Drive shaft detached

[jimbonaut]

In the process of working on the final drive I discovered the drive shaft had something of a conscious uncoupling -



The rear wheel wouldn't turn once I'd reinstalled it on the final drive and it didn't take long to figure out why. God only knows what happened or how - this bike is "new to me" (I've had it a few years now but never ridden it) so it's constantly giving up its secrets. How do I go about reattaching the shaft?

[gltriker]

slide the yoke back fully onto the splined shaft. It is then securely retained onto the splined shaft with a snap ring.

Yes, its not an easy task to install the snap ring. It requires a set of 90 degree tips snap ring pliers.

https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-gl1000-gold ... F++22.html ref. #16

[Whiskerfish]

[Fred Camper]

Likely was missing the circlip, blame the PO.

[jimbonaut]

That's really helpful, especially the photos - cheers. I did find a circlip lying at the bottom of the rubber yoke so that's obviously the culprit. I'm guessing some moly on the splines wouldn't hurt before reassembly?

[gltriker]

I strongly advise to obtain a new snap ring and install it with the sharp side of the ring to be oriented facing away from the driveshaft yoke recess is a Best Practice. Why?
That sharp edge reduces the probability of the snap ring being dislodged (again?) by end thrust out of its assigned position in the output spline shaft's snap ring groove.

This fellow's video shows the details of why:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFrV4tl59VY

[jimbonaut]

Duly noted Cliff, thanks for the advice. I'll add the circlip to the (ever-growing) shopping list