With the recent snow, I thought it would be a good time to put on my new tires. I was looking forward to seeing how they would do in the snow. When I got home, I eagerly went to work. It would be simple. Just put the Ural up on the center stand, remove the castle nut and cotter pin, loosen the pinch bolt, pull the axle out, and take the wheel off. It should be a ten minute job, but 90 minutes later the wheel was still on and I was a tired sweaty mess.
The axle was stuck. It wouldn’t come out. I sprayed it with various lubricants. I tugged on it. I whacked it with a BFH (big hammer). It only moved about 1/8 of an inch. Damn. I even had to get my phone out to watch a video on YouTube to make sure I wasn’t crazy on how easy it should be. Yup, just pull it out easily. Ugh.
Yesterday, I took it to the local shop. I didn’t think it’d make it 100 miles to Scrambler. I figured they would be able to get it off easily and put my tire on. I was shocked they wanted $126 to swap a tire and I was bringing the tire! 1.5 hours by their shop rate. Arg.
They ran into the same problem I did, but they took the 2WD u-joints apart so they could whack it with a bigger hammer than I used. It moved about an inch.
The mechanic also pointed out my sidecar u-joint was shot. I said “I don’t see what’s wrong.” He grabbed it and gave it a shake and it moved around a lot. “It isn’t supposed to move like this" he said. Oh…
They didn’t have an axle in stock, so they were going to take one from a new unit to get me back on the road unit while they order a replacement. The u-joints they said they could get from Napa. I get my air filters there too. It’s from a tractor.
They finally got the axle out and the wheel off. The wheel bearing is shot as well which I had suspected. Time to use the spare wheel. I should hopefully get the Ural back later today. *fingers crossed*
The repair looks like: new rear tire, new tube, new rear axle, two new u-joints on 2wd axle, and a new wheel bearing. Yikes! I am not looking forward to the bill. I hope this is the extent of my mechanical drama this winter. It’ll be my fifth winter of riding in the snow on the Ural! I hope it means I’ll have some good luck mechanically.
I too have had the joy of a stuck axle, bearings seized within like yours apparently and ended up having to replace the FD's hub spline....joy. Recently had both u-joints on my sidecar's prop shaft replaced as they were "loose". The URAL dealer had a heck of a time with one of the u-joints, glad it wasn't me struggling with it. Now I religiously pump grease into the u-joints at every oil change.
ReplyDeleteHope your total repair bill is not too bad.
dom
Yuck on the FD spline. I was impressed my ujoints made it this long considering the abuse the rig takes. I need to learn how to grease them I guess. I hope these new ones last 4 years as well. Sitting at the dealer now. Scared of the bill. They still arent done.
DeleteYikes, surprise repair bills are never good. Hope they get you race ready for winter in a jiffy and no more problems.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I will still need to put my winter oil in and put the other tires on the wheels. I cant afford them doing it at $126 a wheel. I am also hoping for no more problems this year.
DeleteChris, do you think that because your Ural is a year round bike, that maybe the salt/chemicals that MN DOT dumps on the road might be part of the problem? The salt/chlorides must be very hard on the aluminum and steel on the bike. Are your winter rides are getting enough preventative maintenance? Didn't you also have an issue with electrics and corrosion on the Ural?
ReplyDeleteI hope you repair bill is not too high. Keep on riding!
Yea, the corrosion is a continual battle I will eventualy lose. I spray the bike down with T9 which has done a great job retarding the rust. I do the regular maint and take the bmw mindset to just replace things before they fail. I am thinking I should replace the other wheel bearings too before they fail.
DeleteChris:
ReplyDeleteYIKES ! I hope your bill is less than what you are thinking too. I know nothing but Erik has a point about chemicals and salt corrosion. Your wheel bearings could have caused the problem and created more drag on the U-joints causing them to fail too
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Thanks Bob. The chemicals on the road are a problem and part of the winter riding experience. I plan to ride the ural until it rusts away.
DeleteOuch! Was the axle seized onto the wheel bearing? I was looking at someone elses Ural and could shake the u-joint at the sidecar wheel. He told me it's supposed to do that. I suggested maybe not...
ReplyDeleteWow, four winters so far. That's seems pretty good but relative to a car, it seems like there is more repairs.
Yup, thats what they told me. Axle siezed on bearing. A pain indeed. Riding in the winter is not economical. A car would likely be cheaper and socially easier, but I am not riding in the winter because it is cheap or easy. I do it because I like riding, so I will do it as long as I can.
DeleteUral has a high amount of repairs compared to all my other bikes too. Even in the first year before salt could do anything. A ural isnt a reliable as a japanese bike.
Update:
ReplyDeleteThe Ural was fixed the next day for $500. I need to get new bearings on the spare wheel and likely at least one other.