Part 2: MOA and RA Rallies

[suecanada]

So I learned something big...the dome on the 17mm rear drive filler cap is supposed to be raised up around about 3/16 inch over the nut! By walking over to nhmaf's Tillie (R65LS) I immediately saw that LRB was not the same and needed work. Eric cleaned the holes and separated the nut and the cap and cleaned it all up. Voila, no more oil spewing out and the only dirt is brake dust!! I had always blamed the O-rings on the brake actuating arm for this problem or worse suspected the gaskets in the rear drive. I really didn't think "where is the breather hole"...lack of mechanical know-how!

My ride down with Stewart was relaxing and fun. Daniel the GPS led the way and I gotta say I would never be on some of those roads if the GPS didn't take us there. Reading a map is good but when you ask for shorter distance, a GPS will take ya over some very interesting routes!!! Faster route choice leads to Interstates so that was out. Good thing I had checked unpaved roads to be avoided! I wonder where I'd have gone if I had said off-road!!!

Oh, I have replaced my Herman Munster boots! Got new Forma boots with buckles too that are waterproof. They are so light!! AND they fit under the gear shift!! Thank you nhmaf. I admit it right here...I had just put Justin's gear shift rod on LRB without adjusting anything or even knowing how to tighten it up. Nhmaf fixed it all up and even got the pedal to ride higher! All shifts are now a lot easier and no missed ones!! Guess Justin needs to send out instructions to us "dumbkophs"!!

Stewart wasn't up to another hubbub of the RA rally so he headed home on the Thursday after we both had found the RA site. I can understand where he was coming from...I may be a tad more of a social flutter-by! Anyhoo, David and Eric found me there easily too so we all camped together again.

[msbuck]

Still waiting for those pics, Sue!   [smiley=beehive.gif]

[suecanada]

BuT Aïda, all the pics I have on my camera are the same as yours! And, the other guys have all the pics from the MOA as i didn't take any.  

Good thing I'm thousands of miles away up here!

[msbuck]

BuT Aïda, all the pics I have on my camera are the same as yours!

Not quite - Graham was wanting to see the one of us with the flag acting goofy (not the Kilgore, but kinda sideways)  I don't have that one, so it must have been on yours.  

[suecanada]

I know the one...goofy? That's us!!! And proud of it!

I'll get the pic on here soon.

[nhmaf]

Sue,,  acting "goofy" - how can it be ?!?
 

I'm glad to hear that the adjustments on the shift lever worked out for you - I was wondering all the way back to New Hampshire if I'd unintentionally sabotaged your riding experience by raising the lever like that, but it seems that it'd be about right for your boots and feet   !  I'm glad that my guess-timation worked out OK - nothing like wrenching on someone else's bike while on a long road trip!!
 

I just gave Tillie  a new oil filter and oil change, though now she has decided to weep a bit of oil from the final drive, it isn't for lack of breathing!   I think it is a combination of the rear brake actuating shaft O-rings (easily fixed) but might possibly also have an issue with a seal inside (not outside) the spline gear - I hope not, but I do happen to have another final drive on hand for swapping/comparison.

[montmil]

So I learned something big...the dome on the 17mm rear drive filler cap is supposed to be raised up around about 3/16 inch over the nut! By walking over to nhmaf's Tillie (R65LS) I immediately saw that LRB was not the same and needed work. Eric cleaned the holes and separated the nut and the cap and cleaned it all up. Voila, no more oil spewing out and the only dirt is brake dust!! I had always blamed the O-rings on the brake actuating arm for this problem or worse suspected the gaskets in the rear drive.

Sue, I'm heading out to the shop as soon as I post this note and I'll check both the R65s for Dome Down Syndrome. Might you consider posting this in the Tech section? There's been so much recent chat about, "Why's my rear end leaky?"  

Thanks!  Monte I Depends On You Miller

[suecanada]

Monte..good idea. Since it took me only 25 years to learn this tidbit of info on a leaky rear drive, I suppose some new owners might like to save some time??! Maybe Justin could either move the sentences of import on my Part 2 thread OR just write it up as it is only about a 10 word piece of very important instruction!

"Leaky rear drive when going long and hard??? Make sure the rear final drive domed filler oil cap is raised up from its 17mm nut by about 3/16". Keep the inner holes and under the dome clean." Voila!!

If you never have another R65 or R bike to look at, how would one ever know that the breather holes are hidden under that dome??? Which is now, over the years, pushed down on the nut so flush it looks welded there and quite normal??!! Not in our manuals!!

[montmil]

OkeyDokey, Sue... I'll post it up for you with props to you. I took a couple pics of B4 and after so will add them. Good call. Hope it stops or slows down my small, nagging drip... from the rear end... of my bike.

Monte