rear wheel bearing shot

[mcdonald]

Last week my rear wheel bearing needed to be replaced while riding Montana.  Upon dropping the gear oil to check for metal, the Honda dealer in Butte found that my local dealer had replaced the fluids with transmission fluid instead of gear oil.  Bike has 79,000 hard miles and I'm curious as to whether anyone has found transmission fluid in their final drive and what the effect might be caused by this as well as why would they do this other than stupidity.  Yes, I do most of my own maintenance but with a new tire I have the local Honda shop change the gear oil.

[Attic Rat]

There are a few special gear oils that are red in color and may appear to be trans fluid. I would check with my local dealer about this. They be using a special gear oil.

[salty1]

Hope it's like Attic Rat suggests.      Tranny fluid is an excellent lubricant, but not nearly heavy enough for the final drive.  You find friendly people in MT.   

[F6Dave]

If they found a lot of metal in the magnetic drain plug there may have been some damage.  If not I wouldn't worry.

[indybobm]

I do not see any way that a bad rear wheel bearing can affect the final drive lube in any way. Totally seperate.

[olddog1946]

Attic Rat is correct about some brands of super duper extra special lube being red, I had a bottle of some brand that was in my BMW,,,looked like thick tranny fluid.