01 SXR600 Front Axle Bearing

EotS1

Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2014
Messages
67
Location
Petoskey, MI
So I just bought this SXR600 this fall, and was able to ride it just a little bit up and down a field during the November snow. The speedo isn't working, so based on my reading I knew it was probably the axle bearing behind the speedo housing.

Today I got in there to take a look, and it's bad. Very bad. Take a look:

20141227_123303sm.jpg


I don't even know where to start with this. The shaft has a groove in it probably 1/4" wide and 1/8" deep. I'm assuming it's shot, correct? What about the housing in which a bearing used to sit? It seems like it's probably destroyed as well.

Looking up from underneath, I see this ring hanging around the shaft, and I don't know what it is. This is an M10 suspension. Any ideas?

I'm pretty good with a wrench, but this stuff is all new to me. I was thinking "change a bearing, no problem." But now I'm not feeling too good about this...

20141227_124516sm.jpg
 

my friend had one fail, rode home race on race for 25 km.... got lucky. first off, clean all the grease off and get the inner race off the shaft and the outer out of the tunnel. so you can get a clear view of the damage. that ring is off the driver, so you may need a new one. if the shaft is in fact damaged it will need to be replaced or a sleeve pressed on it. it looks like the shaft was riding on the outer race so the housing is most likely alright. taking the front axle out is not that big of a job although it looks intimidating, i have done many and completed a whole drive line rebuild (bearings and shafts) in as little as a day in the shop.many members and I can walk you through the process step by step if needed.
 
I have good news. Right after I posted this, I remembered that there is a guy parting out the same sled on Craigslist about 1/2 hour from me. I called him and found out he still has the drive shaft, and it's still in the sled. So we've arranged for me to go to his place in three days to help remove and purchase his driveshaft. That will give me the experience of taking one out, and I'll get to see what everything should look like in there.
 
I was thinking I'd go pull the replacement one with him first, so I can learn from him. Apparently he owns his own snowmobile shop...I don't know anything about it yet, maybe a backyard shop. But I'm sure he'll know a lot more about this than I do!
 
I have good news. Right after I posted this, I remembered that there is a guy parting out the same sled on Craigslist about 1/2 hour from me. I called him and found out he still has the drive shaft, and it's still in the sled. So we've arranged for me to go to his place in three days to help remove and purchase his driveshaft. That will give me the experience of taking one out, and I'll get to see what everything should look like in there.

Guy on Craigslist in Pelston by chance? I messaged him out rear x changer and trailing arms. He was supposed to send me pics of arms and now wont respond.
 
Yeah, that's him. I get the impression he's not the best at keeping up with things like that. You're probably best off to call him, seems to be more of a phone guy.
 
Just for the record, I wanted to come back in and let anyone who was curious know the resolution on this problem. Too many threads go unresolved in my opinion...

I bought a new (used) driveshaft on eBay for $38 including shipping, and then had a local guy install it with new bearings and speedo connector. That cost me another $160, I believe...so about $200 total.

I don't really have the facilities to do more involved work like this in the Winter, so I paid to have it done. I believe there was about 3 hours labor in there.
 


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