Aagh! It's happened to me too!

Dave Cr

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Took my bike in for its 12000 service and first MOT and it needs a new final drive bearing. Now awaiting parts from Germany and preparing for the discussion that will follow on from the receipt of the bill.
 
Final drive bearing

How do you know its knack'd, is there free play or is it noisy?
What do we need to be looking at.
FFS its one thing after another.
Im on my third GS (two 1150s and this 1200) Ive never heard of final drive
bearing failing. But theres a first time for everything.:blast
 
I put my Mar 07 GS12 in for 6k service, I hadn't thought anything was wrong - until the service manager had me rotate the bearing off the bike, thankfully changed under warranty! Apparently you couldn't change the final drive oil on "early" 12s but thanks to a filler & drain plug on "newer" models - & the one I now have fitted - they think the problem should go.
 
The dealers dismantled it to investigate too much free play. Will let you know what happens when I find the full extent of the problem.
 
pinkytiff said:
Apparently you couldn't change the final drive oil on "early" 12s but thanks to a filler & drain plug on "newer" models - & the one I now have fitted - they think the problem should go.
Click to expand...

Not quite true. Remove rear wheel, remove torque arm, split off FD unit, drain, reassemble & refill. There's a thread on it somewhere.

I changed the FD oil in my "sealed for life" 06 Adv at 2500miles, and thank feck that I did. Not only was the oil like treacle, but the universal joint was showing signs of surface corrosion since BMW don't coat them with anything :rolleyes:
 
Wizard said:
I changed the FD oil in my "sealed for life" 06 Adv at 2500miles, and thank feck that I did. Not only was the oil like treacle, but the universal joint was showing signs of surface corrosion since BMW don't coat them with anything :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

My FD oil was also black at the 1000km change, but looked absolutely brand new at the (non-scheduled) 40,000 change.

Phil
 
I think black oil is normal in this fd, maybe an additive. It is not contamination.
Surface rust = natures protectorant.
 
Tramperman said:
How do you know its knack'd, is there free play or is it noisy?
What do we need to be looking at.
FFS its one thing after another.
Im on my third GS (two 1150s and this 1200) Ive never heard of final drive
bearing failing. But theres a first time for everything.:blast
Click to expand...

Ermm......Or fourth time in my case.

Hey. But that's 1200 for ya!!
 
New final drive unit replaced by BMW as 'a goodwill gesture'. Also comes with a 2 year guarantee. Good luck to all the others out there with a similar problem.:beerjug:
 
I'm going to change my final drive oil shortly, when I do my 24,000 mile service.

I'm considering the following: If it still looks in reasonable condition (it's still the original oil), I might try and suck the oil out with a thin tube fixed to a syringe. Than maybe fill it with cheap oil to dilute what's left, drain it all out again, then fill with proper stuff.

If it looks grimy, I'll do the disconnect drive shaft thing and drain it all out.

Am I just being silly?
 
Robin said:
I might try and suck the oil out with a thin tube fixed to a syringe. Than maybe fill it with cheap oil to dilute what's left, drain it all out again, then fill with proper stuff.

Am I just being silly?
Click to expand...
Yep.

Once you've changed the oil properly, you'll realise how easy it is to do.
So you can then change it again in 6000 miles (or sooner) and get rid of any remaining original oil. :thumb
 
pinkytiff said:
I put my Mar 07 GS12 in for 6k service, I hadn't thought anything was wrong ...
Click to expand...

... First indication mine that was fecked was when I noticed the rear wheel was no longer gently free-rotating, while the bike was warming up on the centre stand. Both a dealer service manager and I gave it the once over, no free play, no noise and no obvious grinding or grittiness in the wheel rotation.

... By the time I got back from a 1500 miler a slight grinding noise was just about discernible at bimble speeds and you could feel grittiness if you rotated the wheel by hand. En route to 'reason' with the service manager the ABS light warning kicked in as well!

... Changed under warranty, but sadly of no feckin' use to me as waiting for the parts prevented me from making a once in a lifetime cross-Andes trip to Chile. (I am extracting my pound of flesh one way and another :augie )

... FWIW - I'd had no hint of any problem until after the newly introduced oil change was performed at 24,000 miles. I am still wondering if it was that procedure that introduced the crap that caused the bearing to fail in the first place :duno
 
Spout said:
Yep.

Once you've changed the oil properly, you'll realise how easy it is to do.
So you can then change it again in 6000 miles (or sooner) and get rid of any remaining original oil. :thumb
Click to expand...

Changed it today - the proper "drop the final drive" method. You're right, it isn't technically difficult, but getting the new oil in through the speed sensor hole isn't the easiest thing I've ever done, neither is joining th efinal drive back to the drive shaft universal joint. Also lost the o-ring from the speed sensor (but found it eventually).

Also did my valve clearances, and the trickiest bit is pulling the plug caps off with the silly little plastic tool. There must be a an easier way...

Engine oil and gearbox oil to do over the weekend, quick spin to have the diagnostics checked by my local independent mechanic, and that's my 24,000 service sorted! MOT due soon as well.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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