni dealer I know of has ever done this service once ....... EVER, then it is up to us to do it.

At 22,000 I found a 'tight' U joint om my 01 which had 12,200 miles on it when I bought it.

I am sure that U joint was bad that day, but I went and riode it to Cal from NH, where I did the swing arm service.

Having a zerk on a improperly greased U Joint won't help. What happens is air can be trapped on one of the plains in the U joint, when a robot greases it.

Then forever more no grease will enter that plain.

'IF' you buy a zerk replacement U Joint, you want to grease via the zerk with NO CAPS on it first. Pinchiing off one plain and greasing till grease emitts from the other plain... Then switch and grease again. This and only this will get grease in and air out.

Then assemble the U Joint in the yoke, with pre greased caps and grease it all again as installed.

Beats me why 'we' can't hear this clunk....

[ridemslow]

Did the U-joint from the Mule have a zerk fitting? Gadget has an article about this with part number that has a Zerk fitted U-joint for about the same price.

[dkdixie]

Originally Posted by ridemslow

Did the U-joint from the Mule have a zerk fitting? Gadget has an article about this with part number that has a Zerk fitted U-joint for about the same price.

Mine does.