Exposed Driveshaft

I am looking for someone who has exposed the shaft on a 82 xj 650 or simular. I want to know how you designed the plate to hold the rear to the fab'd frame. Do you need to seal where the shaft goes into the rear? I would like some insight on this before I dive in.

 

na....just do it, so you can take pics and I can decide if it's worth it or not

 

you might be able to do that if you turn the frame into a true welded-tube hardtail. Otherwise, the part that has the shaft running through it is half of the swingarm. If you cut that, you're killing the integrity of the unit. That could end up killing you.

Dave Fox

 

It has been done before on other shaft drive bikes, I've seen photos of a Moto Guzzi with exposed drive shaft and parallelogram rear end but they still run a swingarm along side the drive shaft

http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=84hF ... nd&f=false

 

"That sounds like a bad deal" sorry old guy I knew told me that a lot. The drive shaft is not very big and does not look impressive. And you would remove half of the swing arm, sounds like a lot of work but if you pull it off I wanna see pics, I think hot rodding is the best past time of America.

 

Like you said, "they still run a swingarm along side the drive shaft" There's a difference between running a driveshaft along side a nice strong swingarm, and running a thin driveshaft through a pretty good-sized hole straight through the middle of a swingarm.

Go for it, though, and figure out a cool way to do it.

Dave

 

forget the swing arm, this thing is gonna be hardtailed! I just wanna know if there will be an issue with the rear fluid leaking out... I guess i shoud just take the damn thing apart and have a looksee. If its a matter of oil splattering out of the rear where the shaft enters the rear I would need to find a decent seal to integrate to the plate I have to make. If it is an issue of holding oil in then I would have to get a sealed bearing to put on that shaft, maybe have the shaft ground between centers to fit a bearing... I will keep you guys updated

 

Oil won't leak out. There's a seal on the output shaft. The Ujoint bolts on under the boot.

Look up Plumber on this site. He's done it.

 

That's what I said, third post down. As far as leaks....there is a seal at the back of the tranny so you won't leak anything there, and there is a seal on the punkin so you shouldn't lose any there, either. If you do, then you'll know that you need to get a new seal.

Carry on and forge the way..........

Dave

 

Heres a pic of mine

 

That's just something else to get your pants leg caught in.

 

I'd think the drive shaft is enclosed for a reason. I'm going to leave mine that way.

 

There are plenty of reasons for why exposing the Drive Shaft is a Mod that you'll be a whole lot better off not considering.

Obviously, right off-the-top, ... you got: Safety.

"Anything that gets done with a deliberate compromise of safety; is something you have done without the least bit of integrity." --- Admiral Hyman G. Rickover U.S. Navy

 

Nice quote Rick. So, with kids riding on the back that's not even a remote possibility for me. I WOULD like to put a bigger tire on the rear though. I only have a 110 on there now. I'd at LEAST like to go to a 130. I think I could live with that.

 

I fail to see how an exposed shaft is more dangerous than a chain or belt drive???? thats a very odd concept.

 

I'd be tempted to paint a curved white stripe on it- - like a Barber pole!

 

Stating personal opinion:

It's not!
They're all equally as dangerous.

But, we accept all the risks and sign all the wavers, every time we put the key in the switch and turn it to the left!

 

The enclosed shaft WAS the improvement.

 

The shaft is only enclosed to simplify design, it was never a saftey feature

 

Does anyone know how much space is between the shaft and th shaft cover? Maybe a smaller diameter pipe could be used as a cover.