Final Drive fluid in pinion cup ? Normal?

[Kilroy]

Hi All,

I am a little confused right now.  I am in the middle of rear end maintenance and had the pumpkin on the bench, the shaft out and had cleaned the interior of the pinion cup.  All of a sudden I noticed that I had rear end fluid running out of the two holes inside the cup.  This was new to me so I went down to the local dealer and they determined that the seal on inside the final drive had failed.   I ordered a new one and then went into the tech board to get the real scoop.

I am reading that during normal use the final drive fluid actually lubes the the drive shaft in the pinion cup.  So am I right to think that the seal described above is fine?  Do I need to replace the seal?

All looks great with the exception of some rust in the area around where the pinion cup mounts to the final drive.  Don't know how the rust got there.

Any help and advice would be appreciated

Thanks as always.
Kilroy

[Bill anderson]

Don't listen to the dealer.Oil in the pinion cup is normal .Final drive gear oil lubes the pinion cup and shaft.The seal keeps the gear oil from entering the swingarm.

[Mallett]

Don't listen to the dealer.Oil in the pinion cup is normal .Final drive gear oil lubes the pinion cup and shaft.The seal keeps the gear oil from entering the swingarm.

+1...agree but put a little 3% moly back on shaft & pinion cup before reassembling...

[Patrick]

Some say they have oil in the cup/shaft, some say they don't. There are 2 holes that appear as though they should allow oil into the cup, but, it doesn't happen to everyone. I'm one of those, never had oil in my cup and everything was clear. I even added oil [ along with grease] in the cup the last time just to see what happens, time will tell. Whether or not yours has oil, or not, I wouldn't worry about it. Maintain it properly and you won't have an issue.

[Daniel Meyer]

Go find a new dealer. They are either trying to rip you off, or they have not had the Honda service training for this type of rear end.

Gear oil out the holes in the pinion cup is normal, required even.

Come to Inzane, I'll show you.

[Willow]

Go find a new dealer. They are either trying to rip you off, or they have not had the Honda service training for this type of rear end.

Gear oil out the holes in the pinion cup is normal, required even.

Come to Inzane, I'll show you.

What Daniel says.

And do come to InZane where he'll show you.   

[vic]

I'm still not sure either way whether those two holes are meant to allow gear lube in or are there for another purpose.   I would think that if those two holes were meant to allow gear oil in, in the Valk Shop Manual, Honda would have stated to be careful NOT to plug those holes with moly grease/paste when servicing the drive shaft and pinion cup.  On the other hand, Honda may have overlooked this "small detail".

[pancho]

The holes are in there to keep the pinion cup as part of the closed system with the final drive,, there is one common vent,  on top of the final drive. The final drive is to be lubricated with hypoid rated gear oil, and the pinion cup (like all spline assemblies) is to be lubricated with moly grease,, at least three percent. Check the service manual,,, and do a search of this board to see pictures of what happens when it is not done that way.

[Willow]

Regardless of what you believe about whether the holes are meant to lube, the answer to Kilroy's question is that it's normal.  If you turn that pumpkin the right way you'll get oil into the pinion cup.   

[Valkpilot]

The holes are in there to keep the pinion cup as part of the closed system with the final drive,, there is one common vent,  on top of the final drive.

Implying that this is the sole purpose for the holes doesn't account for their unique design and placement.

[vic]

My splines look perfect so far using Loctite 65% moly paste where paste is called for and Redline 3% moly grease where its called for.   And I've never seen a drop of gear oil in my pinion cup.   So, I'm one of those whose "getting by" with no gear oil mixing with the moly grease.

[sandy]

I'm in Panchos camp. I also believe the holes are a unique design because they're used as locating pin holes for multiple machining steps during manufacture. Never had gear oil in my cup in 134K and no rust or problems. Valvoline Durablend 3% moly.

[Valker]

Those holes are to allow rear end fluid INTO the pinion cup for lubrication. All the Shadow line has the same thing, but it seems to work better there.