K11 Owners Group

Jim · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject: final drive lubricant

I changed the final drive gear oil recently before a short trip to southern Ontario. The stuff that drained out was a very gray looking swarf. All I had on hand for the change was dino, so when I got back I figured I would put Mobil 1 synth in. I got the same dark gray looking crap out even after that short trip.

Is this normal? Or is something failing in the final drive? I don't remember hearing much about final drive failures on the K11, and I don't remember any posts about crappy looking, dark gray lube coming out of the final drive.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Phil Marvin · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject:

Hi, Jim,
I believe you have final drive problems. On all my K-bikes (2 K1100LT's and 3 K75's) I have the final drive oil coming out clear, slightly darker than when it was put in. I used synthetic for a while and now am using Castrol Hypoy 80w90 dino squeezings. The only thing I can think of which would be benign and also cause the oil to turn grayish is if you had used any molybdenum additives. I had that in the first change of the '95 K1100LT. That was in 2005, after I had ridden it from Tulsa (when I bought it) home to El Paso. It was a grayish, blackish mess, but nothing metallic. The next final drive oil change was nearly clear. There was no next change, thanks to Bambi.
Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

Jim · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject: final drive lubricant

Thanks, Phil. The drain plug does have a magnet - there wasn't a lot of stuff on it - no big chunks - and not a lot of little stuff, either. About the same as the drain plug for the transmission.

I know I've changed the final drive oil before, but I can't remember thinking there was anything wrong, or what color came out. I'll change it again before my next trip and see what comes out. The next trip is probably less than 600 miles or so.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:00 am Post subject:

Hey Jim, how about a good flush and refill, then see how the old oil comes out before cracking the case.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Jim · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:51 am Post subject: final drive lube

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:25 am Post subject:

Yep, that's what I would use.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

chopper_harris · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject:

After the kero, you should use a temporary fill of dino EP80, to catch any remaining solvent.
Run for maybe 50 miles, then drain and fill again with synth EP80 GL5.

Did you check that the last oil fill was GL5 spec - GL4 is not designed to withstand the shear forces developed by modern bevel boxes Wink

_________________
C1 200 (2001)
R100 RS (1990)
NSU Quickly N (1964)
Honda 400/4 F1 (1977)
MotoGuzzi 1000C (1978)
Suzuki TL 1000 R (1999)
Kawasaki KLV1000 (2005)
K12R Sport (2007) - Wifeys

Jim · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:46 pm Post subject: final drive lube

Chopper - yeah, it was GL-5. Mobil1 75-90.

Thanks for the tips.

Sent an email to the tech who does some work on it.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Jim · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:20 am Post subject: final drive lube

The verdict is in. Time for a new bearing and reshimming.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."