FD-Any ideas?

Marki_GSA said:
The clip is there, it's the wire clip clearly visible in the pics.

BMW reduced the amount of oil specifically to stop seals from blowing. Maybe you dodged the bullet but it doesn't change the facts of why it was reduced.
Click to expand...

This thread http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/166875-The-inside-of-my-FD?highlight=final drive shows a drive where the nose bearing was close to failure at 17K miles. Its an 06 so would have run with 220ml of oil. Older bikes (Mk1) have a 30mm pinion nose bearing. Later bikes have a 32mm bearing and maybe other changes inside the case.

I reasoned that if the bearing can fail by what looks like poor lubrication with the full oil volume, I'm certainly not going to risk mine with a low oil level. In any case, a properly working breather should avoid any over-pressure problems and should blow out any excess oil. Saying that it would have to be massively over filled to blow out of the breather. If the outer seal blows I'll fit a new one.

I had 220 ml from 35K to when the wheel bearing gave up at 50K. MikeyBoy said the internal bearings were all at end of life. The rebuilt drive again has 220ml and it's not leaked, but best part of 20K miles tells me that running 220ml of oil is fine.
 
Ok so! I managed to replace the oil seal over the weekend(pretty to be fair) All's being going well until today! I took the girlfriend out for the day on the back and when I got home I noticed FD oil all over the FD and rim and a small amount over the side wall of the tyre I can't for the life of me work out why? I did everything to the letter of the above photo instructions,and put in 180mls of oil I've inc some photos for you to look at you can see that it's leaking
Has anyone got any ideas?? Is there any way of checking that the seal is in far enough?



 
Seal is in the wrong way around so leaks are now inevitable. You'll have some serious fun getting that out (not).

It costs about £15 to send the whole FD to Mikeyboy, who will give a professional opinion about its internal condition. Return costs another £15 plus his repair charges. TBH What's no to like?

It's an 06 with the smaller nose bearing that Patzx discussed in the thread above http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthr...=final drive. Common sense says it needs professional opinion. At least, that's what common sense says to me.

Also its an 06 which would have left the factory with 220ml of oil. Do consider why BMW dropped the oil level before you decide to do the same.

Oil seals failed arguably due to internal pressure. Will 40ml extra really make that much difference when you consider the volume of the entire casing?
BMW had very high costs due to the policy of changing out the FD.
If most of those can be stopped by dropping the oil levels they will and sod the risk of a few failing due to low oil level.
Many bikes do so few miles any excess wear will show up long after the bike is out of any sort of warranty.
 
Bendy toy said:
Also its an 06 which would have left the factory with 220ml of oil. Do consider why BMW dropped the oil level before you decide to do the same.
Click to expand...
Most lubrication systems have more oil than they need. This just increases the life of the oil.

50ml would probably be more than enough to lubricate the FD.

I'm sticking with 180ml and changing the oil every service.
 
Iv had new fork seals leak a week later then 2nd set just one on its own soon after,replaced it again was ok for 1000s of miles still good after I sold the bike ?

Did you grease or catch the lips of seal upon installation ? check for dirt or rust where the seal runs ? sadly it'll be a 2nd seal also was the seal the correct way round ?
 
Yeah sadly learning on the job coursed me to fit it the wrong way round not to worry I'm a dab hand at it now:-)
So! Happy days another feather in my bow
Cheers for everyone's advice
 
Spout said:
Most lubrication systems have more oil than they need. This just increases the life of the oil.

50ml would probably be more than enough to lubricate the FD.

I'm sticking with 180ml and changing the oil every service.
Click to expand...

Judging by the state of internal bearings in Patzx final drive these are not "Most lubrication systems". I suspect the oil gets centrifuged to the edges of the case by the crown wheel gear teeth, which could explain why the pinion nose bearing ran so dry on Pat's bike.

It also suggests that too much oil will cause some to get blown out of the air vent, but mine has been fine. So on balance, I'm using what the original design engineers wanted rather than what BMW marketing and PR wanted.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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