Lubing the final drive UJs

[RSavage]

Bike goes in for its first service soon - not the running in service, but the first one after. Is it worth asking for the splines in the final drive shaft to be lubed? ISTR that they are not inspected or lubed.

Rgds

Richard

 

[solidstate100]

As far as I am aware the u/J's are not serviceable - i.e. they are sealed units.

 

[RSavage]

As far as I am aware the u/J's are not serviceable - i.e. they are sealed units.

Sorry, poor description on my part: I mean the splined shafts associated with the UJs.

R

 

[MikeP]

Bloody hell. This spline lube malarky is reaching epidemic proportions. Every forum I've visited today has someone either asking about it or being instructed that it's the first thing a new owner must do or get done.

Anyone know where I can buy shares in Castrol?

 

[Steptoe]

Bloody hell. This spline lube malarky is reaching epidemic proportions. Every forum I've visited today has someone either asking about it or being instructed that it's the first thing a new owner must do or get done.

I blame the americans - every noise, vibration, stiff gearchange, throttles out of balance, hop skip and jump, is all solved by a spline lube.

If it's got splines, lube it.
ADV rider has an 92 page dissertation on each and every spline if you need help.

 

[RSavage]

I blame the americans - every noise, vibration, stiff gearchange, throttles out of balance, hop skip and jump, is all solved by a spline lube.

If it's got splines, lube it.
ADV rider has an 92 page dissertation on each and every spline if you need help.

So, are you saying Steptoe, that it is worth doing?

Richard

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Defo worth doing - check out my recent thread to see what happens if it's not done (Drive shaft coming away from gear box end).

Andres

 

[Steptoe]

So, are you saying Steptoe, that it is worth doing?

Richard

The only driveshaft splines i've ever seen worn out are on the K75 and K100 models. The pre-paralever models from 1984 to 1989ish.

Clutch splines can wear on all models, but it's a job and a half to grease those.
The clutch/gearbox splines are fine on 98% of the bikes i do a clutch change on.
The other 2% are having a clutch change because the splines have worn out

On pre 2009 1200 models you have to swing the final drive from the shaft to change the final drive oil, so you can lube them on a regular basis anyway, you don't have to make it a specific job.
Unless you let any old bike workshop who don't specialise in BMW's service your bikes, as they won't have a clue what to look out for on BMW models.

The shaft U/J's seem to fail on 1200 more so than the 1100/1150 models. .

 

[RSavage]

The only driveshaft splines i've ever seen worn out are on the K75 and K100 models. The pre-paralever models from 1984 to 1989ish.

Clutch splines can wear on all models, but it's a job and a half to grease those.
The clutch/gearbox splines are fine on 98% of the bikes i do a clutch change on.
The other 2% are having a clutch change because the splines have worn out

On pre 2009 1200 models you have to swing the final drive from the shaft to change the final drive oil, so you can lube them on a regular basis anyway, you don't have to make it a specific job.
Unless you let any old bike workshop who don't specialise in BMW's service your bikes, as they won't have a clue what to look out for on BMW models.

The shaft U/J's seem to fail on 1200 more so than the 1100/1150 models. .

Thanks Steptoe

Not sure if Vines at Caterham count as 'any old workshop' but they will have the pleasure of spannering it for a while. It's a 2012 12GSA. So you are saying that it is worth doing. Yes?

Richard

 

[Beemerman59]

Thanks Steptoe

Not sure if Vines at Caterham count as 'any old workshop' but they will have the pleasure of spannering it for a while. It's a 2012 12GSA. So you are saying that it is worth doing. Yes?

Richard

Its worth doing if you have the FD dropped for any reason anyway, but Vine's won't do it unless you ask them to as its not part of the normal service procedure. Put it this way, it can't do any harm if you do it. On a 2012 model I can't see any point in doing it specifically unless you do a lot of fording etc., or unless you're uber cautious.

I'm going to drop my FD on my '08 at the next 30K service to have a look at them and see how they're doing but only as a precaution and more to take a look at the pivot bearings.

 

[Bendy toy]

The shaft U/J's seem to fail on 1200 more so than the 1100/1150 models. .

Is the drive shaft UJ angle different on the 1200 compared to the 1100/1150?

 

[ppgser]

Ask Vines what they use for spline lubricant. You will be surprised..

 

[RSavage]

Ask Vines what they use for spline lubricant. You will be surprised..

What reply do you expect them to give?

 

[ppgser]

I wanted to buy some spline grease but they don't sell it. "What do you use in the workshop" I asked. LM grease was the answer.

 

[RSavage]

I wanted to buy some spline grease but they don't sell it. "What do you use in the workshop" I asked. LM grease was the answer.

's what I would use.

 

[ppgser]

Optimol works for me.

It seems thicker and more likely to stay put and has anti chatter properties. It is recommended by BMW (says Motorworks).

 

[RSavage]

Optimol works for me.

It seems thicker and more likely to stay put and has anti chatter properties. It is recommended by BMW (says Motorworks).

Interesting.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Optimol works for me.

It seems thicker and more likely to stay put and has anti chatter properties. It is recommended by BMW (says Motorworks).

IIRC Optimol is no longer made and is now branded Castrol but with several different grades (ie low temp, high temp etc).

Any grease is better than nought but I've always used any old 'Moly Grease'.

Andres

 

[MikeP]

IIRC Optimol is no longer made and is now branded Castrol but with several different grades (ie low temp, high temp etc).

Any grease is better than nought but I've always used any old 'Moly Grease'.

Andres

The tube I have is branded Castrol Optimol TA.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

The tube I have is branded Castrol Optimol TA.

Goes to show how crap my memory is

Andres