M-77 Assembly Paste to the splines, and White Lithium Grease bead around the fixing points on the rubber gaiter to help keep water out.
Got Shaft Rot.... again WTF
- Thread starter Warlord
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M-77 Assembly Paste to the splines, and White Lithium Grease bead around the fixing points on the rubber gaiter to help keep water out.
Lot of work done today. In amongst fitting new Ohlins suspension, I took the shaft drive out completely with the rubber boots at both ends.
While I had removed the rear shock, it gave me a chance to refit the shaft in a horizontal position, which is much easier.
So I inspected both rubber boots, both in good condition.
Honda M-77 Assembly Paste on the splines at both ends, White Lithium Grease on the rubber boot sealing lips.....
... wrote a cheeky message to the next owner of my bike on the shaft drive, and refitted it all with some fresh Gear Oil and washers....
While I had removed the rear shock, it gave me a chance to refit the shaft in a horizontal position, which is much easier.
So I inspected both rubber boots, both in good condition.
Honda M-77 Assembly Paste on the splines at both ends, White Lithium Grease on the rubber boot sealing lips.....
... wrote a cheeky message to the next owner of my bike on the shaft drive, and refitted it all with some fresh Gear Oil and washers....
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Oh... B O L L O C K S
Checked my final drive rubber gator this morning after a 200 mile ride on Saturday and its sagged.... just like it's been sucked inwards.
So does that mean if we seal these final drive rubbers properly it creates a vacuum inside the shaft..... FFS
That means it'll sag onto the spinning shaft knuckle and wear through again.
I GIVE UP.
Checked my final drive rubber gator this morning after a 200 mile ride on Saturday and its sagged.... just like it's been sucked inwards.
So does that mean if we seal these final drive rubbers properly it creates a vacuum inside the shaft..... FFS
That means it'll sag onto the spinning shaft knuckle and wear through again.
I GIVE UP.
Anyone any good at thermodynamics and helpful suggestions?
I'm one step away from drilling a fookin drain hole in my shaft arm !!!!
I don't think the unit is meant to be watertight like a submarine or a frog-ass.
Referring to my -15 GSA, it looked like the lips of the gator are made like gutters, i.e they are meant to lead the water away by rerouting any water that seeps between the gator and the swingarm. If you make it airtight it will start rusting since the air in there is not vented. Keep in mind that all air contains moisture, and when riding in various temperatures the moisture in the air inside will condensate.
Would it be worth trying the lubrication that actually BMW recommend ?
All I know is that I checked my -15 at the 60K check, and the swingarm was completely dry, and the shaft was nice and grey, with a couple of brownspots only. I treated it by wetting it with WD40 and greased lightly and put it back in.
I have ridden my bike in pretty bad weather, and I use power-washer when cleaning the bike, so I know that this should not be Mission Impossible.
Basically what I try to suggest: Try to allow the gator to lead the water way and allow the drive to breath.
That's my best bet...
Now I'm off to service my 1250 and probably get it impounded, as the brakefluids are probably all over the bike. (I haven't observed any leaks, but hey, what do I know…)
Referring to my -15 GSA, it looked like the lips of the gator are made like gutters, i.e they are meant to lead the water away by rerouting any water that seeps between the gator and the swingarm. If you make it airtight it will start rusting since the air in there is not vented. Keep in mind that all air contains moisture, and when riding in various temperatures the moisture in the air inside will condensate.
Would it be worth trying the lubrication that actually BMW recommend ?
All I know is that I checked my -15 at the 60K check, and the swingarm was completely dry, and the shaft was nice and grey, with a couple of brownspots only. I treated it by wetting it with WD40 and greased lightly and put it back in.
I have ridden my bike in pretty bad weather, and I use power-washer when cleaning the bike, so I know that this should not be Mission Impossible.
Basically what I try to suggest: Try to allow the gator to lead the water way and allow the drive to breath.
That's my best bet...
Now I'm off to service my 1250 and probably get it impounded, as the brakefluids are probably all over the bike. (I haven't observed any leaks, but hey, what do I know…)
Deleted account 191119001
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New shafts are this colour now, 2018 bike.
But the gator is not routing water away... it's allowing water to pool inside the swing arm, and the shaft and splines are sloshing and sitting in water as it doesn't drain away.... and thats from BMW Fitment.
So whats the answer.....??
If water can get in, it cant get out.
If water can't get in, air can't get out.
It's crap....
So whats the answer.....??
If water can get in, it cant get out.
If water can't get in, air can't get out.
It's crap....
New shafts are this colour now, 2018 bike.
That's the same as my replacement shaft 6 months ago... it still went rusty in months...
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Just thinking, there is a ventilation plug, or was on the final drive, maybe it is clogged up and not ventilating as it should do, read below it explains.
http://touratech.vn/san-pham/reloca...0gs-adventure-20082013-and-from-20142016.html
http://touratech.vn/san-pham/reloca...0gs-adventure-20082013-and-from-20142016.html
I've just had a closer look at this, on the expanded .pdf document..... and that valve is on the final drive, aft of the splines seal.
So it won't effect the pressures inside the swing arm. there isn't a valve on the swing arm side (which is where the problem is...)
Once you seal the top rubber gator and the bottom rubber gator... that's it, it's sealed.
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Back to the drawing board then.............
Well... I'll keep an eye on it. It's not rubbing from what I can tell, but it's only about 5mm from the shaft knuckle if prodded inwards.
My concern is when the rubber is sitting in summer sunshine and softens... will it then be drawn onto the knuckle while riding and puncture a hole... like it did last time.
The metal wire bridge inside the rubber gator doesn't fix this...
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Just give it a spray with a rubber seal protection, maybe that will help.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Rubber+Seal+Protectant&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
This issue has been going on for years...
https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?37675-Final-drive-gator-not-sealed-water-in-swing-arm
https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?37675-Final-drive-gator-not-sealed-water-in-swing-arm
I've decided to do nothing.... keep an eye on it and see if a hole appears.
At that point (if it ever happens) I'll try and figure out a solution.
In the meantime, I'm assuming its bone dry inside and the sealing grease is doing its job.
At that point (if it ever happens) I'll try and figure out a solution.
In the meantime, I'm assuming its bone dry inside and the sealing grease is doing its job.
It's due another service and inspection in 3000 miles anyway
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