Triumphrat

danf_florida · 06-09-2007

Being fairly new, and not seeing anything on this. I was wondering how long is the life expectency of the "cush" in the rear axle area?

Thanks!

dazco · 06-09-2007

I don't know. But i felt mine was rather sloppy right from the beginning, or at least very early on. I have heard this from a few people here and at the BA forum. Anyways, i found my rear wheel had what i felt was too much slop, so when i had to take it off to change the tire, i inserted some leather strips i cut from an old belt. worked well, and the slop is gone and has been since. Some people have also used i believe thunderbird sport cush rubbers which are said to fit tighter. But at somewhere near a hundred bucks i opted to simply tighten it up with those leather strips. after several K miles, so far so good.

speedblue · 06-09-2007

dazco,good idea with the leather in the cush drive.I used the old inner tube bit with mine.I've done it twice now.Next time I take her apart I am going to use some of tha old leather jacket of mine or an old belt.I new I hung on to that old jacket for a reason.Great idea.The cush drive I think contributes to some of the clunking noises people talk about on this site I believe. :knkknk: :-D

ErwinM · 06-09-2007

Quote:

i inserted some leather strips i cut from an old belt.

Excellent Idea!
Erwin :upthumb:

speedblastr · 06-10-2007

I've noticed mine pulling in or out of the driveway there is a 1 inch drop or so ,at an angle ....In doing so I've heard that "clunk" and wondered where that was coming from in the rear end.(and no it isn't the shocks or the drop it was something more pronounced like ...slop.) The leather strap...what did you do , cut the leather to size like the other cush rubbers and use the leather as kind of a shim or are they all attached in some way like in pairs or something(the kaw. looked like a crown) it's hard to make out exactly in chapter 13 just would kind of like to take care of that clunk and know a little more before I undergo It. Speed.

[ This message was edited by: speedblastr on 2007-06-10 13:05 ]

Normandy · 06-10-2007

Quote:

On 2007-06-10 12:56, speedblastr wrote:
I've noticed mine pulling in or out of the driveway there is a 1 inch drop or so ,at an angle ....In doing so I've heard that "clunk" and wondered where that was coming from in the rear end.(and no it isn't the shocks or the drop it was something more pronounced like ...slop.) The leather strap...what did you do , cut the leather to size like the other cush rubbers and use the leather as kind of a shim or are they all attached in some way like in pairs or something(the kaw. looked like a crown) it's hard to make out exactly in chapter 13 just would kind of like to take care of that clunk and know a little more before I undergo It. Speed.

My guess would be your "clunk" is something else, like maybe too much chain slack. Your 06 should not have any trouble with the cush for years yet. All the cush drive does is compress the cush rubber to take the stress off the chain, mainly on take off. A little play is fine and if it was too tight you would have trouble getting it back together.

dazco · 06-10-2007

The clunk is not the cush drive, but it's sorta related. It's the rear brake caliper mounting plate. If you take the wheel off you'll see the mounting plate is kept in place so it doesn't rotate with the wheel by a rectangular cutout in the plate that fits onto a rectangular protrusion on the swingarm. But the cutout is a bit larger than the part on the arm that fits in it. So when you have backed up especially, going forward makes the plate move forward and the protrusion hits the side of the cutout which stops the caliper plate from rotating and gives you that nice "clunk". I keep meaning to glue a bit of rubber in there every time i remove the wheel, but i never remember to.

danf_florida · 06-10-2007

The only reason I asked the question, is at approx 1700 mi, I had to have mine replaced. I mentioned the fact to another America rider, and his was bad, too. I do not know how many miles he had.

Thanks for the helpful info

dazco · 06-10-2007

It's a problem that was very common on the earlier cruisers. lots of posts about it at the BA forum and people saying they replaced theirs with thunderbird sport cush rubbers because they're better and fit tighter. I though it was pretty much rectified bt the time the 05's came out. maybe not. I haven't had any problems with mine as far as degrading, just a bit of sloppiness. And actually not enough to really need the leather shims. i just wanted those so there would be no slop at all.

speedblastr · 06-10-2007

Normandy...It's not my chain I have that to Spec. If anything I pay attention to the chain and proper amount of air in the tires I'm Playing it safe in that way,or so I would surmise.Daz......I see what your talking about ,I see where the caliper is mounted on that sort of huge half crescent shaped plate;I also see down where you are talking about where it fits into that protruded so called permanent key,yes the cutout looks bigger than the key It's gotta be down there ,that's close to where the sound is coming from,so in essence your telling me if I physically move it backwards, which I do a lot, backing into the garage,even if I brake wouldn't that move that plate upwards a little so when I make contact with the driveway at an angle it could "clunk down" because I leave off the brake just before the rear wheel makes contact with that little ledge going out and coming in.It doesn't happen all of the time.....Just once in awhile.I know the cush-drive is on the other side ,however I wasn't sure exactly where it was coming from but now I have an Idea what to listen for and on what side if I can.....Speed. Oh....By the way shimming your cush drive (slop) what did that do,stiffen up your take off? :-D

[ This message was edited by: speedblastr on 2007-06-10 21:17 ]