V-9 universal joint.

[MMRanch]

I'm getting a lot of noise from the drive shaft area when shifting gears .   Its like a Double Clunk , one from when I clutch and the motor quits pulling and the inertia spins the gears from the tire  , then a second clunk when the clutch goes out and the motor starts pulling again.

I'm thinking a bad universal joint.   

I took the rear chunk off when I was changing the back tire a few weeks ago.    The rear universal joint seemed really loose but I couldn't see up in there .   

So , how hard is it to put the drive shaft back in --- if I pull it out ?   Do I have to remove the swing arm to put the drive shaft back in ? 

[pete mcgee]

Put it up on the centrestand, put it in gear, how much movement backwards and forwards of the rear wheel?
You mentioned "loose" I assume that was in a rotational sense, something like 2 splines worth of movement before you felt load?
Any vibrations when riding or when going on/off the throttle.
How many miles on the bike?

[kballowe]

Be sure to let us know what you find out.

My new V9 Bobber is like that.

[guzzisteve]

 A pic from manual shows the shaft removed before the swingarm, I'd say it comes right out the back.

[MMRanch]

  How many miles on the bike? 

The bike only has a little over 4,000 miles on it.   two weeks ago I changed the rear tire and removed the final drive while I was that far along into it.   It was just a little tricky getting the final drive unit plugged back into the drive shaft - as the rear universal joint seemed to obey gravity  instead of me ! 

I thought it looked like the entire shaft would just pull out with a little tug.   Putting it back in might require some special trick ?

The V-7II diagram shows only one universal joint and I wonder if that is a better plan ?   The V-7II don't have that clang either !   

I put it in gear w/tire raised and listened with a stethoscope w/motor running and that rear universal joint is the problem area.   
................... ...........

So , Should I just call it a design flaw ?   

I wonder if the drive shaft from the V7 would fit or if there is a way to semi-lock the rear universal joint (like putting it in a rubber sleeve) or ( rubber insert in the workings of that rear joint) (Duck-Tape  )  ??? 

[MotoG5]

So is my new Bobber. The clunk is common to every Guzzi I have owned. The loudest by far was the Stelvio. The rear wheel off the ground rotational check is a good rule of thumb check. Its not how loud it is its how far it spins before it clunks again. The noises should be with in a short distance of each other. I really doubt you have anything to worry about. Check it now and then ride for a while and check again and see if there has been any change. If its going south you will also start to hear more than just a clunk. Usually heavy vibration as the bike is slowing down with the clutch pulled in.

[MMRanch]

My first Goose is/was , The V7II , its slick as a button no CLICK - CHUNK - CLANK , smooth as a chain drive , I expected them all to be like that  !    Never had any experience with a shaft drive bike either 

[pyoungbl]

The V9 had two universal joints, one on each end of the drive shaft.  The swingarm has a dogleg to allow wider tires than the V7i or V7ii version.  A V7ii shaft won't fit.  I seriously doubt that you have a bad U joint after just 4K miles.  Pulling the swingarm is not a big deal.  Then you can take a look at the entire drivetrain just to make sure.  I think it will prove to be very difficult re-installing the driveshaft with the swingarm still in place, only because the tranny end U joint is certain to not cooperate.  Before you get too worried you can measure the actual wheel play and then compare yours to others.  There has to be a bit of play in the drivetrain due to the various gears involved, the U joints, and the cush drive.