Well I almost updated an old thread (link at bottom) but decided to share the whole ordeal as a pseudo ride report should others get in a similar predicament. A novel solution to the dreaded rusting shaft splines, oil them on the go!
I was 170 miles into my 330 mile trip to see my Mom in Wisconsin for her birthday yesterday. Beautiful days of riding ahead with no rain and a tad hot at 85°F. I stopped for fuel and noticed lots of oil and dust accumulating on the bottom of the final drive. More concerning was the drive housing was very warm to touch...enough you could hold your hand on it but got uncomfortable after being there a while. I went a bit further and pulled in the shade, pulling back the rear swingarm boot I found a dusty paste around the boot with the smell of gear oil. Enough oil I decided to turn back.
I called to say I wasn't going to make it and headed back home. Fortunately 15 miles back toward home was J&P Cycles in Anamosa, IA (part of the Revzilla conglomerate) so stopped to top off the final drive. I recalled the drain plug on my 07 is just about the fill level (it is oriented straight rearward) so bought and squirted in some shots of Lucas 85w140 until it was running out (opted for heavier oil due to the heat in the drive housing). Fortunately the guys there loaned me a 45 torx for the fill plug...note to update my tool kit which only went to 40. I'm sure the Harley guys enjoyed my parking lot wrenching on the BMW.
I started the teardown today, final drive will head to dealership 90 min away in a couple weeks, first opening they had was July 15. Yet to check on my local dealer who no one uses for service, another story.
Upon dropping final drive (no oil on upper boot by trans):
The symptom on the road, oily paste on everything:
I was curious how much oil was in there, appears my roadside fill was pretty close not counting a few mL of spillage. No sight gauge on my Lucas bottle to know how much I put in. Fortunately no shavings or shrapnel.
Now to decide with 47,000 miles on the clock if I have them replace all the seals or just the pinion. Drive spins smooth, I'll see if the tech feels anything I didn't to indicate changing bearings.
Adventure!
I love maintenance-free shaft drive.
I love maintenance-free shaft drive.
I love maintenance-free shaft drive.
I love maintenance-free shaft drive.
I was 170 miles into my 330 mile trip to see my Mom in Wisconsin for her birthday yesterday. Beautiful days of riding ahead with no rain and a tad hot at 85°F. I stopped for fuel and noticed lots of oil and dust accumulating on the bottom of the final drive. More concerning was the drive housing was very warm to touch...enough you could hold your hand on it but got uncomfortable after being there a while. I went a bit further and pulled in the shade, pulling back the rear swingarm boot I found a dusty paste around the boot with the smell of gear oil. Enough oil I decided to turn back.
I called to say I wasn't going to make it and headed back home. Fortunately 15 miles back toward home was J&P Cycles in Anamosa, IA (part of the Revzilla conglomerate) so stopped to top off the final drive. I recalled the drain plug on my 07 is just about the fill level (it is oriented straight rearward) so bought and squirted in some shots of Lucas 85w140 until it was running out (opted for heavier oil due to the heat in the drive housing). Fortunately the guys there loaned me a 45 torx for the fill plug...note to update my tool kit which only went to 40. I'm sure the Harley guys enjoyed my parking lot wrenching on the BMW.
I started the teardown today, final drive will head to dealership 90 min away in a couple weeks, first opening they had was July 15. Yet to check on my local dealer who no one uses for service, another story.
Upon dropping final drive (no oil on upper boot by trans):
The symptom on the road, oily paste on everything:
I was curious how much oil was in there, appears my roadside fill was pretty close not counting a few mL of spillage. No sight gauge on my Lucas bottle to know how much I put in. Fortunately no shavings or shrapnel.
Now to decide with 47,000 miles on the clock if I have them replace all the seals or just the pinion. Drive spins smooth, I'll see if the tech feels anything I didn't to indicate changing bearings.
Adventure!
I love maintenance-free shaft drive.
I love maintenance-free shaft drive.
I love maintenance-free shaft drive.
I love maintenance-free shaft drive.
Final Drive Pinion Seal Leak
Hey everyone, owned my 2008 GS1200ADV for a couple years now and have not had any issues at all until the other day. Initially thought I had a simple seal leak from either side of the final drive but once apart I realized the leak was coming from the front of the final drive where the shaft and...
www.r1200gs.info