final drive lube level

[steven m]

Doing a full drive train fluid change on the trusty 83 R65.  Engine oil change went smoothly, trans oil change went smoothly, opened the rear plug on the final drive prior to draining, and a ton of oil came out.  I was under the impression the oil was to be filled to the level of the rear drain plug.  Appears whoever last serviced it filled it to the top of the top filler plug.  Am I wrong?  Currently letting the oil drain out to what I believe is the correct level.

Thanks

Steve

[Bob_Roller]

One possible cause, other than a previous owner over filling the final drive, the oil is 'migrating', from the drive shaft area, into the final drive .

You are correct, the oil should be at the level of the over flow port at the back of the final drive .

Have you checked the drive shaft oil level yet, if you haven't, I would do it .

[steven m]

My fear as well.  I'm about to check it now.

[steven m]

Okay, driveshaft oil level was low, but nowhere near the extra amount in the final drive.  Is it a major job to change the seal between the driveshaft and the final drive?

Took bike out for test spin.  Oil pressure light went right out after starting, so I guess I'm not in for the $2000 oil change.  Knock on wood.  My bike had both a gasket and a shim on the oil filter, so I put it back together the way it was before.  Hinged factory filter.  Not sure how else to check it but no weird noises.  Magnetic drain plug on trans did have fine shavings but the oil was pretty clean, as was the oil in the final drive.

I'm going on a Vintage Bike ride in the morning out of Venice, California that is, up the coast to Neptune's nest for lunch.  I guess I'll see what happens.

Steve

[Bob_Roller]

You may want to check the oil level in the final drive, in 500 or 1000 miles, and see if you are getting any significant oil transfer .

I think you may need some specialty tooling to replace the seal, I've only had the final drive off once, and that was 12 years ago,so by no means, am I an authority on replacing the seal .

[Barry]

I seemed to have oil transfer from the drive shaft to the final drive when I checked the first time after buying the bike.  I just jacked the back of the bike up so it wouldn't spill and transferred the oil back in to the drive shaft with a syringe. Each subsequent oil change has been ok. Maybe it was because the bike had been stood it was certainly very little used in the last few years before it came to me.

If it's a recent acquisition you might want to live with it for a while to see what happens before delving in to change the seals.

[steven m]

My bike did sit for a long time before I purchased it so maybe it just needed the seals go get wet again.  I'll keep you all posted.

BTW, the vintage bike run was a lot of fun.  A lot of Airheads, and everything else, from a super sano turbocharged CBX road racer to a fully faired Derbi, which is somehow licensed for the street.  Most of them have straight pipes, so I couldn't hear my engine at all.

Steve