FD oil sludge

[stolzy]

Just changed the oil in my FD and the magnetic thingy on the drain plug had a coating of (I presume ferrous) sludge. Not a lot - about a fingerful, like a big drop - it was quite smooth, no grittiness at all. Black in colour. The oil looked perfect.

Should I replace the FD immediately or is this normal?

 

[dicktheleg]

Mine was just the same, I've assumed that it's just minor residue from the bevel gears lapping in but i stand to be corrected?

 

[stolzy]

Still lapping after all these years? (50K km)

 

[dicktheleg]

Mines done 32k miles, grey slime but nothing gritty..

 

[stolzy]

Good to know. Cheers

 

[kennyc]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?159180-How-to-check-your-Final-drive-bearing-1100-1150

 

[Old Codger]

Good to know. Cheers

Could make a fortune selling worry beads on this Forum

 

[Tone 1]

Could make a fortune selling worry beads on this Forum

LOL....

 

[Colban]

Should I replace the FD immediately or is this normal?

Buy a 1200;that'll give you something to really worry about.
Change bevel oil whenever you change the engine oil,only about 250cc of nice clean gloopy stuff.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Buy a 1200;that'll give you something to really worry about.
Change bevel oil whenever you change the engine oil,only about 250cc of nice clean gloopy stuff.

I hope it's only 180 cc otherwise I'm doing it wrong !
Edit mines a 1200 just ignore me

 

[mikeyboy]

I hope it's only 180 cc otherwise I'm doing it wrong !
Edit mines a 1200 just ignore me

180 is not enough for a 1200 this is one of the reasons the pinion bearings fail.
put 200 in it

 

[RedRick Esq.]

180 is not enough for a 1200 this is one of the reasons the pinion bearings fail.
put 200 in it

Really ?

All the books say 180
I'm probably at about 190 as the bit at the end of the syringe goes in as well

 

[rocky burns]

180 on the 1200 or the pressure build up will blow the seals

 

[MattW]

180 on the 1200 or the pressure build up will blow the seals

Pressure build up?

Doesn't the 1200 FD have a breather?

 

[DrFarkoff]

Only later ones matt

04 - 06 definitely don't

 

[MattW]

Only later ones matt

04 - 06 definitely don't

Ah - thanks

 

[mikeyboy]

180 on the 1200 or the pressure build up will blow the seals

Really ?

All the books say 180
I'm probably at about 190 as the bit at the end of the syringe goes in as well

sorry about the thread hijack,but since the conversation is here
early bike capacity was stated as 220ml,this was reduced for later bikes to 180ml to stop seal "misting",
right around this build period are the bikes IMO that seem to suffer from the worst pinion bearing wear,despite the fact that the bearing size was increased to 32 mm from 30mm.
i always refill with 200 ml and have never recieved any feed back regarding seal failure.
i have never had any premature bearing failures on rebuilt units.
your bike your choice,£15 seal that can be changed at the side of the road with a screw driver,
or final drive failure that will cost hundreds and will certainly ruin a trip
mike

 

[Trullion]

Only later ones matt

04 - 06 definitely don't

Nor a drain plug. Eventually BMW saw sense and put one in. Amazing................