1988 xj900f swingarm removal, how to?

Dear folks, i was tipped that a loose nut (nr 19 on the drawing) could be the cause of the 'clunck' when pulling away.
To reach this nut, i have to remove the swingarm, and i am a little insecure about it. ( I am not familiar on working with Japanese bikes).
The manual with very fague black/white pictures does not help a lot and there's no YT vid of the operation.

How difficult can it be?

 

The middle drive gear clunk's on the shaft drive bikes. It's normal the spring loaded damper mechanism is closing. It's most likely that. Rev the engine and close the throttle in neutral to check for noise.

 

Then it isn't there, it is only there, and you can feel it, when driving away from neutral...

 

Two nuts should be secured with locking tabs. Bolts on the drive shaft flange should have threadlock. Never seen them being loose unless some PO has done it. You can see the nuts with the gear shift cover removed. Check lock tabs on the nuts before removing swinging arm. If the nuts were loose there would be damage to the 90 degree meshing gears plus noise. I don't think you have anything wrong but do these checks to be sure.

 

I was tipped on nu nr 19.. i cannot reach it by merely pushing the rubber aside i think?

 

Correct you need the swinging arm removed for access to 19.

 

Well, nice step for getting this- for me new- bike to know a little better.. ofcourse i will look out for other defects on the way..

 

I hope they are secure. Look at the internal nut underneath the gear cover first. Shouldn't be any metal fragments in there unless a PO has been in there and nor torqued the nuts. There are shims there 2D on the drawing for the gear lash.

 

I succesfully removed the swingarm. It was not diff\icult at all and feel a little ashamed that i made such a fuss about it.
The nut in the joint where the rubber sleeve is, is not loose at all. I cannot feel play in it and i feel tche suspected 'clunck'is in the gearbox..

Am hesitant to open it.. maybe this is normal/how it is supposed to be?

Installing the swingarm; Thighten the left side as it was, and then adjust the right side with the allen bolt and securing nut?

 

It's the middle drive gear. Its normal l was concerned about the noise off my bike too then realised what it was. Parts 3 and 4 above is what the clunk is. Go ride your bike nothing to worry about.

 

Really??
Especially with a heavier passenger it sounds & feels worrying..

 

Best check further then. Swingarm bearings because its worse with a pillion passenger, shock absorber bushes?

 

With the bike running and on the centre stand are you getting the noise when revving the engine?

 

If it is not this and its definitely noise within the crankcase l would take the gear shift cover off to check the middle drive gear which meshes with the gear secured by the nut you checked. It's got a locking tab l think and it's retaining plate has four peened bolts to lock them. If those were slack the gears would be noisy. Check all you can before splitting the cases, it is not a difficuly job but it is time consuming. How many miles has your machine covered. Good luck.

 

..about 108.000m km's

 

Not a lot for an XJ. I am trying to find a video of the noise my bike makes. Cannot take another one bike is not running yet.