Is my final drive about to fail?

[Betty Swollocks]

I'm heading off on a 3 week bike trip next weekend. Decided to change gear and final drive oils today in preparation.

Bike has 24000 miles, 2010 GSA TC. Oil last changed 9K ago.

I drained the final drive oil into an old milk container and as I was emptying it out I noticed it was very gritty.

Further investigation and decided to use a magnet to see if this was metal.

I was more than a little concerned when the tiny particles stuck to the magnet... No shiny bright bits, all just minute metal particles.

Below I have wiped half the stuff off the magnet to show the depth of it. Magnet about the size of a penny, but not holding all the stuff that came out.

So... is my final drive about to fail or is this normal? Do I need to sort this before embarking on 3 week bike trip or is it normal??

 

[SteveM]

Looks dicey to me. That's a lot of debris in my opinion, I'd get it looked at if I were you.

 

[mikeyboy]

I have repaired a few of these recently,late type with breather,they seem to be suffering with bearing cage wear,leading to collapse of the main wheel bearing!
I think I would want to get the unit examined to determine where the metal has come from,
Pull the abs sensor see what that has stuck to it

 

[Pukmeister]

When you say oil last changed 9K ago I presume you mean the FD oil?

My FD oil was originally black when drained but has been clear at every subsequent oil change (save for emulsified oil once after riding through flood water).

Like Mikeyboy, I immediately thought bearing cage wear.

Have you any other symptoms such as noise, play in the rear wheel at 6/12 o'clock, roughness when spinning by hand ??

 

[mikeyboy]

When you say oil last changed 9K ago I presume you mean the FD oil?

My FD oil was originally black when drained but has been clear at every subsequent oil change (save for emulsified oil once after riding through flood water).

Like Mikeyboy, I immediately thought bearing cage wear.

Have you any other symptoms such as noise, play in the rear wheel at 6/12 o'clock, roughness when spinning by hand ??

The last few of these I have seen had no play or roughness,on two bikes they had chunks of cage stuck to the abs sensor,noticed on service,on one bike the cage skewered the seal,resulting in oil pissing out.
On the early bike you get a bit of warning as the bearing gets rough and noisey not so with the later one

 

[Betty Swollocks]

mikeyboy, bike is a non ABS model, but I assume there is still a hole for the sensor on mine?

No noise at all and no real play. Changing fluids is at the top end of my expertise, so limited understanding of how big a job changing the bearing might be.
Might it be only the bearing needs replaced or might I need a complete overhaul?

As stated I don't have the time to wait for as my trip is days away and I guess I might find someone who can replace the bearing if that's all it needs... unless someone has a re-conditioned spare sitting about?

 

[hutchy]

Can I add and emphasise I've seen BS FD oil first hand

There are no shiny metal flakes at all

Just the dark metal fragments

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[duckspeed]

Best in a box and over to Mikeyboy for him to work his magic me thinks

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Best in a box and over to Mikeyboy for him to work his magic me thinks

If it could be back and on my bike by Friday I'd be in the garage now with it. But I think he'd need a bit more notice.

 

[DrFarkoff]

If its Gritty I would think Do not ride it but to Honest you should be able to pop out the ring and undo the bolts and separate the halves and have a look see

 

[duckspeed]

Mikeyboy to reception please customer enquiry

 

[Captain Black]

If it could be back and on my bike by Friday I'd be in the garage now with it. But I think he'd need a bit more notice.

You could do with a ride in ride out service en route perhaps ? Where are you going and when ? Someone maybe able to squeeze you in.

Good luck.

 

[fizzer]

so if its just likely to be the cage on the main bearing ,can you not just go and buy a bearing and change it,i am not saying its an easy task but i had done one on my old 1150 ,is the principle not the same on the 1200.
i am sure a full overhaul you would need the skills of mikeyboy ,but if its just the main bearing

 

[duckspeed]

If it could be back and on my bike by Friday I'd be in the garage now with it. But I think he'd need a bit more notice.

He did mine inside a week and I wasn't in a rush

 

[mikeyboy]

It is unlikely,with post and parts delays that it would be back in your hands by Friday.
Best I could offer if you are passing my way and have time,is to get a rebuild kit ordered asap(Tuesday)
Then I could do a ride in ride out,while you wait(6hours ish)
This would be a get you out of the shit plan and I would have to shuffle a bit around

 

[Betty Swollocks]

It is unlikely,with post and parts delays that it would be back in your hands by Friday.
Best I could offer if you are passing my way and have time,is to get a rebuild kit ordered asap(Tuesday)
Then I could do a ride in ride out,while you wait(6hours ish)
This would be a get you out of the shit plan and I would have to shuffle a bit around

I'm in Northern Ireland. Ferry next Saturday from Cork, Southern Ireland to France.

I'm currently at a BBQ, drowning my sorrows with hutchy, but if it's do-able middle of the week, I'd jump on a day return ferry to mikeyboy and avail of that offer if it's not putting you out too much.

If I could give you a ring tomorrow mikeyboy to discuss.... it might just save my bike trip to save my retirement

Stevie

 

[mikeyboy]

Feel free to ring me,
See if a plan can be hatched,it may be fine,but prepare for the worst,,
If you posted 1st thing Monday and I ordered parts Tuesday,any delay on parts would mean Thursday at the earliest,wouldn't leave margin for return,too many unknowns
However I will know parts availability on Tuesday,so could plan for an end of week same day job..
Unless parts are back ordered ,
Mike 07786 340692

 

[Bendy toy]

Option 1 Courier the worn FD to Mike. He will do the rebuild and have it back by courier.

Option 2 Buy a new used FD from eBay and use that for the holiday. Have Mike rebuild yours and then sell the "new" FD for someone else to use.

Option 3 don't sell the "new" FD.

Mine was not showing any dirty oil but it sprung a leak from the wheel shaft seal and I had already some side play at the rim though within limits.

At 50K I decided to bite the bullet and have it overhauled. Mike said that every bearing was at end of life so the job was certainly due. I got lucky with that leak because leaving it any longer would have caused proper damage.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Feel free to ring me,
See if a plan can be hatched,it may be fine,but prepare for the worst,,
If you posted 1st thing Monday and I ordered parts Tuesday,any delay on parts would mean Thursday at the earliest,wouldn't leave margin for return,too many unknowns
However I will know parts availability on Tuesday,so could plan for an end of week same day job..
Unless parts are back ordered ,
Mike 07786 340692

Thanks Mike
That's me home and explained the situation to the wife. So, if it's do-able, I'd def like to ride over and have you check and sort it for me.

Bit late to bell you now, so will ring you tomorrow to start making plans.

It's very kind of you to offer to jig things about.

Stevie

 

[comberjohn]

Wouldn't take a chance on it or else get some breakdown insurance NOW! Not BMW. Doesn't start for a month, they're not daft.
SMART breakdown insurance starts immediately.
My 2010 TC started losing its FD oil without any particles or play in the wheel. Guessing it was the bearing cage shedding the seal.
I got lucky and picked up a FD with only 3k miles from a wrecked r nine T from the Netherlands. £330 delivered in two days.
But it was luck. They do seem to be cheaper from breakers in mainland Europe, though.
You would be welcome to take my old FD if it were any help, but not sure how. Posted to Mikeyboy for repairs for before you arrive?
If mine goes again, it's getting another second hand unit and getting traded for a Honda!