Rear Wheel Play Question

[mjcraft]

OK, I checked my rear wheel play yesterday (which I do every so often) and unfortunately found that I had some. I have play with my hands in the 12 and 6 positions with and without the rear brake applied. No discernible play in the 9 and 3 positions.

From what I have read:
-if you get play in 12 and 6 & 9 and 3 (without the brake) it is the big bearing
-if I get play in 9 and 3 it is the pivot bearings

So what gives? If I had to guess, I'd say it's the pivot bearings.

BTW, mine is a 2002 RR with 20,200mi.

Thanks for your help!

-Michael

[hank]

Try it at 9 and 3 with the brake on, if it moves then its most likely you need to adjust or replace the pivot bearings. Do you hear a creak from the back of the bike when getting on and off the bike after a run? if it's creaking its the pivot bearings.

Hank.

[mjcraft]

Hank,

Thanks for the reply.

I will try 9 and 3 with the brake on when I get home tonight. I have never heard any creaking. The play is slight (I can't see it) but can easily be felt. I hadn't noticed wandering while riding either, so the play is obviously not too bad. Famous last words.

I need to take the brake off to make sure, but the wheel seems to turn fine. There is a slight build up of dust under the rubber boot from an extremely small weep, but definitely nothing I would consider significant (but maybe this is!).

Regardless, I'm pretty bummed about it.

Thanks,
Michael

[MIXR]

Don't panic too much about the play you are noticing. Some of it is very likely to be the tolerances in the differential unit, and is quite normal, but disconcerting all the same. It goes away under load, but you cannot simulate that with the bike stationary.

What you have to determine is whether the 'play' (or 'clunking') is the wheel attachment, the diff, or the pivot bearings. Hank's comment about 'creaking' is spot on. My R had creaking pivot (paralever) bearings for about 50,000 kms! And quite a bit of play at the rear wheel. Just took me a while to get around to fixing it.

You may find the rear wheel will still move a little (distance from centre exagerates this) but the drive shaft plate is barely moving at all (naturally this is closer to the centre-point). My GS has a pronounced 'clunk' and movement, but there is nothing obviously wrong at the diff end, so I'm leaving it alone. Just check that the wheel spacer is there if required. Some R1150 bikes have a spacer plate that sits behind the wheel, and some don't. And some spacers get lost by the dealers or tyre changers! The spacer seems to depend on the depth of the drive 'fingers' (teeth) that connects the drive-line to the rear wheel.

After all that - Just try and confirm where the play is, and then decide if it's urgent or just something to add to a future service.

[mjcraft]

MIXR,

Thanks for your input.

I just checked my bike again. No play from the 9 & 3 positions. Just for kicks I checked the torque of the rear wheel lugs and all was good.

Then, from the right side of the bike (the gear housing side) I grabbed the gear housing at 12 and 6 and the noise is still there! Which is great since it rules out the big bearing.

I guess I will just keep a watch on the paralever bearings (which seems to be not as critical an issue). I really can only sense the play when I give the wheel or housing a good yank, which may very well still be within the tolerance of normality.

Thanks for all the input,
Michael

[Sunbeemer]

Your paralever bearing pre-load needs adjusting. TADT.

[mjcraft]

Good to hear that it seems to be the paralever bearings.

Now here's the stupid question:

Is there a write-up about how to do this online?

I found some info but I don't have a service manual (this forum is awesome and has covered me so far)!

Thanks for your help!

Michael

[hank]

I followed the advice on this post from UKgsers forum, the 1150 GS uses the same swingarm and bearing http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85797

[mjcraft]

Hank,

Great link! Thanks!

[ebincia]

Don't panic too much about the play you are noticing. Some of it is very likely to be the tolerances in the differential unit, and is quite normal, but disconcerting all the same. It goes away under load, but you cannot simulate that with the bike stationary.
.

Great explanation. I've had a pop in mine since it was new...not a big deal...takes quite a bit of pressure to get it to pop. No discernible movement.

[gregor]

Recently had the pivot bearings replaced by my trusty main dealer. ~£270 all in for labour and tax and parts. The rear splines had seized but they did not charge for freeing that.
Never noticed any handling problems or noises off. The play was demonstrated to me before the job was done. I owned a 6o's unit Triumph T90 so I guess I'm insensitive to hinged frames.