Cush Drive question

[JoeW]

I'm putting together a convert for a customer. I usually take the cush drive apart for inspection and lubrication. This drive is missing half of the rubber wedges. The owner of the bike claims he read to do this in Guzziology. I looked and Dave does say that Lamers does this. I've never heard of this modification. What's the consensus out there? All wedges, half of the wedges, softer late style wedges, drill holes in the wedges?????

[Wayne Orwig]

I tried the 'take half of them out'. And I tried the drilling holes in them. (on a 1994 Cal 1100).
I the end, the hub started to wear a lot because it was moving around so much under that big C clip. So I put everything back as solid as I could get it. Never noticed any difference.

[pehayes]

All the wedges, but with some holes.  Don't use a drill bit.  Use a hollow tube with a sharpened edge to 'bore' the hole.  A drill bit will tear too much rubber.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[rodekyll]

I prefer all the rubbers replaced with new, soft ones and holed with a 1/4" hollow bit in some sort of pattern.


A Convert is the least needing of cush.  It shifts rarely and the fluid coupling dampens a lot of the roll-on-roll-off shock.  That said, I keep mine in good order.

[Dick]

I tried it once, but took out the wrong half.

[rodekyll]

You don't take out half of every pair.  You remove every other pair, leaving three full pairs in alternating holes.  I liberally grease mine and also slather it on the hub edge where it rides on the wheel.

Keep in mind the observation above where the author says the increased movement of the hub starts wearing the contact surfaces.  3pr v 6pr will result in more movement.

[Dick]

I know,I was just kidding.  But thanks for the heads up 

[rodekyll]

 

[JoeW]

Thanks for the input, I was just trying to figure out the plusses and minuses to this mod. I'm going back to all wedges, undrilled. When I question something like this it's always good to do with experience, we have a lot of that here. I also look at my bikes and what works on them. I just had the rear drive apart on the sidecar, first time in almost 20 years. The pinion bearings has a bit of play so, I replaced those. New seals and gaskets and fluid of course. I inspected the gears and splines and they were all fine. I popped open the cush drive and all is well. No play, or serious wear. If any bike puts stress on a drive line it's a sidecar. Stock works!