2012 R1200GSA NON ABS final drive oil change

[Kersidan]

I'm posting this on behalf of my good friend and 'wing man'.

We're off for our yearly trip to Spain, Pyrenees and France in September . My bike R1200GS 2006 is ready and good to go after it's Servosectomy (thanks to all on here for their help).

My friend has recently bought a 2012 R1200GSA Twin Cam NON ABS (rare I believe) and wants me to change the FD oil before we go for good measure. Now the FD is different to mine as it has the drain plug and breather fitted. My question is where do you inject/fill the new oil on this version of the FD and how much oil? Mine takes 220ml but I believe that the later ones take only 200/180ml oil?

Any help appreciated as always.

Mark

 

[adventuredon]

180ml is correct. Would usually be from abs sensor hole...

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[Kersidan]

180ml is correct. Would usually be from abs sensor hole...

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Yep that's what I thought i.e. same filling method as my earlier bike.

Many thanks
Marm

 

[oddshapedballs]

180ml is correct, don't need to use the sensor hole though, there is another plug diagonally across the hub from it...unless you want to check the sensor of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcDuNHxZG0o

 

[Bendy toy]

Early models had 220ml. BMW dropped the oil volume because they said it was causing blow by through the air vent. I run mine with between 200 and 220ml with no blow by problems but at least I know the bearings are all being adequately lubricated. I bother because these drives are flakey at the best of times so I want it properly lubed.

 

[Steptoe]

Now the FD is different to mine as it has the drain plug and breather fitted. My question is where do you inject/fill the new oil on this version of the FD

Pull off the rubber breather cap and fill through that hole. Replace rubber cap when done.

 

[Kersidan]

Great, an easy job then compared to my earlier FD where it has to be pivoted down to drain and filled through speed sensor hole. My just drop the FD on my mates bikes to lube the driveshaft to FD splines anyway.

Cheers and thanks.

Mark

 

[richard shaw]

I have a 12 plate gs and twice I have been riding in heavy rain for a good few hours and when I returned home dropped the oil out off rear diff to find out that water has got into diff and turned oil to a milky colour , any one else had the same problem


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[comberjohn]

Yup. My 2010 TC had FD oil full of water when I drained it. Same time as when taking it off after the mail seal had failed...

 

[mikeyboy]

Just my opinion ,180ml is not enough oil in a breather type fd.
Most failures are due to pinion nose bearing wear ,this is due to oil break down or lack of oil.
Increase to 200 ml.
Your bike your choice

 

[Bendy toy]

Great, an easy job then compared to my earlier FD where it has to be pivoted down to drain and filled through speed sensor hole. My just drop the FD on my mates bikes to lube the driveshaft to FD splines anyway.

Cheers and thanks.

Mark

The older oil change method is a lot better for the trunnion bearings. In normal use they rock a few degrees to absorb the back end jacking. Movement over the same spot rubs the grease away and the rollers develop flat spots. Tipping the FD back to drain oil rubs the grease around the rollers and helps the bearings to last a bit longer. Ideally they should be well packed with grease. BMW don't do that because a little grease might ooze out and it upsets the customers.

To be clear 100% packed rolling bearings will quickly overheat and fail. For example wheel bearings never be filled more than 50% grease. Rocking rollers can be packed to the brim.

 

[stonehenge]

Just my opinion ,180ml is not enough oil in a breather type fd.
Most failures are due to pinion nose bearing wear ,this is due to oil break down or lack of oil.
Increase to 200 ml.
Your bike your choice

Listen to this man - he knows what he is on about

 

[NZRalphy]

I have a 12 plate gs and twice I have been riding in heavy rain for a good few hours and when I returned home dropped the oil out off rear diff to find out that water has got into diff and turned oil to a milky colour , any one else had the same problem


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Yup mine too. 2012 GSA. I put a long breather tube to up/under the tank - made it with some very small compressed air fittings - to avoid this

 

[kwallace21]

Don't want to sound daft but where does the water get in?

 

[SteveM]

Don't want to sound daft but where does the water get in?

The water gets in the Final Drive and fecks the oil.

 

[Greenman14]

The water gets in the Final Drive and fecks the oil.

I think kwallace meant how does the water get in.

 

[comberjohn]

The feeling is, that it gets in via the breather on top of the FD.

 

[NZRalphy]

Yes. Through the stupid rubber breather on' top of the hub/drive. When the hub is cooled is breaths in some air and water

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

Water doesn't get into mine? Valve is a one way circular flap with the top folded over.
Check if it's as it should be.

 

[lawvar]

Just my opinion ,180ml is not enough oil in a breather type fd.
Most failures are due to pinion nose bearing wear ,this is due to oil break down or lack of oil.
Increase to 200 ml.
Your bike your choice

Take note this guy knows his stuff

The older oil change method is a lot better for the trunnion bearings. In normal use they rock a few degrees to absorb the back end jacking. Movement over the same spot rubs the grease away and the rollers develop flat spots. Tipping the FD back to drain oil rubs the grease around the rollers and helps the bearings to last a bit longer. Ideally they should be well packed with grease. BMW don't do that because a little grease might ooze out and it upsets the customers.

To be clear 100% packed rolling bearings will quickly overheat and fail. For example wheel bearings never be filled more than 50% grease. Rocking rollers can be packed to the brim.

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