Finally: Cush drive cure? We need your help!
 

Hey 660'ers

I've been to see Gabe at Zen Overland recently, and he is very interested in producing poly-urethane cush drive rubbers in the UK for distribution world-wide.

After Hunday kinda dropped off the radar, I thought that this is the one thing all T�n�r� riders want.
Yes, there's farkling to be had, but this is definitely a prospect to be considered.

We're looking to you, the riders, to express your interest.
How much would you be willing to pay for something you don't have to change every 4,000 miles?

Gabe also needs a rear wheel for fitting and maybe a guinea pig for final testing.

Someone based in the south west of UK would be best, Zen Overland is based in Somerset.

Anyone who can get involved would win themselves a free set of PU rubbers, once they've been manufactured.

Hopefully, design to prototype should take about a month, so he's looking to move on this pretty quickly.

Any thoughts or interest can be left here.

Many thanks, all.

Steve.

I'm too far away to be of any use BUT I'd be up for some if it gets off the ground.

rubbers
 

count me in to buy some if they start to make them

Cush drives
 

Yes, if the price is ok I would want a set as im sick of the sloppy snatchy feeling that makes the bike feel rubbish.
Dont mind what colour they come in!

I have a set of Hunday poly cush drive rubbers and they work a treat. I can guarantee there will be a huge market for them as THEY WORK.

I did look into finding someone to manufacture them a while back, but the setup cost were too much for a mere mortal like me to swallow. So well done Zen Overland (and Steve) for offering to get this one off the ground. :clap:

What I would say is that they do need to be priced carefully. Hunday's are really at the top limit of what is acceptable (mainly because they are shipped from SA), otherwise just replacing the stock ones every now and again becomes the more cost effective (especially with inner tube mod) option. I'd say double what a pattern set cost would be fair and similar to the cost of the OE parts, or course it all depends on setup cost, predicted sales and Zen's profit margin.

Maybe starting a poll would be the best way of gauging interest?

Fortunatly I got them as well from Hunday. Thanks god! They work like a charm and saved me a lot of money.
I have mine now installed for about ca. 25000 km. You would think that I just changed the cush drive rubbers if you didn't know that they are made of PU.
I just compared the prices for the rubbers (these are the prices I payed or would pay for it).
Hunday (PU): 64,- Euro (incl. shipping)
OEM: ca. 44,- Euro (without shipping)
aftermarket: ca. 30,- Euro (without shipping)

So I think if the price is competitive it will sell very well.

21,60 euro, without shipping, fastriders.de

I managed to get a set from Hunday eventually - took three months at least and a few emails after having paid him, so an alternative would definitely be good! Haven't had much chance to test them but have to be better than constant OEM replacement, though were fairly pricey. I reckon Zen Over landers would be onto a winner if they could get them made for reasonable pricing though I probably/hopefully won't need to replace mine....

count me in, I'll have a set. I know how awful the originals are and want a set to last.

I,ll definitely take a set if they come to fruition. I've just done the sprocket carrier mod and put new rubbers in. Big difference, much better.

I am certainly interested in a set, provided they are designed/engineered from scratch, and made from the correct "Duro" material. Prefer something that will be drop in and forget....

I currently have a set of the South African blocks fitted. These are a "flop" of the OEM blocks, but do require some sanding to bring them into specification. Recently had them out for inspection after doing 10,000K's and they appear to be standing up reasonably well. Cant see them lasting more than 50,000K's though

BTW, I have also done the double row bearing mod.

I would suggest most Aussie owners would be in also, so long as the final cost plus shipping is reasonable. You guys have alot of reasonably priced gear over there but once shipping is factored in, tends to push the purchase into the unreasonable end of the market.

Lucky we are reasonably well serviced with some fantastic locals...wish one was into poly fab.

Matt.

As I have said before a couple times...
I made a set.. must be close to 3 years ago
from 95A poly sheet... cut them with a hack saw
use plenty of CRC/WD40 on the blade..
I have notice lately they are just starting to
losen up... I made them a very tight fit....

If I make another set I will try 70D I think..
D shore is harder than A shore...

yer can get the poly sheet of E-bay...



..

Yes please
 

I'd buy a set and I have 4 other XT riding mates who probably would too. I fitted a new set of OE rubbers 4000km ago and already have room for inner tube packing. One long off road trip was enough to start to wear the piece of crap OE ones. Previous comments on price look about right to me. I think they cost �32 in Yamaha dealers in the UK, but I'd be willing to pay �50ish for something that is better and that lasts.

id buy em.

Very interested too.:coolsmiley:

Definetively interested too....

Put me down for a set if they get made, price?, I guess I would go up to �50.

I'm in!

I'm in and �50 sounds ok

I'm in

count me in when all gets going!!..

Finally: Cush drive cure? We need your help! 02
 

Please fill in the poll as well as continuing to add your comments.

Yes, I'd want a set.

However, as Pleades says they need to be carefully priced.

I have a friend with an XTR who knows Gabe, lives locally, but doesn't frequent this forum. I'll ask him if he fancies being a guinea pig.

Or is it only a Tenere problem?

Those 'piggin' cush drive rubbers are a problem across the XT range, so please get him involved!

Thanks for all your interest so far.

I'd be up for a set.
<poll done>

i'd certainly have a set for my XTR, would gladly pay �50ish for a set that lasted more than 5 minutes.

Me too. ..I'm being advised by those that know to check my cush drive already.....on a three month old bike with two thousand miles!, my only concern would be the hardness of the material used...if its too hard it will last but may transmit vibrations, and not 'cushion' the drive train. ..three this can transfer strain to other components. Going from a 650 single with no cush drive I have really appreciated how smooth the drive train is on the Ten Steve

Good point Steve. I'm interested in a set but they must still have an element of "softness" to them. The idea is to cushion the drive and not make it so direct (like on XR's) or the chain and sprockets will wear in no time.
If you haven't checked yours then I'd have a look.
My first Tenere, I checked the rubbers after less than 2,000miles and they were like chewing gum and I bought the bike new.

Cush drive
 

I'm in done mod on my xt660 r 2009 with either thane rubber packing has worked butt will go why are these original Cush drive rubbers so crap it a shame on yamaha

Voted yes if they come in the 50� range.

While I'm at it I would like to ask you all a question about cush drives, but I don't see the need to open a whole new topic.

My XT is my first bike so I'm still learning alot and recently discovered I probably need to change the cush rubbers, I don't know if they ever have been changed by any of the previous owners and the bike has done around 9500 miles. Yesterday I rocked the sprocket back and forth and noticed a play of around 1-2mm, but since I'm a noob it doesn't tell me much if it's on the better or worse side, anyone care to weigh in? :) Thanks!

I would be inclined to replace the Cush drive rubbers & perform the Kev Cush drive mod just for peace of mind. It's one of the more easier jobs to do, so would also get you more acquainted with you bike.
It may be worth considering if you are due for a tyre or chain & sprockets to while you have the wheel off.

I agree with this sentiment, though I don't know that the chain and sprockets would suffer as much as the gearbox if the 'rubbers' were too hard. Especially if those owners who try to torque the 660 around the place (instead of revving it freely) use dampers which are too dense.

I've used rubber belting to space my originals out, and so far they're fine. But they've only done about 23,000 km.

I also agree that the choice of polyurethane shore hardness should not err too far into the hard end of the range. Ideally it wants to be similar to the OE rubbers in terms of damping. We don't want them to be any harder really, just to last longer.

I suspect that Hunday's ones that I have fitted maybe slightly on the hard side? They've only been on for about 5K miles, so can't really pass comment on chain wear.

Cush drive
 

When are these Cush drive replacements available because the standard one are s***e I have packed them with rubber but don't last long please hurry up and make them available please why oh why has Yamaha not solved this issue its a shame on them

I agree that it is a great idea at the right price.
I'm about 40 miles away and would be happy to visit for a free set. I'm off to tour Scotland soon, so I could get around 2-3,000 miles put on them over 2 weeks if that is any help.

Hi Emilia, hope you're going to post some pics of your Scottish tour! Steve

I've been thinking about this cush drive problem over the last few weeks and think we're maybe barking up the wrong tree.

Replacing the cush drives, packing the gap out or fitting harder rubbers is simply treating the symptom, not the cause; similar to constantly putting a plaster over a wound that won't heal.

I inspected the cush drive rubbers on my new 2015 Tenere 4 weeks ago and was shocked to find them starting to "disintergrate" with only 250 miles of use. I found about 2mm of free play but more worrying was the slithers of rubber that had been "rubbed off" the cush drives. I can only think there must be a lot of movement with the sprocket carrier moving in the hub against the cush drive rubbers.

Perhaps the solution is to do the mod and add a second bearing to stabilise the sprocket carrier thereby reducing or eliminating excess movement and friction.

I'd be interested to hear from members who have made the second bearing mod if they have noticed any reduction in the cush drive rubbers wearing??

Incidently, I refitted the sprocket carrier and covered the cush drive rubbers in Michelin bib mousse lubricating gel (this is used to lubricate mousses fitted to off road tyres) I'm hoping this will reduce the friction and wear in the cush drives therby prolonging their life.

Any news?

Hi All 19000 miles on the same Cush drive rubbers but with the rubber sheet inserts. I have bought several differ thicknesses of rubber to try to what effect it has on the ride quality. What I would say is that when packed tight hence little movement the ride through the drive chain was quite harsh and I was concerned that the chain and gearbox were getting a hard time



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