rear drive spline issue

[rug_burn]

Like most of us, I've had wear issues on those rear drive splines-  here's my story and what I've found-  After buying my bike used from a good friend with 75k miles on it-  the first time I pulled the rear wheel for a tire chenge- I was surprised and a little bummed to find that the splines on the rear drive/rear wheel flange were almost gone.  There was a dry powdery rust all around where the splines contacted each other.   At first, I figured that the places my friend had been taking the bike to for new rear tires had not been lubing the splines adequately...  I got a new rear drive unit, and new drive flange for the rear wheel (both halves of the spline pair), and lubed it liberally when I asembled it, with the recommended Honda 60% moly grease. 
   I checked it at 5000 miles- lube was there and ot looked okay.  After getting 8000 miles on a Bridgestone, it still had lube, but not much.  After pulling it apart after 13k on an Avon rear tire-  it was dry, and the same powdery rust was present. 
   Being a mechanical engineer myself, I had a little experience with Moly grease-  actually, it can be abrasive if it isn't in a grease base.  Further, the grease component of the Honda Moly grease is a fairly light weight grease- kind of like lithium grease-  which it migh actually be for all I know.   It seemed that the Moly grease was good for somewhere around 10k miles before it was all slung out of the splines due to centrifugal force.   I made sure all the o-rings in the spline assembly were good, and lubed both male and female splines heavily with some heavy wheel bearing grease.   After 13k miles, it still had grease, and no rust.  After the next tire change I noticed that the splines were almost dry again, probably because I had only lubed the male splines that time, so from now on, I'm lubing the female splines as well as the male.  The good news is that wear on the splines is now very little, almost unnoticable. 

[Daniel Meyer]

Make sure the 4 nuts that hold the drive to the swing arm are loose until after you torque down the rear axle and that will eliminate the wear problems.

[Sodbuster]

+1 on what Dan said !!

I think you'll find other members on this board including myself that have had poor success with the Honda 60

[fudgie]

How come you didnt add some when you took the wheel off each time? 

[Willow]

Like most of us, I've had wear issues on those rear drive splines-  ...

Jumped off to a really bad assumption.

Some of us have.

Most of us haven't.

A fairly consistent plan seems to be re-lubing at 10,000 miles, although I've gone well over 20.

[sandy]

Here's my splines with 112K miles on them. Once the first tire came off, nothing but Bel Rey waterproof grease has been used. Toss the 60% stuff in the trash.

[John U.]

+1 on waterproof grease. I've been using Green Grease synthetic. I've been mixing the Honda Moly60 stuff with the grease but I'm sure it isn't necesary. My splines look just like Sandy's.

[BF]

Here's my splines with 112K miles on them. Once the first tire came off, nothing but Bel Rey waterproof grease has been used. Toss the 60% stuff in the trash.

I'm bookmarking this thread just so I can remember what the splines are supposed to look like.   

[RonW]

yea, it's always nice to provide some pics. Sandy, I've asked this question on a number of occasions, however what solvent do you use to clean the splines?

[Disco]

Beautiful, Sandy!   

[ptgb]

I have read and read again pretty much all the spline lube threads on here over the years. What I can't recall seeing is photos of splines that have been lubricated and are ready to be put back on.

The amount of moly-paste, waterproof grease, etc. is what confuses me. As someone who found rusty bad splines (after about 8-9K miles (did the proper tightening sequence)) I am now asking myself "too much" / "not enough".

Anyone have photos they can post showing the amount of paste/grease, etc. that they apply to the spline before install? Would be a great help to me.

Thanks in advance

[eric in md]

I have read and read again pretty much all the spline lube threads on here over the years. What I can't recall seeing is photos of splines that have been lubricated and are ready to be put back on.

The amount of moly-paste, waterproof grease, etc. is what confuses me. As someone who found rusty bad splines I am now asking myself "too much" / "not enough".

Anyone have photos they can post showing the amount of paste/grease, etc. that they apply to the spline before install? Would be a great help to me.

Thanks in advance

well no pictures but i tell ya i cover everything with a mixture of green waterproof grease and moly if it slings out it ok i will wipe it off.. so far with 106,000 hard miles mine still look great.

[Evie]

Have 108,00 on my Interstate, have always used Moly.  I lube everytime I change the tire (12,000), make sure I loosen the shaft before I remove and tighten after the tire is on.  My splines look like new.   Sometimes it's close to dry, but never completely.   You don't need to drown it in grease, just make sure it's got a liberal amount.

[eric in md]

grease is cheap man ... parts cost 

[Dirty Dave]

Is it important to completely clean the old moly off. Being a tad lazy, I usually wipe the splines down a bit and then re-lube. I get 15 to 17 k out of a rear tire. So far so good with the 97 thanks to you guys. Never had the splines dry upon tire change.

[ptgb]

... Nobody takes a picture because the material gets on your hands and you don't want to handle a camera...

Why do you think I got married.... "hey honey, come take a picture of this!"   

[eric in md]

... Nobody takes a picture because the material gets on your hands and you don't want to handle a camera...

Why do you think I got married.... "hey honey, come take a picture of this!"   

[hubcapsc]

I put mine together looking like this:



There was a similar amount on the female part... [insert emoticon
of Beavis going "huh huh" here]

-Mike

[art]

I don't think it makes much difference what you use,I have 130000 miles on my valk an use only wheel bearing grease and my drive splines look like new.I do check them no more than 10000 miles.I run a car tire but it only takes a little over 1 hour to check an reassemble the rear wheel.The splines have never been dry.Proper maintenance will go a long way

[Ricky-D]

***

[Grumpy]

Last time I pulled it, 70,000 miles. I use the Honda Moly lube, but I change the o rings each time I pull it down, clean and re-grease it. And make sure to use the proper sequence when installing the wheel, torque the axle, then tighten the 4 bolts that secure the final drive. If not done that way, it can be in a bind and cause premature wear.

[bscrive]

Last time I pulled it, 70,000 miles. I use the Honda Moly lube, but I change the o rings each time I pull it down, clean and re-grease it. And make sure to use the proper sequence when installing the wheel, torque the axle, then tighten the 4 bolts that secure the final drive. If not done that way, it can be in a bind and cause premature wear.

I think that is why mine wore out so fast.  I never loosened the 4 bolts before when I changed the tires.  Last time I took the wheel off there was a little wear but now my splines are cooked.  Lesson learned the hard way.

[sandy]

yea, it's always nice to provide some pics. Sandy, I've asked this question on a number of occasions, however what solvent do you use to clean the splines?

I'm not fussy with solvents. Start with paper towels and finish with brake cleaner. I've only changed O rings twice in those miles. Now I have 125K on the bike and the new tire at 112K is gonna get changed this spring. It still has tread left. I get 12-15K on a rear Cobra.

[stapo]

I also found that if there is any movement when the wheel is tightened up the O rings can't do thier job. I over come this by adding an extra spacer/shim behind the driven spline after 60,000klms i still have the machine marks on  the splines and no sign of wear.

regards

[Disco]

Hey hubcap, mine might even be pookier than yours when I reassemble.

Beautiful, Grumpy!  

[rug_burn]

Man, that photo of those near-new looking splines made a believer out of me.  In fact, I'm gonna put my bike up on the stand, loosen the axle and those four rear drive-to-swingarm  bolts and re-tighten like recommended.  Easy to do.  Maybe that's what the problem has been all along.  Thanks-

[old2soon]

I know this thread is about the rear splines. Taking an extrs 5 minutes to check and recheck the SEQUENCE needed to reinstall the rear and front wheels pays off in the longevity of the parts and money saved by NOT having to buy replacement parts. I use the Guard Dog Moly and when i tore down the rear unit-nuttin but GOOD news charly. And i went a smidge over 12000 on this service.  Zero issues. Clean it up put in three (3) new O rings and ready for another 10 or 12000 miles of worry free riding. eric in md-correctamundo-grease and my labor cheap- parts be mucho dinero. This board and the people on it ARE the reason my lady will be in good shape for the next owner-when i'm takin my dirt nap. A little preventive maintenence go a long way. But i'm aware i'm mostly preaching to the choir. RIDE SAFE.