Final Drive Lube capacity?

[suecanada]

In our Wiki section describing changing the lube in the final drive it says to refill with 250cc of lube. My owner's manual for the R65LS, 1983 says 350cc's. Hmmm? Am I seeing things?

[Bob_Roller]

Just fill it until the oil flows out of the hole for the small plug at the back of the final drive housing .

[suecanada]

You know Bob, I just got into the habit of never removing that 10mm wee bolt from the rear of the housing on the final drive to check my lube level. That bolt is notorious for stripping out even with my weaker sex hands. So I just empty the drive, measure what comes out for interest sake and put in 350cc of new lube.  As one owner who is always gripping about lube on my nice white rear wheel rims I am always concerned about just how much lube is/was spewing out. It is my eternal wish to have a very oil tight final drive.

Just so all you guys know...I am the one who didn't know enough to make sure the filler domed plug serves as the rear drive 'breather' and pressure release, so the dome must be lifted up to allow it to breath and that dome needs to be kept clear of crud...so clean it with WD40 or such every time you have it off! There, I said it...mea culpa!

[Barry]

The wiki article must have used the figure for the 78-80 model final drive which does take 250cc.

[Bob_Roller]

I'd go with the amount of oil that's stated in the owners manual .

[Barry]

I'd go with the amount of oil that's stated in the owners manual .  

I agree, the respective owners manuals say to use 250cc for 78 - 80 final drive and 350cc for the 81 - on final drives.

I couldn't find the reference to 250cc in the wiki pages ( I confess I didn't try very hard) but it can only have been referring to a 78-80 final drive. If the wiki article doesn't make this clear then we need to change it.

[benlawlor85]

My '87 takes 350cc. Manual does not state a torque setting for the bevel box on post 84 bikes and says "finger tight".

[bruce_launceston]

My '87 takes 350cc. Manual does not state a torque setting for the bevel box on post 84 bikes and says "finger tight".

Torque setting for what, the filler cap???

[benlawlor85]

Drain, filler and level plugs on the Bevel box! Which is what i have learnt to do on anything it a Alu thread anyway.

[nhmaf]

These, and the drain screws on the alloy fork lowers are all easily stripped.  Some published figures are fairly high and do tend to contribute to stripped threads if blindly followed.   I just always use a small wrench and tighten them up just enough so that they don't leak or fall out, but no further.   I'd estimate that these are all 10 in-lb or less (likely less).

[Bob_Roller]

I use a tool , that's got a screwdriver handle, but with a 1/4th inch (6mm) square drive at the end .

Put a socket on it and tighten with my non-dominant hand to just snug, if it leaks, I'll tighten it a bit more . .

[montmil]

Very few motorcycle owners, hot rodders and shade tree mechanics have ever been accused of under-torqing anything.  

Monte

[bruce_launceston]

Everything (exept for head studs) I tighten by feel. You get to learn how much is just enough.

[montmil]

Everything (exept for head studs) I tighten by feel. You get to learn how much is just enough.

Bruce is right.

But just like my old shade tree mechanic granddaddy told me, "Son, just pull until you feel 'er give, then back off a quarter turn."

I will admit to using a good torque wrench on aircraft engine rod caps, bearing caps, case studs, etc and etc. If I'm going to fly behind it, I want to be sure. If something were to let go, there's no shoulder of the road to pull over onto "up there".

Monte