This is not a which type question.

What colour should it be when drained?

Both my final drives have just drained dark grey/blackish while the transmission is still goldish colour.  I've flushed both final drives to ensure they are clean inside, no residual old oil etc.  After a couple of hundred kms, I drained the fresh oil again to find it's already darkening.

There is no bearing rumble, the drives are not running excessively hot after riding any distance.  I'm just trying to figure whether I need to delve deeper.

Al

I can say that after two years of use (my average maintenance level) the GL5-rated final drive oils in my Monolever, Paralever and Paralever EVO final drives come out clear-brown like when I poured it in. It's never a different colour from those models with a separate gearbox, unless water has got into the 'box and muddied it up. Don't you also drag a chair around with your bike?

It may be dark due to residual oil from the last time I would give it a fresh drop and check again in 1000k. If you pull the speedo transducer see what particles are on it you will get a good idea of any bearing failing.

there are a few ventricles around the core of the drive al , I wonder if as rick says there is some residual oil discolouring the new stuff

around the internal perimeter , where the breather is located could be holding back some amount of sludge ...as well

I have broken apart a few drives, and to be honest after many years of good service I had to clean out those areas including the pinion bearing area before I got a good clean result

ill post that internal pic again as a reminder

good luck mate

I will hold your watch for you Al whilst you work on that problem. I am good at that.

charlie99 wrote:there are a few ventricles around the core of the drive al , I wonder if as rick says there is some residual oil discolouring the new stuff

around the internal perimeter , where the breather is located could be holding back some amount of sludge ...as well

I have broken apart a few drives, and to be honest after many years of good service I had to clean out those areas including the pinion bearing area before I got a good clean result

ill post that internal pic again as a reminder

good luck mate

Probably worth stripping down to clean and inspect then.  i dont want to throw bearings at it if they aren't needed (would hand it on to a workshop or someone else that knows their stuff for that anyway).

Al

Two Wheels Better wrote: Don't you also drag a chair around with your bike?

Yes but there's no sign of burning in the oil, the smell is obvious.  I've had that happen before but this final drive hasnt had anything like that treatment (bike pulling a total of 880kg (Bike, sidecar, camper trailer) for 6000 odd kms in up to and over 30c heat).

This final drive has done a total of approx 30,000kms from new but did sit around doing nothing for many years.

Will strip and inspect, that's probably the best answer.

Al

Stan wrote:I will hold your watch for you Al whilst you work on that problem. I am good at that.

Supervising is an unsung profession Stan. I don't think the workers really appreciate just how demanding and stressful it is to stand and watch while they work and, if you have added responsibility of holding things, well that just adds a whole new dimension of complexity and pressure. You did a great job on various occasions during the NTL ride - well done!

Stan wrote:I will hold your watch for you Al whilst you work on that problem. I am good at that.

Am I ever going to see my watch again?  

(note to non-Australian natives, this is a gag that will only work in New Holland.   R.I.P. Doc)

Al

Yep and now that song will stay in my head till something replaces it.

lol  same here keith

yes met Doc live once upon a time

K75cster wrote:Yep and now that song will stay in my head till something replaces it.

And that's a good thing

Never met the man but could have if i wasn't a shy young 2nd year apprentice.  In '77/'78 I seen the band play live at a place called JAM at Leppington a few times; it was a small place and mixing with the band after the show wasnt very unusual.  The NW-GF-FO chant either hadn't started at that stage or hadn't travelled with them to Leppington yet, never heard it in the audience.  

Seen the Oils there while PG still wore the bluey and the hanky on his head and a few others too.

Al

Born Again Eccentric wrote:

Stan wrote:I will hold your watch for you Al whilst you work on that problem. I am good at that.

Supervising is an unsung profession Stan. I don't think the workers really appreciate just how demanding and stressful it is to stand and watch while they work and, if you have added responsibility of holding things, well that just adds a whole new dimension of complexity and pressure. You did a great job on various occasions during the NTL ride - well done!

I love work. I could watch it all day.

Bill