It’s funny sometimes, we ride our bikes for so long and all seems ok, till one day we realise that the bike feels a bit like a donkey! We check this, we check that and all seems OK apart from the play in between sprocket carrier and wheels hub – cush drive rubbers! Those deteriorate so slowly that most of the time riders get used to the feeling and take it as normal, when in fact it’s time to take care of them!
What is the purpose of the cush drive rubbers?
In short for those who don’t know, these little rubbers between the wheel’s hub and sprocket carrier are there for a reason, ha! Very good reason though – to dampen the shock load that’s created within the drivetrain on throttle changes, acceleration, braking and (most harshest) on gear changes.
How important are Cush Drive Rubbers?
Not very, if riding only offroad as mud and sand does not have as much grip as the tarmac/asphalt, but kind of a must on the road ridden bikes – unless you like to rebuild engines with broken gearboxes!
How to tell if Cush Drive Rubbers are worn?
It’s simple, if the bike feels like a donkey more than usual and if there is noticeable play between the sprocket carrier and a wheel hub (rotational motion) – it’s time for action!
Now when we know if rubbers are shot, the only question to ask is, do we want to replace them, or extend their life?
How to make motorcycle cush drive rubbers last much longer.
Well, it’s fairly simple! If the original rubbers are still intact (as sometimes they do get grinded to bits), just got a bit squashed or perhaps shrunk over time, the only thing we need to do is take up that slack with something else. Personally I use an old rubber tube that I have cut to strips just about the same size as the original cush rubber width. Once these are ready, stick them between cush rubber and wheel hub, push the sprocket carrier back in place and if no more play – it’s good to go! If still some play perhaps another slice all around is needed, but in general I have never worn them that far! You know what else I have never done? Replaced cush drive rubbers!
What’s very important to know, that this should be done in a way that the sprocket carrier is not pushed out by added rubber slices (cush rubbers should no be made thicker, just wider to take up slack – if that makes sense), as that will add unnecessary strain on the wheel and carrier bearings while tightening the axle bolt and bearings will be shot in not time!
Saying that, as I have seen a few lads posting pictures with a layered sheet of rubber over the wheel hub, and simply pushing the carrier in, potentially increasing the gap between inner spacers and bearings… Spacers within the wheel and hub should touch first when the axle is tightened, and rubbers should NOT be in a way (little bit is fine though – and I mean Little bit!), unless different type of bearings are used. Hope that makes sense!
“Penny Saved – Penny Earned” someone told me once!
Explore More!
A list of posts about Bike Maintenance and General Modifications that might be Interesting to know!
General Modifications:
- Throttle Tamer Mods (4 ways to tame your horse!)
- Projector headlight conversion from right side road traffic to left and vice versa.
- How to make your own Exhaust or how to modify an existing one.
- Power Commander (PCV) and Thoughts on it.
- Brake Snake / Pedal Anchor – why and how!
- Lighter Clutch Mods:
- How to make motorcycles Cable Clutch lighter! (Part 1/3)
- Cheap ways to make your motorcycles clutch lighter! (Part 2/3)
- How to make a Hydraulic clutch lighter on your motorcycle! (Part 3/3)
- How to make Custom Clutch or Throttle Cables – Easier than you thought!
- How to make clutch lever lighter (Yamaha XT660Z Tenere Specific)
- Rear Suspension and Drive-Train:
- How to extend the life of Cush-Drive rubbers.
- The dangers of motorcycle lowering links, Important things to know!
- How to swap rear shock spring with no special tools!
- The Best Motorcycle chain lube!
- How to set motorcycle chain slack when suspension is not standard?
- How To Remove Stubborn And Hard To Reach Chain Adjuster Bolt
- The List of Most Useless Adventure Motorcycle Mods And Bling!
- Dangers of the lowering kits (things to know before Lowering your Bike!
Bike Maintenance:
- How to pass MOT the first time – every time!
- How to Maintain your motorcycle Locks (works with all locks!)
- Best Suspension Bearing Grease!
- What grease to use on your motorcycle?
- How to shorten Life of your wheel bearings! (Or what not to do to them!)
- Why should you grease your bolts! (And not only Bearings!)
- What is the best Chain Lube for your motorcycle?
- How to buy used Motorcycle – Free Guide.
