Drive shaft replacement

[holyfighter117]

so...i need to replace the drive shaft on my 97 gs500. the splines (or what ever they are called) are stripped ( i have no idea why, the guy i bought it from wasn't straight up about the bike condition and i didn't know any better, *noob*) so i have to replace the drive-shaft because it wont hold the front sprocket anymore. How involved is replacing myself or if i take it to a shop, how much am i looking at spending to get it replaced?...

[Kijona]

so...i need to replace the drive shaft on my 97 gs500. the splines (or what ever they are called) are stripped ( i have no idea why, the guy i bought it from wasn't straight up about the bike condition and i didn't know any better, *noob*) so i have to replace the drive-shaft because it wont hold the front sprocket anymore. How involved is replacing myself or if i take it to a shop, how much am i looking at spending to get it replaced?...

Without a coating of sugar...

The entire engine has to be split open to do this. This means removing it from the bike, cracking it open, disassembling, and replacing the shaft. Depending on where you live, you might be looking at close to a grand in labor/parts from a shop. You'll be replacing gaskets and seals along with it.

Sorry, brother. Wish I could offer you some words of encouragement like...it's no big deal, but it kind of is. But hey! If you're intrepid enough, you can do it yourself in a few weekends.

In the interim you can weld a new sprocket on the shaft. Of course, this will only last until the sprocket wears out.

[holyfighter117]

i tried welding the front on and it broke. And a grand is a little outta my price range..maybe ill weld it again..but a lil stronger???

[Kijona]

i tried welding the front on and it broke. And a grand is a little outta my price range..maybe ill weld it again..but a lil stronger???

Make sure it's straight, if it's not, lateral pressure is going to be put on the sprocket. It can't be all wobbly and such.

At this point, what have you got to lose, right?

[jacob_ns]

afaik the front sprocket is meant to float on the driveshaft so there is less lateral wear on the chain. Welding it is a recipe for an epic disaster a little ways down the road.

[holyfighter117]

afaik the front sprocket is meant to float on the driveshaft so there is less lateral wear on the chain. Welding it is a recipe for an epic disaster a little ways down the road.

...well...this sucks...i really dont want a disaster and i dont have a grand to put into it...*deep depressing sigh*

[Kijona]

afaik the front sprocket is meant to float on the driveshaft so there is less lateral wear on the chain. Welding it is a recipe for an epic disaster a little ways down the road.

If the chain breaks he can just replace it. Of course, all of this is just prolonging the inevitable.

Hell, it would be cheaper to buy a used engine and put it in than it would be to pay somebody to fix what the P/O f%&ked up. You could then part out your old motor and make some of the money back.

[jacob_ns]

afaik the front sprocket is meant to float on the driveshaft so there is less lateral wear on the chain. Welding it is a recipe for an epic disaster a little ways down the road.

If the chain breaks he can just replace it. Of course, all of this is just prolonging the inevitable.

I guess I just anticipate worst case scenario. A chain breaking at speed and wrapping around the rim, rear sprocket, swingarm or ankle is going to be the start a very bad day.

[Kijona]

afaik the front sprocket is meant to float on the driveshaft so there is less lateral wear on the chain. Welding it is a recipe for an epic disaster a little ways down the road.

...well...this sucks...i really dont want a disaster and i dont have a grand to put into it...*deep depressing sigh*

It'll just make the chain wear unevenly along with the sprockets. It might cause the seal around the shaft to start leaking but what the hell, right? It's already toast anyway.

Like I said, I'd look at getting a used motor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Suzuki-GS500-GS-500-Motor-Engine-/140714482384?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20c33c9ad0&vxp=mtr $300

You get the picture.

[holyfighter117]

I have the manual for the engine disassemble so...instead i may just crack it open myself and give it a go. i mean, worst case scenario, i buy a new engine..prolly cheap than a grand like you said...

[Kijona]

afaik the front sprocket is meant to float on the driveshaft so there is less lateral wear on the chain. Welding it is a recipe for an epic disaster a little ways down the road.

If the chain breaks he can just replace it. Of course, all of this is just prolonging the inevitable.

I guess I just anticipate worst case scenario. A chain breaking at speed and wrapping around the rim, rear sprocket, swingarm or ankle is going to be the start a very bad day.

That's true...I mean, it would be wise to get on this ASAP. He can get by, for now, if his chain is in good condition.

[holyfighter117]

afaik the front sprocket is meant to float on the driveshaft so there is less lateral wear on the chain. Welding it is a recipe for an epic disaster a little ways down the road.

...well...this sucks...i really dont want a disaster and i dont have a grand to put into it...*deep depressing sigh*

It'll just make the chain wear unevenly along with the sprockets. It might cause the seal around the shaft to start leaking but what the hell, right? It's already toast anyway.

Like I said, I'd look at getting a used motor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Suzuki-GS500-GS-500-Motor-Engine-/140714482384?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20c33c9ad0&vxp=mtr $300

You get the picture.

300 bucks? hell...i may be able to do that...WAY better than a grand..

[Kijona]

I have the manual for the engine disassemble so...instead i may just crack it open myself and give it a go. i mean, worst case scenario, i buy a new engine..prolly cheap than a grand like you said...

The one I linked you is $300...

You'd be looking at close to that for parts alone. Gaskets, seals, the countershaft is $125...that $300 engine is looking pretty good now, huh?

Then time and labor...I'd say you could probably sell yours for $200-250.

[Kijona]

afaik the front sprocket is meant to float on the driveshaft so there is less lateral wear on the chain. Welding it is a recipe for an epic disaster a little ways down the road.

...well...this sucks...i really dont want a disaster and i dont have a grand to put into it...*deep depressing sigh*

It'll just make the chain wear unevenly along with the sprockets. It might cause the seal around the shaft to start leaking but what the hell, right? It's already toast anyway.

Like I said, I'd look at getting a used motor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Suzuki-GS500-GS-500-Motor-Engine-/140714482384?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20c33c9ad0&vxp=mtr $300

You get the picture.

300 bucks? hell...i may be able to do that...WAY better than a grand..

Yep, and if it's in need of something...well hey, you've got another motor sitting right there.

[holyfighter117]

I have the manual for the engine disassemble so...instead i may just crack it open myself and give it a go. i mean, worst case scenario, i buy a new engine..prolly cheap than a grand like you said...

The one I linked you is $300...

You'd be looking at close to that for parts alone. Gaskets, seals, the countershaft is $125...that $300 engine is looking pretty good now, huh?

Then time and labor...I'd say you could probably sell yours for $200-250.

selling it whole or parted out?

the engine is in good condition with around 7k miles on it. it has been laid over a couple times so it has some major scratching on the outside but other than the drive shaft, the internals are in good order.

[Kijona]

I have the manual for the engine disassemble so...instead i may just crack it open myself and give it a go. i mean, worst case scenario, i buy a new engine..prolly cheap than a grand like you said...

The one I linked you is $300...

You'd be looking at close to that for parts alone. Gaskets, seals, the countershaft is $125...that $300 engine is looking pretty good now, huh?

Then time and labor...I'd say you could probably sell yours for $200-250.

selling it whole or parted out?

the engine is in good condition with around 7k miles on it. it has been laid over a couple times so it has some major scratching on the outside but other than the drive shaft, the internals are in good order.

I mean...I'm sure somebody on here would buy the motor as a whole for $200...you could maybe make more parting it out but it's a motor...not a whole bike. People want complete motors, not pieces.

[holyfighter117]

so is there a good place i could get a good guide on how to remove and put in the other engine?

[holyfighter117]

better question..how hard is an engine swap?...

[Kijona]

so is there a good place i could get a good guide on how to remove and put in the other engine?

There's tons of pictures in the projects section.

It's really not that complicated, I think you could do it in a few hours if you had an extra set of hands.

[holyfighter117]

so is there a good place i could get a good guide on how to remove and put in the other engine?

There's tons of pictures in the projects section.

It's really not that complicated, I think you could do it in a few hours if you had an extra set of hands.

I can get extra help. thanks for all your help on here:) i think i'm going to grab that engine within the next couple days. (gotta smash my piggy bank!)