Sleeve Gear Bearing Failure

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Niagara850

Niagara850

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Cruising down the Niagara Parkway on a beautiful Canada Day when a racket came through my earplugs. Gearbox started snatching with nasty sounds like it was full of gravel with some screeching noises. It would shift but left it in 2nd and limped home 12km.
Looks like I'm in for an overhaul. Big leak coming from the sprocket area so maybe the bushing or bearing in that area has let go. My fluids are different colours so I know its gearbox oil. I replaced the layshaft bearing with a roller a number of years ago and the kick shift wasn't moving.

Can the the overhaul be done in the bike or should I pull it? I'll inspect and clean everthing when apart. What should be changed as a matter of course? I'll know more when I pull the covers but expect the mainshaft bearing and seal are shot for starters.

Damn the summer weather just got going...
 
I did mine in-situ, but, up on a lift, office chair height. You can strip it (primary & trans innards) have a look, then choose.
 
concours said:
I did mine in-situ, but, up on a lift, office chair height. You can strip it (primary & trans innards) have a look, then choose.
Click to expand...
Luxury!
I had to do mine with bike on a hard cold cement floor of our condo complex parking garage. My knees and back have never been the same.
 
Haven't posted pics for a while so here goes

Sleeve Gear Bearing Failure


Mainshaft bearing let go

Sleeve Gear Bearing Failure


Here are the bigger bits. How many balls in the bearing. I found 10.

Sleeve Gear Bearing Failure


Casing doesn't appear to be cracked the lip for the mainshaft bearing is a bit chewed up. I plan to pull the case for a good cleaning there are small metal and plastic bits everywhere
 
The curved rub mark on the mainshaft bearing outer race adjacent to the layshaft bearing could indicate that layshaft 4th gear might have been fitted the wrong way around?
 
Id pull it and give it the clean of its life. Esp the roller. You were lucky to make it back to base.
What gear oil were you using?
 
I saw that rub mark. Wasn't sure if the bearing drifted out or ? I'll check the layshft 4th gear placement. I pulled the layshaft out all together. I was using the Redline Shockproof Lightweight gear oil. I put the layshaft roller in 8 years / 9000 miles ago. That was the last time it was open
 
Summer is here, get (everything you MIGHT need) your parts STAT, you’ll be riding in no time.
Even though months or years were spent restoring, remember it’s easily repaired, parts are READILY AVAILABLE.
One can of Brakleen will rinse all the bad news out of the way. Inspect, replace as needed.

http://www.walridge.com/catalogue/

Ready, set, GO!
 
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Do you use a chain in the primary, it might have been set too tight loading the bearing up. The other thing to check is your cush rubbers.
Personally I would do the work in situ.......its summer you need to get back on the road !
 
You're right summer here is short I couldn't get at yesterday and not likely today. I plan to clean everything up, inspect and inventory needed parts over the weekend and order on Monday. Watch a few videos and go over the tech articles.

- I didn't find the sleeve gear oil seal (#9) on disassembly unless it the smaller cracked up ring. I've assumed that's the inner race The seal could have disintegrated at some or maybe was missing from the beginning of my tenure. Could be the cause of the failure? I would like to figure out why.

- the Countershaft Spacer is 'knackered'' and apparently fused to the Sleeve Gear. Any tips on getting it off?

- 4th gear lay has a slight burr on the teeth from rubbing the outer race. I assume I can touch that up with a file or stone. Does 1st Gear Lay just slide off or does it have to be pulled? The bushing seems to be holding it on. I would like to check if 4th lay is on the proper way. It appears to be the same on both sides. I don't recall removing the lay gears from the shaft when I installed the roller bearing years ago.

Thanks Mike
 
4th lay gear should have a thin raised section on the side that faces the layshaft bearing, this ensures clearance between the gear and the bearings. If this is missing it potentially explains why the gear was eating the main bearing, or maybe the main bearing walked out of its housing itself. A missing seal would allow a lot of oil to exit the gearbox and the top of the gearbox would be starved of oil and no doubt the main bearing would suffer. Trouble is with this mechanical archaeology is working out which was the first failure which then lead to the others.
 
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