| Author | Message | ||
     Nadz |
I don't trust my hitch to take the weight of a bike mounted as described in this post. So I see this thing, the Motorcycle Caddy listed on eBay, and I wonder: 1. Can an XB be towed without removing the belt? 2. ...if yes, Neutral (of course), but clutch in or out? 3. Anybody ever used one of these with bad results? | ||
| Diablobrian |
I wouldnt do it without removing the belt. If the belt is in place the clutch will still be spinning and even with the clutch disengaged it will get hot and wear or glaze. In neutral you will still be spinning the tranny output shaft at highway speed without the benefit of the oilpump (if I remember it right) lubricating the bearings. Same reason you are supposed to drop the drive shaft before towing a rear wheel car on a tow dolly. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Hmmm. The engine won't be spinning, just the tranny, and the tranny gets nothing from the oil pump, it is an isolated system. Circulation (or lack of it as was the case on my Cyclone) is done by the spinning of the clutch. Ahhh... but there you have a rub. On a running engine, the outside of the clutch assembly is always spinning, throwing lube everywhere (except maybe the 5th gear drive assembly). When you tow it, things are backwards, and just one of the tranny shafts is spinning (which is probably well out of the lubricant). Of course, it has very little load as well. I would have to look at the manual to remember what turns in neutral. Does the output shaft even spin? Or is it just the 5th gear drive assembly? So how far can the bearings go with no load, and the tranny fluid splashed on it, before being damaged? If you know that number, you can just trailer it, stop every X miles, and fire it up in neutral to let it idle for 5 to 10 minutes. Simple enough. With no load, I bet they could go pretty far. Sounds like this question is a job for the mechanical engineers... which I ain't. | ||
| Patrickh |
dosen't sound like a good idea from either side of the transmission. if the clutch hub is spinning then it will be oil starved because there will not be a primary chain dragging through the oil bath. if the gears are spinning then the shafts will be oil starved because all the oil is in the tank (swingarm). i would save my pennies and buy a trailer. | ||
| Jasonxb12s |
I have a moto-tote... I used it for a 12 hour trip to floria...It worked awesome. www.mototote.com i believe. | ||
| Reepicheep |
If your transmission oil is in your swingarm, then you need to replace your crank seal, and stop attaching your air compressor to your transmission vent.  Engine oil and transmission oil are completely different systems on all Buells. The only "circulation" of the transmission oil comes from the clutch hub spinning around, and any submerged gears that are spinning. | ||
| Nadz |
Thanks, all, for the advice. I didn't think of the oil problem, was more concerned about big gears trying to turn little ones, if there are any. Never cracked an MC tranny so I dunno. Can't afford a real trailer, nor would I for the two or three times per year I'd use it. I think I'll still tow it, but not 'til I'll get good at taking the belt off. | ||
| Nadz |
Ok, took the belt off, just for fun. Pretty easy- six screws, two nuts, ten minutes (and my hands are still clean. Couldn't say that 'bout a chain. | ||
| Bbstacker |
Nadz, If you removed the belt then nothing except for the rear wheel will spin. Problem solved, my friend.  | ||
| Nadz |
Yea, but not solved as well as it could be. Let me look into the translucent blue CityX ball... ahh yes, there's a truck with a bed in my future. | ||
| Xring |
Small trailers can be built or bought pretty cheap...check out Northern Tool or the like. Not the best quality, I'm sure, but OK for occasional use. Lowes and TSC sometimes carry comparable trailers. Good luck, Bill http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=697 0&productId=465468&R=465468 http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=697 0&productId=7262&R=7262 | ||
| Slaughter |
Two words: Used Trailer I've pulled my XB and S3 both at one time behind my Dodge Stratus in a freaking Uhaul rental trailer ($14 a day) from LA to North of Sacramento to Thunderhill for a track day. The Stratus did just fine - though I don't LIKE pulling 2 bikes at once, it can work and using a small car, too. We got a small trailer for about $200 Otherwise, yesiree - take off the belt for all the above reasons. | ||
| Bomber |
or, if ya only need to tow one or thrice a year, rent a trailer -- why store tomthing ya seldom use? | ||
| Jeremyh |
i hear towing and trailering a motorcycle is a profound disease that has no cure. | ||
| Nadz |
Wow, Xring, thanks. I was seeing prices of around $500 for those cheap-o Home Depot junk. Expanded metal grate and drool welds are not for me. I thinking of the 48" one, and outfit it with 2x6 deck and screw down some resin truck boxes. | ||
| Xring |
2x6 deck is exactly what I was thinking, too. That is what I used on my 14' tandem axle trailer when I built it for hauling my tractors. Plenty good enough. I've found a lot of uses for my trailer once I had it. Good luck, Bill |
