Managed to get to all my splines this weekend and all looks good except for the final drive splines.
The spline on the driveshaft looks kaput to me but the splines on the FD might be ok. Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome



This is what the FD spline looked like before a cleanup. Has the wrong grease been used here?

Shagged

Bin material, both of them. The splines should be shaped like three sides of a rectangle, not two sides of a triangle. My guess is not so much the wrong grease as an absence of grease.

Yeah ok... guessed as much. Whats involved in replacing the shaft from the FD or is it a matter of replacing the whole unit?

You are probably better of replacing the whole unit Nigel. The drives are getting hard to find with good splines.
Drive shafts can be repaired using the spline replacement from Motobins.
There is a guy in Canada, Bruno, who reco them but it's a long way.
I have wrecked a few K100s and the shaft and drive is the first thing to go.
One way round it might be to use paralever gears and machine the snout of the pinion shaft back a bit, AFAIK the spline is the same.

HI Nigel,
At munich motors https://www2.munichmotorcycles.com.au  they do have shafts available.
However my friend is a car nut, and BMW in Deutschland have a historical division, he bought a 2002 last year fully restored and was travelling in Europe when the alternator went, well a swift call to them and he was back on the road. Now my friend did not mention $$ but he has a good spare few!!. But it might just be worth to see if you can get a NOS from them.
Cheers
TD5

Thanks for the suggestions. I may have tracked down a shaft and FD. Just waiting to hear back on condition etc.

Nige Motohansa do tailshaft spline replacement also, But the last time I tried to get an input shaft for a F/D it was dearer than the conversion to 17" I did on the 75.

Hey Keith. Yep the input spline is a doozie, but I think I have a solution.
I've managed to locate a secondhand driveshaft for $140 and FD for $260. Luckily its the correct ratio and I've been told they're in good condition. I'm guessing this is an ok price??? Can anyone confirm that?

It's a bit higher than I would expect but supply and demand sets the price on that stuff.
To get Bruno to do it would be around $1000.

Kaptain my Kaptain

I have a 16 spline FD and drive shaft to suit - they are sitting at my cousins place in Brissie and I'm sure he would like to be shot of them. I had a new output seal put in the FD by "BMW whisperer" in Wonglepong when I thought my Qld based naked was about to run one but it turned out to be the box (thanks to Rick for coming up with a reasonably priced replacement).

You would be doing me a favour if you ran up there and took them off him (could you provide a temporary home for my naked bikes radiator covers as they are also cluttering his shed). I am between jobs at present so not sure when I will next get over there from Perth. The stuff is old so not sure how long it would last. Pay me $50 for the cost of the new seal and it's yours - being 'in credit' with an enthusiast such as yourself is more important to me. The stuff came off an '84 RS (different ratio but surely better for cruising?) and I only paid $250 for complete bike minus front end, rear end indicators and side covers.

I can PM you my cousins contact details (am sure he would pack up the stuff and courier to you at your cost if necessary). He is out Chapel Hill way.

Thanks rawdon. Just PM'd you. Cheers

Just noticed my GB output splines are Z16 while my FD splines are Z20.
While the FD splines changed 03/86 to Z20, it looks like the GB output splines remained the same Z16.
Can someone confirm this?
So a Z16 driveshaft will fit on my '89 RT??

captain   the output shafts of the gear box are 16 splines   its just the diff input spline changed to 20 ....and I recon a bad decision for all us riders and owners

I think rawdon is offering you a 16 spline diff  and driveshaft to suit ...so ....no issue as far as I can see

win

Thanks charlie. I knew someone like you would have the definitive answer. Just wanted to make sure.

Why "a bad decision for all us riders and owners"? I thought the Z16 splines got chewed out before their time.

Anyway certainly a good win and will have the old girl spinning her wheels sometime early next week.

Cheers

FD and drive shaft were delivered yesterday afternoon and I spent a few hours getting everything back in place. She's been tied up and hanging from the beams in my garage for nearly two weeks, so it was sweet when I was able to let her down. She fired up with a nice crisp note and I took her for a spin. Just waiting on a new battery for her now. Should've arrived today but didn't. 

Thanks Rawdon for your assistance. Much appreciated.

just my experience nigel

but it seems the 16 spline lasts well ...well on my old girl 150,000 or so ...and more to go yet ....(just the thrust spacer on the input to the diff - pinion is  suffering some what ) which shall be rectified soon enough . 

then changed to 20 spline ...have been through 2 tail shafts in the last 90,000k

yes, It could be attributed to worn parts before I started

but my thoughts are that there appears to me to be a significant difference of contact area between the 16 spline and the 20 spline
with the 16 spline winning ....then comes the debate of weather the po used the right stuff for the lubrication ...and my guess is not

we have had an eternity of experiences  gathered across the forum ...one of which is in regards to the right stuff to use ...not just the "company" push for this or that supplied product that suits them at the time of production  .

great contribution rawdon

cheers mate ...hope you get play with your girls soon ...still haven't visited wonglepong yet ...its on the list  to do ...things

Thanks charlie.
I wouldn't mind a ride out to Wonglepong. Let me know if you decide to do that.
Cheers