How the heck do ya get to the Final Drive Oil Filler Nut?

[Kunkies]

I have a 2000 GL15000CT.  Started draining the final drive oil on Saturday and had a heck of a time getting to the level check/filler nut/washer.  Anyone have some advice, special tool, take off the exhaust?  I ended up using a straw, holding my finger at the bottom of the drain hole and squeezing 5.1oz that way!  Ugh.

p.s.  I have a tourer so hard bags are involved yet they don't seem to get in the way.

[Chrisj CMA]

I only change the oil when the final drive is off the bike (tire changes/spline lube)

[salty1]

Get a long piece of clear tubing at the local harware and attach one end to the hypoid lube bottle and put the other end in the fill hole. It would be a lot simpler for two people to carry off the task.  Also, as Chris points out planning makes life a lot easier. FWIW ???

[Patrick]

If you're having trouble changing that oil while the bike is all in one piece, then you could fill it thru the vent. The vent is just pressed/pushed in. You'll just have to make sure all the old oil is out and measure 5.1 ounces before dumping it in. Some fellas have broken the vent trying to get it out, its kinda fragile.

[Chrisj CMA]

If you're having trouble changing that oil while the bike is all in one piece, then you could fill it thru the vent. The vent is just pressed/pushed in. You'll just have to make sure all the old oil is out and measure 5.1 ounces before dumping it in. Some fellas have broken the vent trying to get it out, its kinda fragile.

  Don't do this 

[Patrick]

If you're having trouble changing that oil while the bike is all in one piece, then you could fill it thru the vent. The vent is just pressed/pushed in. You'll just have to make sure all the old oil is out and measure 5.1 ounces before dumping it in. Some fellas have broken the vent trying to get it out, its kinda fragile.

  Don't do this 

I don't really recommend this either, but, I don't have a problem with filling it. But, I don't see an issue with this as long as one is careful. Just another way to milk this cow if necessary.

[nogrey]

If you're having trouble changing that oil while the bike is all in one piece, then you could fill it thru the vent. The vent is just pressed/pushed in. You'll just have to make sure all the old oil is out and measure 5.1 ounces before dumping it in. Some fellas have broken the vent trying to get it out, its kinda fragile.

  Don't do this 

I don't really recommend this either, but, I don't have a problem with filling it. But, I don't see an issue with this as long as one is careful. Just another way to milk this cow if necessary.

I'm no expert on this, but I've read post after post where guys have destroyed their vent trying to get it off. I've fiddled with it and I've not seen any clear cut way to remove the vent to gain access from the top. If someone out there has a sure fire way to get the vent off, please share!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Don't attempt to take off the vent! I've filled mine on the bike and off. It's a lot easier off, but if you want to do it on. I use a funnel and put clear tubing on the neck of it. I don't measure, just fill till it starts to flow back out. Kind of messy but it works.

[BradValk48237]

Tubing... have been doing it for years....81 CB 900, 85 Wing, and now 00' Valk......

B

[Savago]

Dear Friends

I *wish* this thread was started 3 days ago (as I've flushed the final drive oil this last Saturday)... In my I/S, the filler cap was screwed so hard that there was no way to get it free without full access to it (I tried twice and was starting to damage the cap).

My solution was to remove the exhaust pipe (how painful those 6 screws in the engine block are to access!) and next have free access to it. One advantage though, was that I had enough space to use the torch wrench and set the right torque on both screws (the filler and the drain, 12Nm and 20Nm respectively).

Best regards


Adenilson

[Kunkies]

Thanks all.

Savago; that is exactly what I was trying to avoid (removing the exhaust).  Based upon what I've read here, I would never remove the vent cap either. 

[fudgie]

Did mine yesterday. I just jacked the bike up enough to take the weight off the suspension and got to it with a box end wrench. Used the tubing to fill. I also had the bag off. You could loosen the 2 acorn nuts at the back of the exhaust if you have fat fingers.

[Chrisj CMA]

Don't attempt to take off the vent! I've filled mine on the bike and off. It's a lot easier off, but if you want to do it on. I use a funnel and put clear tubing on the neck of it. I don't measure, just fill till it starts to flow back out. Kind of messy but it works.

meathead.......to do the fill till overflow method you need to have the bike perfectly vertical.  If its leaning a bit that will affect the oil volume.  Easier way if you must fill it on the bike is to do it just how you said but ON THE SIDE STAND then only pour in 150cc.  It wont overflow, but it will be full.

[hubcapsc]

If someone out there has a sure fire way to get the vent off, please share!

Channellocks 



-Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

Don't attempt to take off the vent! I've filled mine on the bike and off. It's a lot easier off, but if you want to do it on. I use a funnel and put clear tubing on the neck of it. I don't measure, just fill till it starts to flow back out. Kind of messy but it works.

meathead.......to do the fill till overflow method you need to have the bike perfectly vertical.  If its leaning a bit that will affect the oil volume.  Easier way if you must fill it on the bike is to do it just how you said but ON THE SIDE STAND then only pour in 150cc.  It wont overflow, but it will be full.

sounds good. Usually I do it off the bike now.

[Ken Tarver]

Get one of these, also available at the discount auto part stores and probably Wally Mart. Makes life so easy. Color may vary, mine is white

http://www.harborfreight.com/gear-oil-and-fluid-pump-61746.html


Ken

[Led]

I use a flex tube oil can, like the "old fashioned" types. 
Just keep squirting oil in, with the bike on a level plane, until it finally overflows. Only a trickle of oil will come out (one squirt too much!!), but it will be completely full. Re-install the cap and clean everything up........DONE!!!!

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-flexible-spout-oil-can-1113.html

[Chrisj CMA]

I use a flex tube oil can, like the "old fashioned" types. 
Just keep squirting oil in, with the bike on a level plane, until it finally overflows. Only a trickle of oil will come out (one squirt too much!!), but it will be completely full. Re-install the cap and clean everything up........DONE!!!!

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-flexible-spout-oil-can-1113.html

How do you keep the bike perfectly vertical while filling?

[specialdose]

    I am by no means a mechanic but can perform all my PM. I use a large general purpose shop syringe on the side stand....easy peasy.

[doubletee]

I use a flex tube oil can, like the "old fashioned" types.  
Just keep squirting oil in, with the bike on a level plane, until it finally overflows. Only a trickle of oil will come out (one squirt too much!!), but it will be completely full. Re-install the cap and clean everything up........DONE!!!!

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-flexible-spout-oil-can-1113.html

How do you keep the bike perfectly vertical while filling?

I don't claim it was perfectly vertical, but I used jack stands under each side of the engine guards.

[Chrisj CMA]

I use a flex tube oil can, like the "old fashioned" types.  
Just keep squirting oil in, with the bike on a level plane, until it finally overflows. Only a trickle of oil will come out (one squirt too much!!), but it will be completely full. Re-install the cap and clean everything up........DONE!!!!

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-flexible-spout-oil-can-1113.html

How do you keep the bike perfectly vertical while filling?

I don't claim it was perfectly vertical, but I used jack stands under each side of the engine guards.

That's perfectly vertical enough for the job for sure.  If you don't do something like that, maybe even fill it on the side stand till it overflows, well it would be ever filled.  Good job!

I still think measure 150cc and do it on the side stand if you are set on doing it while its on the bike is easiest

[Bone]

That's a lot of oil.

[Chrisj CMA]

That's a lot of oil.

sorry, I fixed it..........didnt see that extra 0

[Ken Tarver]

homemade wood 2x4 wheel chock, park in it all time

Ken

[MP]

Don't attempt to take off the vent! I've filled mine on the bike and off. It's a lot easier off, but if you want to do it on. I use a funnel and put clear tubing on the neck of it. I don't measure, just fill till it starts to flow back out. Kind of messy but it works.

meathead.......to do the fill till overflow method you need to have the bike perfectly vertical.  If its leaning a bit that will affect the oil volume.  Easier way if you must fill it on the bike is to do it just how you said but ON THE SIDE STAND then only pour in 150cc.  It wont overflow, but it will be full.

Chris.  I used to do the oil fill with the bike level.  Now, I do it on the side stand.  It is only a little more oil.  I thought maybe it would get in the pinion cup a little better.  I checked several times after filling, to be sure I wasn't throwing out oil with it a little overfull.  I wasn't.

On the sidecar IS, which is always level, I fill it till it starts coming out, then put a little more in.  Just a little.

Might be right, might be wrong.  But, it is my story, and I am sticking to it!  LOL

MP

[T-Bird]

Chris.  I used to do the oil fill with the bike level.  Now, I do it on the side stand.  It is only a little more oil.  I thought maybe it would get in the pinion cup a little better.  I checked several times after filling, to be sure I wasn't throwing out oil with it a little overfull.  I wasn't.

On the sidecar IS, which is always level, I fill it till it starts coming out, then put a little more in.  Just a little.

Might be right, might be wrong.  But, it is my story, and I am sticking to it!  LOL

MP

MP
At Inzane this year, I heard some others talking about even putting the bike on a 2x4 and then over on the sidestand to fill it.  I would think that if there is too much it would just blow out the vent..but you would have plenty to get to the pinion cup. What do you think about this, would it (or could it) do harm if overfilled?

[xman]

To keep the bike level, on the ground. I mounted 2,  1 inch rings on the garage wall, about 4 ft apart. I put the bikes front wheel against the wall centered between the rings. I use 2 tie down straps from the handle bars to the rings. Put a little tension on the straps.

I fill with a thin tube attached to a funnel. I don't have bags but you do have to get it around the exhaust. Fill until it's running out the fill plug and it's good to go.

[Chrisj CMA]

To keep the bike level, on the ground. I mounted 2,  1 inch rings on the garage wall, about 4 ft apart. I put the bikes front wheel against the wall centered between the rings. I use 2 tie down straps from the handle bars to the rings. Put a little tension on the straps.

I fill with a thin tube attached to a funnel. I don't have bags but you do have to get it around the exhaust. Fill until it's running out the fill plug and it's good to go.

all that........................or just put in 150cc when its off the bike..................work smarter, not harder is my thing

[Farther]

I do mine on the side stand, fill it until the lube runs out and, with three changes there has been no lose through the vent to date.

[MP]

Chris.  I used to do the oil fill with the bike level.  Now, I do it on the side stand.  It is only a little more oil.  I thought maybe it would get in the pinion cup a little better.  I checked several times after filling, to be sure I wasn't throwing out oil with it a little overfull.  I wasn't.

On the sidecar IS, which is always level, I fill it till it starts coming out, then put a little more in.  Just a little.

Might be right, might be wrong.  But, it is my story, and I am sticking to it!  LOL

MP

MP
At Inzane this year, I heard some others talking about even putting the bike on a 2x4 and then over on the sidestand to fill it.  I would think that if there is too much it would just blow out the vent..but you would have plenty to get to the pinion cup. What do you think about this, would it (or could it) do harm if overfilled?

At some point it gets too full.  I do not know if it will do any damage, besides start to spit out oil. 

MP

[Rio Wil]

I do mine on the side stand, fill it until the lube runs out and, with three changes there has been no lose through the vent to date.

I am guessing there has been 10-15 K between changes.....at those intervals what has been the condition of the drive shaft/pinion cup splines. Did you lube up the splines with moly/grease or rely on the final drive fluid to do the lubrication through the 2 holes in the p-cup.......if relying on the final drive for lubrication, did that work well....???

[john]

      ???                 

[Chrisj CMA]

Some of you guys crack me up.  A couple weeks ago we argued how if the pinch bolts on the front axle were off a ftlb or so you would die a flaming death.  Now we are arguing the fact that even though 150cc is the prescribed fill amount for the final drive... Im not sure if will hurt anything but my way insures there's extra in there, its just easier that way.

Maybe you're right and it doesn't matter.......what if too much oil causes your lube to foam up instead of misting inside the case?  

Too much oil can cause this:
Foaming is a common problem with oil-lubricated components. It can be difficult to troubleshoot, and for this reason, accurate testing to determine the root cause of the foaming is essential.

Symptoms
 Foam is a collection of small bubbles of air that accumulate on or near the surface of the fluid. In severe cases, the foam can leak out of the machine through breathers, sight glasses and dipsticks. Foam is an efficient thermal insulator, so the temperature of the oil can become difficult to control. The presence of air bubbles in the fluid can lead to excessive oxidation, cavitation, the reduction of lubricating properties of the oil and hydraulic system failure

More is not always better, be careful out there

[theredark]

You could also buy one of the little pumps that you screw onto an oil bottle to fill the lower drive of an outboard with.  They're pretty cheap,  in the marine section of Wal-Mart.

[Chrisj CMA]

You could also buy one of the little pumps that you screw onto an oil bottle to fill the lower drive of an outboard with.  They're pretty cheap,  in the marine section of Wal-Mart.

Not sure who "You" is, but I just would rather do it when the final drive is off the bike.  Synthetic lube and do it every spline grease 10K or so interval is my norm.

[Jopson]

When I did mine I had it on the bench but to ensure the correct amount I got a cheap 50cc syringe from my local veterinary clinic for about $2. Worked really well and was cheap!

[tpersson]

Thanks for the post, it helped me with getting my oil changed on the final drive.  It was tough to get the top bolt off.  I took the side bag off, then lifted the bike on that side so get past the muffler.  I also used a small funnel and a clear hose (I had lying around), which worked well.  I did do what "Chrisj CMA" recommended, I measured 150ml.

My only struggle was getting my large torque wrench in position to tighten top bolt properly.  I just couldn't do it, so I did it by feel.

[John Schmidt]

You don't really need a torque wrench for any of this. I haven't ever used one on my bike when servicing the final drive, only on the axle and the last four nuts in front of the final. That area isn't under pressure so just clean it all up and screw the plug in snug. Doesn't need anything else.

As I recall, the only thing I use a torque wrench on is both axles, the final's front four nuts, pinch bolts on the forks. Don't recall anything else.

[pais]

  Changed my final drive oil a couple weeks ago. Pulled drain plug, pulled vent plug and let it drain for half a day. Poured a small amount of fresh oil into vent opening and let that drain over night. Installed drain plug and filled through vent opening. Went well and vent cap/plug came out relatively easy and went back in, no problems.
   Rest assured I will do this service at tire change intervals! I love the "work smart not hard" theory.

[westnek]

Get a long piece of clear tubing at the local harware and attach one end to the hypoid lube bottle and put the other end in the fill hole. It would be a lot simpler for two people to carry off the task.  Also, as Chris points out planning makes life a lot easier. FWIW ???

  hi salty I  used a 1/2 in plastic hose and a copper elbow with about 3/4 in piece soldered on the elbow to make sure it goes in far enough ,,a funnel and away we go