Piggin cush drives
 

Well my new ones arrived today , but didn't want to just put them in without anything else !!!!

Been down the old bits of inner tube route and found bits of mashed up rubber when i took the back wheel out !!!

So got to thinking ......................OK i know its dangerous but needs must, seemsto me there's to much play in the cushes from new , hence the inner tube bits , alas these to wandered about , in my hub anyway !!

What about something thats going to fill the gaps but still allow a certain amont of movement !!!

Thats where this ideas come from

SILICONE :031:

Both side of the hub have been well cleaned

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x...o/IMG_1544.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...o/IMG_1545.JPG

New cushes fitted DRY

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_...o/IMG_1546.JPG

Applied the silicone along the top edges of the ally spacers so when the cushes were pushed on they'd take the silicone down with them.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...o/IMG_1547.JPG

As you can see it's ordinary house hold silicone and i repeated the procces on each ally section

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P...o/IMG_1548.JPG

Next i siliconed along the top edge of each cush drive so when the outer hub goes on it has the same effect as before

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0...o/IMG_1549.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d...o/IMG_1550.JPG

Here , not the best pics , but you get the idea , the outer hub seating into the base and silicone

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U...o/IMG_1551.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j...o/IMG_1552.JPG

Now , onlt time will tell :clock:

But the worst it can dois NOT WORK and the set silicone will peel out very easy !!

I've got about 5k kms left in the back tyre so you'll all have to wait for the prognoses !!!

Phil

http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...his-thread.jpg

Nice, interested in the results but have a feeling the tensile strength of household silicon will be insufficient. On that note, love the idea and would like to see how a knife grade silicon like Sikaflex would hold up!!
Keen to see the results!
Matt

I was going to go for Sikaflex knowing full well it's the dogs ****** but if it didn't work it'd be a hell of a ***** to get out !!!

My idea with the silicone is that "hopefully" all the gaps are full and the cushes don't rattle about !!!

We'll see:025:

1st impressions on silicone cush add

Took the pig out today and can't put myfinger on it but it feels better !!!

OK i'd got used to the old cushes wearing down slowly and i obviously i have new cushes in with the silicone so all these are factors !!

The whole ride felt firmer and more responsive if that makes sence.

I'll put a couple of thou kms on it and drop the back wheel and take a look !!

On a side note found out what was rattleing !!!!! the clocks are dropping off:hahaha[1]: Maroc kicks the sh1te out of your bike

Howdo! Did this mod work at all?
Just bought an XTZ with 10k on the clock and the rubbers are well and truly worn! They were even put back in the wrong way around! Thinner one where the thick one should be.
Ordered a new set and am keen for this not to be another thing to think about all the time!

Regards Dave

I am waiting to see how this works out too

Hi guys
I've done ,over the couple of thou kms and push it hard ,lots of off road and practising wheelies !!! thats another story , "i cant do em" so consiquently i've been knocking hellout of the back end !!

Still feels nice and tight and very responsive

I'm at home all day today so i'll pull the wheel and have a nosey and get some pics for you

Phil

Here you go gentelmen !!!

Got the bike up on a padock stand i forgot i had !!!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-M...o/IMG_1617.JPG

Once the wheel was off opened it up and found this !!!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-w...o/IMG_1618.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9...o/IMG_1619.JPG

Looks a LOT WORSE than it is , some of the silicone had come loose , but i must reiterate " i am a bit of a nutter"

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a...o/IMG_1620.JPG

On this next pic you can see where the cush has rubbed on the ally in the left hand slot

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A...o/IMG_1621.JPG

And the black circles show that there still is a certain amount of movement, i hoped it would !!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...o/IMG_1623.JPG

All the bits cleanded off , and i as thought very easy to remove

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I...o/IMG_1624.JPG

Hard to see but on the top circle you cab see a little horizontal rubbing

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j...o/IMG_1626.JPG

There still was a certain amount of crud in the hub ( i am a dirty rider !!) so i 'm putting at least half of this down to the ****e i ride in !!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E...o/IMG_1627.JPG

Here's a bunch of pic of the rubbers, still have wear , but checked the kms and this is after 3724kms

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M...o/IMG_1628.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-m...o/IMG_1629.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...o/IMG_1630.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d...o/IMG_1631.JPG

I would be interseted in compairing others wear of similar mileage !!!

Putting it back together i put a lot more silicone in this time so as to leave no air gaps............to a degree !!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c...o/IMG_1632.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F...o/IMG_1633.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7...o/IMG_1634.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...o/IMG_1635.JPG

CONCLUSION
It defenatly took all the slack out of the back end and seems to me to hardly of worn.
Weather it has done any good at all , we'll see !!!

BUT the whole excersie cost pennies so nothing lost.

Again if anyone has pics to compair i'd love to see em

Phil

I've got my rear wheel out at the minute (and swingarm) waiting for parts. I'll take shot of my rubbers when I get in tonight. They've got 2500 miles on them, which isn't far off your distance. They look worse than yours though...

That'd be great Pleiades
Are going to try the silicone idea ? it worth it , cost next to nothing and is dead easy to do and UNDO

Thanks again �Phil

My cush drive rubbers have prob only got about 500 miles on them. Im gonna try this silicone lark too. Just normal Silicone?

Thanks for taking the time out to take the photos and upload them Phil, got a new set of rubbers on the way and will probably have a go with some silicone, looks like it's reducing the wear at the very least!
I have a relative who makes silicone cake moulds and was speaking with him today. Seems it's almost definite that he'd be able to take measurements and produce some heavier duty replacements, will let people know if I get a set and see how long they last!
Until then it's squirty home silicone for me! :041:

Regards Dave

Yes to that Phil , the cheapest one will do , moulds not an issue :bravo:

Good on ya mate ,you can't loose , be interested on what your relly comes up with

Cheers Phil

Wheel has been out the bike a week now and I hadn't opened up to hub till tonight. TBH, I was expecting to see worse! Anyway, this is what it's like (after 2457 miles)...

http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc74759bc.jpg

I reckon they look about the same as yours Phil?

Now the interesting thing is, I've never looked at them after such a relatively short distance. Normally I'd check them every rear tyre change, which is usually getting on for 4000 miles or so, and every time so far they have been totally fooked by this point. I'm starting to wonder whether the rubbers deteriorate at an exponential rate, ie:- once they start to go, they go quickly?

Not at the minute, although it's a fine idea, for a couple of reasons...

(1) I've got a 525 chain and sprocket set sitting here ready to fit and I want to put fresh set of unadulterated rubbers in, so I can experiment to see whether a wider chain eases the stress on the cush drive (which apparently it does?)

(2) Then ultimately I'm intending to make my own polyurethane rubbers by cutting some Shore 85A PU sheet (when I can find a supplier that can do it in the right thickness that doesn't come from the US!)

Interseting ............but just looking at your pics the rubber at 10 oclock the nipples/studs do look worse for wear , this is probably from an in/out movement , one thing i think i've cured with the silicone.....or not !!!
Here's mine
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3...o/IMG_1631.JPG

Any chance of pics right round on the rubbers ?

I'd also be very interested in the out come of the 525 chain, my DR runs a 525 as standard and lasts an amazing amout of time , the 520 just looks to small to me !!

And look forward to the polyurethane out come !!!

By the way good to see another dirty bike :thumbsup[1]:
Phil

Here you go Phil.

Top and bottom view of each pair of rubbers.

Pair at 9 o'clock...
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps888c05d3.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps59694f92.jpg

Pair at 12 o'clock...
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1aec163b.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf7710de8.jpg

Pair at 3 o'clock...
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb6ed5974.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps13ebd686.jpg

Pair at 6 o'clock...
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa23b4e5d.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0d697338.jpg

Apologies to everyone else who might find this all a bit boring! :sleepy3:

Yeh................but YAMAHA SHOULD HAVE SORTED THIS !!!!! not a Brickie and a Science Teacher !!!

That is a better pic mate and yes i have to agree they do look fine.

Strange !!! looks like a soild hub next :tazdevil:

Phil

DAM DAM DAM !!!!

If you do the silicone job DON'T DO WHAT I JUST DONE !!!

Sun was shineing so sod it i'm off out ...............256 kms , no pics but great run

UNTILL I LOOKED AT THE BACK WHEEL WHEN I GOT HOME !!!!

I hadn't left it long enough for the silicone to fully set !!!!

The C/F force has spewed it out all over :rofl[1]:

Doh!

I've just got out of the garage, installed new cush drives with silicone and pieces of inner tube, see how long that lasts eh!

Anyrate, no chance of me getting silicone all over the place, it's raining sideways here!

Just been looking at XT660 Tenere videos on youtube and came across this one! Haven't a clue what he's saying, but the just of it seems to suggest that the sprocket carrier bearing sits a little too loose on the axle thus allowing sideways movement of the sprocket and carrier, could this be the cause of the cush drives early demise?
Anione understand the language or know about the mod of replacing with a more snug fitting bearing?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNwGS1LpUAg

All Russian to me !! but is he putting the old bering in LAST ? the one that wobbles a lot !!!
I'll give that a go next time the wheels out

Cheers Phil

Don't know about the Russian mod, but fitting a double bearing to the sprocket carrier is something that several owners have done with good results. Here's one post that explains it...

http://www.xt660.com/showpost.php?p=192087&postcount=1

Yeah, I think he's just doing it that way sound because he already had the new one in?

That double row bearing mod sounds the business!

BTW - The replacement bearing you need for the above mod is an off-the-shelf 3205-2RS (25x52x20.6 mm)

I may just do it at some point, but I'm going to see how the 525 chain fairs. Do one thing at a time etc...

Hi all interesting ideas to lengthen the life of the cush drives and it appears to improve the stiffer it is made, silicon inner tube etc. What if it was bolted ,glued or welded solid, would this be possible, some bikes do not have a cush drive. I am just thinking out allowed really. Steve.

I think all that would do is move the wear (stresses and strains) somewhere else less easy to fix, like the gearbox. At least with the cush rubbers (a throw-away item) and sprocket carrier bearing being the weakest links in the chain, so to speak (no pun intended), they are cheap, quick and easy to fix.

I have had a look at this problem and I also think that it is possible to machine out the casting to twice its depth and put two bearings side by side. Thus keeping standard bearings and giving more support to stop the hub from wobbling. That's what I'm gonna do when I next have the wheel out.:098:

I'm sure this has already been covered , with pics , or am i dreaming ?

No, you're not dreaming! ;)

http://www.xt660.com/showpost.php?p=192087&postcount=1

Can't tell much from this video from my phone! Has this guy just fitted a bearing inside the sprocket cover without any drilling or anything?

I have recently picked up a second hand sprocket carrier and have had it machined out to take a 20x52x22.6 mm bearing, not the one pleiades suggested (25x52x20.6 mm).

There was method in my madness at choosing that particular size but as it turned out I had to machine a new spacer to fit inside the bearing so the (25x52x20.6 mm) option with a spacer to suit that would be cheaper than the one I went for.

I did not go down the route of machining the carrier to take two standard bearing as that looked like it would leave very little material for the bearing to butt against and I did not want to weaken the carrier too much.

It'll be the weekend before I can get some photos but will try to post pictures of both standard and modified carriers.

Sandman.

This is all great but truly bizzar, we're all trying to sort what seems a very easy fix by a massive company like "YAMAHA"

Never ceases to amaze me the the common man can see the obvious :dontknow:

Lets hope someone from "YAMAHA" reads this , because we all obviously like the bike

Phil

Yamaha is only likely to fix it when they bring out the next incarnation of the XT. As previous posters have mentioned....built to a "price" more than a "high standard"!

Long live the garden shed tinkerer!!!

Yep. If the Tenere was perfect out of the box, I would more than likely have got bored with it by now and probably moved on to pastures new. Five and a half years later, it's never let me down, yet I'm still finding things to improve and fiddle with - which keeps me out of mischief!

Yep , your both right , "born to mess" as our lass says :mbounce:

I replaced my cush drives when i changed my tyres a few weeks ago.

All was fine.

The some 500 miles later i needed to get my chain replaced. I got my local shop to do this as i don't have the tools to cut off the OEM chain nor fit the soft link.

The chap who did my chain noted that my cush drive had serious play and advised changing them straight away!!!!!!

He did not beleive me that they had 500 miles on them!!!

Mike

Its a ******, if you're not upto it get the local shop to pack them with strips of old innertube
Phil

Checked my cush drives today. They're fecked already after 2,500 miles :sad10: