SPEEDO/ DRIVESHAFT BEARING ISSUE... HELP!!

[aduesling2]

I was riding on some rather bumpy trails today and this is what happened... suddenly I heard what sounded like ice flying around in my belt area... I stopped and so did the noise... when I started going again, the speedo was jumping everywhere, and then stopped working altogether... occasionally it would start working, but very eratically..... after this episode everything worked fine, except the speedo... I kept going for approx. another 70 miles, and everything was great, except that speedo.... WHAT IS THE ISSUE?? I have read that this may be a ?driveshaft bearing?, but wouldn't this put an end to my riding for the day? How do I check/diagnose this? Where do I look? This is my first Yamaha (03 RX1), and I don't have a clue about four stroke sleds.... any info would help.... other than that though,... LOVE THE YAMAHA!!! thanks in advance, AD

 

[maim]

look under the secondary clutch. that is where the sensor and the bearing is located. if the sensor is rubbing on the trigger wheel, you need a new bearing and most likely a new sensor.

 

[aduesling2]

Can you see the bearing to tell if it is shot? How do I know? If the bearing was shot would it not have ended my days riding? Thanks, AD

 

[05candyredrx1]

speedo

You may need to remove the secondary to get at the sensor more easily. The sensor has (3) 12mm nuts that hold it to the outside of the drive shaft bearing mount. Remove these nuts and remove the sensor to get a look at the bearing. The bearing change is just like that on a 2 stroke. You could pull the outer seal off the bearing without removing the bearing. I use a very small straight blade screwdriver along the edge of the seal and gently pry the seal up. You should be able to get a basic look at what is going on with the bearing.

 

[aduesling2]

But again.... if that bearing went would it have not ended my days riding right away? Thanks, Al

 

[rx1ryda989]

not necessarily, it could have shifted and settled and is wearing metal on metal...get it checked.

 

[aduesling2]

So... the bearing is shot... the shaft looks like it has dropped onto the sensor so it will be shot.... but like I said, once this happened I actually drove another 75 miles..... is that all this does is drive the speedo? I am at a loss because like I said the bearing is GONE and it ran great the rest of the trip.... no noise, misses, etc..... like a new machine other than the speedo didn't work...... I just don't get it..... what further damage should I be looking for? Thanks a lot for the replies.... AD

 

[RX1Jim]

Take the bearing off the shaft and remove the bearing keeper plates. You mak have ground into the bearing keeper plates. You may have spun the bearing on the shaft which will make it a royal pain to remove. Get all these parts out and take a good look at the shaft. Riding the sled after that bearing failed caused the remnants of the bearing and shaft to get very hot. You will need a new bearing at a minimim. Once that bearing fails, it puts stress on the seal and bearing in the chaincase.

 

[Len Todd]

Once, my speedo gear came loose and few off. The bearing was good cause I just put it in and forgot to tighten the speedo gear. I found the gear and bolt cause I looked for it right away.

One note here. It seems like there has been more time spent resisting checking the bearing and gear than it takes to just replace it. It is time to take off the secondary and look at the bearing. If you trashed the Speedo Pickup your already in for ~ a $120s worth of parts. If you screw up the drive shaft you can add about $1K worth of parts and labor, not to mention the loss of the sled till some shop jockey gets freed up, assuming you are not doing the work yourself.

You asked for Help. They have been offering it. It may be time to listen a bit.

 

[Dano]

aduesling2,
Bearings are not something you wait to fail before you replace. If you don't know how long its been since the last bearing change, get er done! Might want to do the Jackshaft bearing as well while your at it. If the bearings look good and are still intact doesn't mean they are good for the season. Regular preventative maintenance can go a long way and prevent down time/extra cost.
Good luck..

Dan

 

[aduesling2]

Thanks for all the advice.... it's not that I haven't been "listening a bit" its just that I am new to this and am trying to understand so that I can learn and hopefully gain some knowledge, although apparently I will never be as bright as some people.....
However, I appreciate all the constructive advice... the sled is at the shop, I bought a shop manual, and I understand what has to be done now... thanks guys!!!

 

[yamahamaniac]

yeah I blew the bearing on the jackshaft on the clutch side right to pieces and all that was happening was a huge squeal but it still moved good. When we got it all picked apart the bearings in the chaincase were almost gone and the one down by the speedo was as well. We replaced the whole works and then after we thought the speedo nut was tightened enough but I guess it wasnt. I was going across a pond doing like 150 I guess and when I look it was reading zero, I thought like the hell I'm stopped. I looked and caught the bolt and gear just before it fell through the bottom of the sled.

 

[kinger]

If you need a new speedo sensor I have a spare I will sell ya. MUCH cheaper then new from yamaha.

 

[Len Todd]

Now that you will have new bearings in place, you should be good for the season.

Also, once you have known to be good bearings, then you can maintain them and save a lot of $s. You can clean the jack-shaft bearing in place by removing the Secondary, Secondary Spacers & C-Clip and bearing seal, flushing it out with cleaner, blowing out the cleaner and repacking the bearing. I do the same thing to the Drive Shaft PTO side bearing, only I take it off every time. This makes the job easier, less mess and ensuring the bearing does not get stuck onto the Drive Shaft.

Cleaning, inspecting and repacking every couple thousand miles is a lot cheaper (e.g. no need to buy a speedo sensor) and makes the sled much more reliable (e.g. no loss of speedo and Drive Shaft along the trail, etc.).

 

[mooserackjim]

Seems that the wiring harness chafes away and grounds out on the frame.Its where the harness is held on down by the toehold.Turn the wire and check it.Tape it up if its not the bearing.