MOT failure!
 

Afternoon all

So the bike failed its MOT due to excessive play in the shock linkage. With the bike on the centre stand, the rear wheel can be lifted up a good 5mm+. Has anyone else had this? Is it a big job to replace the bearings?

Thanks in advance.

JP

Replacing the bearings and seals is really easy on all new xts. You don't have to take the rear wheel out, undo the linkage, remove,replace the bearings, regrease, refit.

The only issue you will have it to press out the needle bearings, pretty easy with a vice and spacers/tubing. I removed my linkage and cleaned and greased it in less than half hour. Have a search here on the forum.

This might help...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44D11uF_5w0

Thanks for that. Time to get the hammers out!

A weak point on Yam's in my experience.

I've not checked mine yet, but would fit a grease nipple if it's possible..

The bearings themselves are OK it is the almost non-existent amount of grease that Yamaha apply on assembly that's the issue. Most of the damage gets done before the 12K service which when the dealer should re-grease, by which time it's too late. I bet if you replace them with same OE parts and grease them generously yourself, they'll way outlast the first set put in at the factory. I strip and grease every 6K, rather than just "check" as the service schedule says. As Tony says, it really doesn't take that long once you've got the hang of it.

Hi tranny.

Mine goes in for one this Autumn, just had a look at mine, centre-stand down and rear wheel off the ground: solid as a rock, and it’s only done some 14, 000 + miles since September ’08. Why do you think your linkage system is so far out? Winter weather, riding technique, bad luck…???

Not sure why mine has gone so fast. I do ride in the winter but as yet have not been offroad. Not quite sure how technique is going to affect the linkage?
The head race bearings were also shot at 9000 miles so maybe I was unlucky and there was a grease shortage when my bike was being assembled. There definitely wasn't much to be found when I stripped the linkage!

As in...
 

...popping wheelies or riding on some very rough off-road riding kinda thing :eusa_eh: