[SilverBuffalo]

There was so much talk about failing final drives on this board, I stopped reading them,
figured if it happens it happens.
We have been making preperations for this trip for a while,
good itinerary, Texas hill country, Ozarks, Natches Trace, Blue ridge parkway and Iron Horse.
At least 3 weeks maybe more if the weather holds.

Got up around 3.30am secured the homestead and was on the road before 5 am, beat the traffic through Tampa, yeah, riding while the sun comes up, oh yeah.

We slowed to around 25 for the Sunpass lane of the second tollbooth on the Veterans Expressway and as I accelerated out of there the big Buffalo started dancing, felt like a flat tire, before I got her to the curb lane I already knew what was happening, heard it scrape every go-round.
Oil all over the wheel, 5.35am this is not going to be a good day!

GPS said Tampa BMW 2-1/2 miles, can I make it? Four way flasher on in the bicycle lane in first gear, hope I don't tear it up, I'm so pissed I don't care.

6am at the shop that don't open till 9 am, puddle of oil under the rear wheel is growing, now what, called a night shift working buddy that's just leaving work, I'll promise you anything if you'll just come and get me please, ok but you gotta take me diving soon, its a deal.

Back home an hour and a half later short trip, dissapointed wife, I'm just pissed.
Stay tuned

 

[pozo_izquierdo]

So sorry to hear about that

Sheesh, Hans I can believe you are pissed...
So sorry to hear about another final drive failure, especially that it happened to you.

Looking at the bright side of it, at least you were not far from home, yet. Maybe if you get it fixed in time you can still continue...

Let's hope you get it fixed in decent time.

Best regards

 

[murray]

Hans ,sorry to here the bad news when such a great trip was planned . How many miles were on the bike at the time of failure ? Try to get your shop to identify the number of balls the bearing had 19 or 17 ? I hope BMW will warranty the FD . Keep us posted .

Pete

 

[tliu]

Sorry to hear your mishap. I would be really pissed if I were in your shoes. The other fellow was right. On the bright side, it happened near home, and you can fixed it up, go on enjoy your trip and don't have to worry about the rear drive any more. Have a nice trip! We want to hear your trip report.

 

[slmorley]

Hans, sorry to hear of your troubles. I just purchased a spare rear drive for my bike. I've been debating whether to just keep it as a backup or to install; maybe this will help me make up my mind.

On a brighter side, it won't hurt you to delay your trip you've planned for a week. I live in Western NC near the Blue Ridge Parkway. It has been so warm here that the leaves have hardly any color in them yet. It's been perfect riding weather, cool at night and warm during the day, but no color in the mountains yet.

Hope you get repaired soon and get started on your trip!

 

[mpillis]

rear end

what year LT's are having this problem? I have an 05.

 

[rglassma]

It says 2002 in your profile. Is that correct??

 

[SilverBuffalo]

Follow up on the rear drive saga

First I want to say thank to all the well wishers at a time like this its good to have friends even as far away as Finland.

The bike is 2002 I bought it last May with 4400 miles on the clock.
The mileage currently is 14079.

I am in the process of reading everything I can find on rear drive failure and intend to fill out the survey's and send the suggested e-mails as soon as I get the appropriate vin and build date numbers of the bike.

Regarding the survey: there doesn't seem to be any common denominator other than K1200LT whether it be solo or two up, trailer or not, mileage varies it just doesn't seem to matter, we're all at risk years 99-2002.

After talking to BMW of Tampa I ended up calling them back and telling them that I would be removing the bike from their parking lot asap and I took it to Haps in Sarasota, the conversation I had with JM at Tampa BMW was not very confidence inspiring and since I bought the bike used and not from them, it just didn't sound like they were going to do a whole lot for me.

Yes I am very fortunate that I broke down close to home as I have more resources available here than I would have had on the Texas prairie somewhere, but I still don't feel very lucky right now.

Now its just a waiting game as I am at the mercy of the dealer.
stay tuned.

 

[hawg]

Dave,
Maybe he needs a "Bud Light"...er....I mean a Butt Light!!!

 

[patrickreyn]

recall

Triumph had a rear end problem with the rockett III Solution was a recall and to replace the drive on every unit. Do they know how to deal with this or what... they will have a touring rockett III in 2007. I know one thing Im not buying another LT

 

[Bayliner2052]

Take a look at the Tour Rocket...

 

[bmwhd]

I'd have to give that a serious look if Triumph brings it to market. I'm pleased as punch with my little Bonne America. Solid as a rock, smooth as silk, and CHEAP!

I'm fixin' to head out on a 1,500 mile weekend and I won't think twice about that little sucker letting me down (knock wood).

 

[bob_menton]

Hans, sorry to hear of your troubles. I just purchased a spare rear drive for my bike. I've been debating whether to just keep it as a backup or to install; maybe this will help me make up my mind ...

Steven, how do you know whether the spare rear drive has the new 17 ball crown wheel bearing, or the old, more failure-prone 19 ball bearing ??

- Bob (just down the road from you in Greenvul, SC)

 

[murray]

Bob , if the balls in the bearing can't be counted the race will have numbers on the side for ID purposes . At the start of the thread I requested ID of bearing.
Pete

 

[slmorley]

Steven, how do you know whether the spare rear drive has the new 17 ball crown wheel bearing, or the old, more failure-prone 19 ball bearing ??

- Bob (just down the road from you in Greenvul, SC)

Bob, it came off a 2005 model. It would have the new crown bearing.

The wife & I are leaving tomorrow for a 1200 mile ride, so I had decided not to install it until after the trip. I don't like to do anything major on my bikes just before a trip in case of a faulty installation. However, after reading Hans' experience, I decided to go ahead and install it.

I installed it yesterday morning. It bolted right up to my 2002. Installation took me about two hours. A better wrench could of probably done it in a hour.

As a added plus it solved my rear brake squealing problem. The drive had the brake disc attached, so I just installed it as a unit rather than put mine back on. I had tried EBC pads, backing compound, and the newer BMW pads with no luck. I rode the bike about 50 miles yesterday with no squealing so I'm hoping it won't come back!

 

[KBandit]

WOW ... i like the looks of the triumph. but if the final bike looks like that I have to say they may have trouble with the engine throwing heat onto the rider. the rocket i rode generated a lot of BTUs.

 

[SilverBuffalo]

My rear end failure

Actually my K1200LTE's rear end failure, mine is fine since I had it fixed a few years ago but then that's probably more information than you wanted out of this post.

I just talked to Haps and the status is they have replaced the bearing and are waiting on a seal with a little luck I might get the bike back in time to ride it into a hurricane and all the rain that is sure to come with it.

I have done enough riding to know not to go on a long trip after a major repair and intend to put at least 500 miles on it before we head out.
Even if I get it back tomorrow with the upcoming weather that will put me into leaving Monday.

At this point I am starting to have serious doubts about making the Iron Horse rendezvous, since I am committed to go to Texas first to pickup the Bushtec I have already paid for.

We are still planning on the Parkway it just might be delayed a week,
Y'all have a good time and hoist a cold one for me.

 

[slmorley]

Any issues with speed or abs senors?

No issues what-so-ever. I checked the abs gap after install and it was ok. No speed sensor on 2002 rear drive.

 

[mjordans2000]

Triumph does a great job on recalls. My Speed Triple was one of the ones that had bad welds that broke too easily on impact. They replaced the entire frame, no questions.