Rear Main Seal--'99 K1200RS--3rd times a charm?

[Unity]

Try not to be too disappointed with the bike. Not knowing how many miles your '99 RS has, I'd still hazard a guess that final drive rebuild/replacement about equals the cost of changing chains and sprockets every 15k or so.

--John
(Mechanical stuff wears out. Try to be philosophical. )

[biometrics]

If you are going into the final drive, here is the best price I have found on the big bearing... http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/PROD/Kit8743_1

$74.95

I am about to order one for myself, and they told me that these are IN STOCK.

I haven't checked on the availability of the drive oil seal from any of the dealers yet. If anyone knows where to get the right oil seal at less than dealer prices, please let me know...

[Kontoboy]

Thanks for the tip on the bearing at BioMetrics. I did check it out and may go that way, but my main concern right now is getting the bike ready to depart for Sedalia on the 17th. Unfortunately the supplier is in Cali, and overnight shipping is as much as the bearing ($75).

I pulled, disassembled and cleaned the final drive this evening. It wasn't that bad--started about 9:40 PM and finished about 1:00 AM. Took my time, cleaned everything thoroughly. The hardest part was removing the bearing. My puller didn't quite fit in the gap, so I had to do some grinding, and even heated to 200 degrees, I really needed to torque down to get it to budge.

It's off though, and good thing. Both races and heavily pitted. Everything else looks fine--even the seal I plan to replace anyway.

I'm at the mercy of parts availability, so my game tomorrow is to call around and see who has what. I can't get there until evening, so I'm working around store schedules. Battley's till 7 PM T-F which is nice, Bob's is open late on Wednesday, Morton's late on Thursday. I may need to make two runs for parts, since i won't know what size shim I will need until after I have the new bearing installed.

And my K has 40,000 miles on it--not a lot given the heart ache it's given me. Admittedly, I ride hard commuting and it's been to the track a couple times. But it gets regular maintenance, and honestly, these problems with main seals and the final drives shouldn't be happening and they surely aren't "maintenance." Reliable engine seals have been around for decades, and you don't hear FJR, ST or GoldWing owners having driveline problems.

It's love-hate with the K. When it's running well I love it, but at these time it is trying my patience.

[Georgeinva]

I keep the "big" bearing and seal in stock, if you are near Manassas.

[Kontoboy]

Found all the parts I needed--before I saw your post George. Uncle Bob had them and I took off work and brought my clean and bearingless drive with me to pick up my order.

After leaving the parts desk I stopped by their service desk to check my options. After talking with a tech they gave me an estimate for reinstalling the bearing with the proper preload and removing the pinion gear to check the bearing and seal the check the pivot bearings too. I didn't want to spend the money but it is probably money well spent. I've got a micrometer for measuring the preload shims (mine was .0900 mm) but it's not an area I'm comfortable working in.

I worry that once they start checking this and that cost will go up. (I may have to forego my motel in Sedalia for a tent!) Best of all the tech twice assured me it would be ready for pick-up Saturday.

Looks like trip is still on.

Kontoboy

[biometrics]

George at BUA, please PM your price for the bearing and seal... I would pick it up, no shipping required. Thanks, -John

[Kontoboy]

Good news, my final drive is ready for pick-up. I'll head to Laurel tomorrow and should have it back in the bike on Saturday.

Kontoboy