Rear wheel gear heat

[97valk]

Wondering just how hot a drive unit on the rear wheel should get? mine was pretty hot today after a 6 mile ride,previous owner had fluid changed at last new tire change. Just wondering if it should be very hot. Air temps in the low 90s, 65-70 mph. Anything to look for other than the obvious, fluid level,ect.?

[R J]

I'd check  to make sure he filled the gear case to the full mark.

I don't think it should get that hot in 6 miles.

[Paladin528]

It shouldnt get that hot.  If the oil level is correct it really should not generate too much heat.  If the level is too low or the incorrect fluid used then you may be generating friction and tearing apart your rear end.  Best check it early and be sure.

[hubcapsc]

"pretty hot" is subjective... they generate heat... there's trouble
if they sizzle spit...

It is easy to change the fluid and put the right amount back in... what comes
out? Nice looking stuff? Icky black stuff? Nothing?

-Mike

[old2soon]

Besides the proper amount and type of oil in there-was the rear end reinstalled I he proper SEQUENCE?? Again as others have stated-should NOT get HOT in 6 miles. RIDE SAFE.

[97valk]

Thanks Guys I'll put her on the lift as soon as I build a adapter for my jack. No more riding till I straigten this issue out.   

[John Schmidt]

Using a good synthetic will help it run cooler. If it comes out with a watery consistence, I'd be inclined to think the PO used the wrong stuff.....too light a weight oil.

[Kunkies]

Purchased my 2000 GL1500CT from the original owner with about 1,800 miles on her.  First thing I did when I got her home was to change all the fluids, especially the rear drive oil since I felt the fluid was not only old but also the rear drive housing seemed hot to me. 

I used Amsoil https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/gear-lube/severe-gear-75w-140/?code=SVOQT-EA.  Replace it every other year when I put new rubber on.  I have NEVER had an issue and after hundreds of consecutive miles the final drive is warm and NOT hot.

Hope this helps,

[97valk]

Just jacked her up and dropped the shocks and checked the gear oil and it was full. running out the fill hole. Cranked her up and ran in 1 st gear on the lift kind of a ticking noise when revved up. not loud but noticable. Might need a expert to look at it . Thanks for the info I'll try the synthetic gear oil too.

[R J]

With the rear end in the air with no weight on it, you could get a clicking noise running the rear end under engine power.

Personally, I'd drain the housing, put in the proper gear oil and set it on the ground and take another short trip.

She how much heat you get.   There should be some heat, but nothing very serious.

[indybobm]

Just jacked her up and dropped the shocks and checked the gear oil and it was full. running out the fill hole. Cranked her up and ran in 1 st gear on the lift kind of a ticking noise when revved up. not loud but noticable. Might need a expert to look at it . Thanks for the info I'll try the synthetic gear oil too.

If the shocks are still off. DO NOT run the engine through the gears. I would not even turn the wheel. The swingarm will be down enough to put the u-joint in a bind. This can cause problems with the u-joint and the housing. If all you hear is ticking it probably did not get hurt.

[Firefighter]

They get pretty warm, doesn't take too long and not much oil to heat up. Heavy bike and biker to haul down the road. I wouldn't worry much, go ride 30 miles and see how hot it is. I think if you had problems they would show up quick.

Here at the end of the world where I live, my gear case stays at about 100 degrees while parked, even hotter if I go for a ride!

[Paladin528]

Just make sure you use a proper Hypoid Gear oil of an 80 or 90 weight.  Synthetic is better.  If the gear oil is not a Hypoid oil then you will generate more heat.  Most gear oils are hypoid oils.  I use a Bel-Ray 80 systhetic

[Daniel Meyer]

Not hot enough to immediately burn if you touch it with a finger/such, but too hot to hold your hand on for more than a couple seconds.

[R J]

Not hot enough to immediately burn if you touch it with a finger/such, but too hot to hold your hand on for more than a couple seconds.

One of my VRCC Brothers stopped by just a little while ago for a break on his way home.

He rode his bike from the Mississippi to my house on the I-State around 75 to 80 mph, only stopping one time for gas.

What Daniel said in his quote was how the temp felt when we got ahold of the housing.    It was also protected by the saddlebags.

Read Daniel's quote and forget about the rearend getting too hot if you got synthetic oil in it.     Before MGM was converted to a Trike, I ran Bel-Ray synthetic in it.   Don't ask the weight as I don't remember.

[flash2002]

I just bought a Valk a few weeks ago and not to take a chance, I change the diff oil and for the hell of it I took the back wheel off. Good thing I did, the spindle was dry with some rust. This was from the dealer and he told me it was all good. If your not sure check the back wheel to be on the safe side.

[Chrisj CMA]

Just jacked her up and dropped the shocks and checked the gear oil and it was full. running out the fill hole. Cranked her up and ran in 1 st gear on the lift kind of a ticking noise when revved up. not loud but noticable. Might need a expert to look at it . Thanks for the info I'll try the synthetic gear oil too.

Tell me you put the shocks back on before you ran the motor and power to the rear wheel....powering the drive train with the swing arm hanging down is sure to harm parts like the U joint and pinion cup/drive shaft

[indybobm]

Just jacked her up and dropped the shocks and checked the gear oil and it was full. running out the fill hole. Cranked her up and ran in 1 st gear on the lift kind of a ticking noise when revved up. not loud but noticable. Might need a expert to look at it . Thanks for the info I'll try the synthetic gear oil too.

If the shocks are still off. DO NOT run the engine through the gears. I would not even turn the wheel. The swingarm will be down enough to put the u-joint in a bind. This can cause problems with the u-joint and the housing. If all you hear is ticking it probably did not get hurt.

Chris, That was the purpose of my post.

[Tfrank59]

Yep, everybody's going to chime in about running the bike up on the lift – wheel drooping down, especially with the shocks off, very bad idea.  I would say, like somebody else before me, drain out that gear oil, fill it up just to the fill hole when the bike is straight up and level, and the pumpkin should not get "very hot" --definitely not in 6 miles, I don't care where you live!  And yes, make sure it's hypoid rated gear oil, and synthetic is best.

[saddlesore]

I know no one mentioned this before and I bring it up because it just happened to me.   But what about the front end of the gear box?  Check out the pics, there got to be some heat generated there.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,81072.0.html

[97valk]

Thanks for all the support guys. I did run it with the shocks off but just enough to make the wheel spin, no revs. couldn't find Amsol products so I went with a synthetic blend, Haven't been able to do a test ride but will tomorrow. Heat was hot enough that you could hold it for a quite a few seconds. not scalding hot. When I drained it it didn't have much in it probably the problem all along .
Will post test ride results, Thanks again, what a grea group. Happy to be a member here.

[97valk]

12 mile test drive , not as hot but still hot to the touch. Gonna ride the beast without mercy. Just kidding . thanks for the feedback.

[xman]

I just got back from a 70 mile highway ride at 75mph. The pumpkin was heat was evenly warm. No problem keeping your hand on it. About the same temp as the tires.

[97valk]

Same on mine.