Rear drive housing seems a little hot

[Dale_K]

After a 1 hour ride which included some highway speeds I noticed my rear drive seemed kind of hot.  I put my infrared thermometer on it and the housing was about 150.  I changed the rear drive fluid with fresh hypoid gear oil within the past 1,500 miles, so I think I can cross that off. The hottest item seemed to be the right side of the axle.

Are these normal temperatures?  I've owned Valkyries before but I don't remember how hot the rear end gets.  I've only had a IR thermometer for a few years so I never got a chance to use it on the my original Valkyrie.

[Daniel Meyer]

Probably about normal. For sure gets hot enough you can't hold a hand on it...

[Pete]

Just came in after a 40 mile ride in 86 degree heat..
So I checked the temp, it has been sitting for about 10-15 minutes before the measurement.
Temp was 133 at the hottest point.

So yes 150 sounds about right.

[Harryc]

Put the thermometer down Dale and walk away from the bike. .

[Bagger John - #3785]

At that temp...stick a fork in it. Sounds like it's done. 

[indybobm]

It will run cooler with synthetic lube.

[The emperor has no clothes]

At that temp...stick a fork in it. Sounds like it's done. 

Food safety dictates 160* 

[Bagger John - #3785]

At that temp...stick a fork in it. Sounds like it's done. 

Food safety dictates 160* 

Rare is the man who makes that observation. Bloody rare. 

[Valkpilot]

Rare is the man who makes that observation. Bloody rare. 

Absolutely brilliant.

[Tfrank59]

 You know I just got back from about 50 mile ride and I can hold onto my pumpkin without it being too hot to touch.  I don't know how hot that is but I bet it's less than 100°. it's not hot today in Seattle if that makes any difference. I run full synthetic hypoid gear oil.

[hubcapsc]

You know I just got back from about 50 mile ride and I can hold onto my pumpkin without it being too hot to touch.  I don't know how hot that is but I bet it's less than 100°. it's not hot today in Seattle if that makes any difference. I run full synthetic hypoid gear oil.

I remember mine being hot, but not too hot to touch... I bet yours is over 100, or it wouldn't feel
hot to you - you're almost 100...

-Mike

[Valkpilot]

150 F is right about what you can touch, but not hold.

[98valk]

normal.  splines also generate a lot of heat, reason manual calls for moly paste. moly handles heat very, very well.  due to heat another reason manual calls for 24k oil change. Also if using higher than 75w90, that will make if run hotter also.

[rhubarbray]

A couple of friends have Yamaha Vmax bikes and there was a discussion quite a while ago on rear axle torque. The earlier ones had a cotter pin and lower torque while the later ones had a self locking nut and higher torque. They were noticing the rear ends were getting hot on the bikes with the self locking nuts. They backed of the torque to the level of the earlier bikes and the rear ends cooled down.

What`s your axle torque? 

[The emperor has no clothes]

At that temp...stick a fork in it. Sounds like it's done. 

Food safety dictates 160* 

Rare is the man who makes that observation. Bloody rare. 

well played sir, well played 

[Dale_K]

I'm the OP and it turns out I used synthetic.  I'm not going to worry about it based on the comments of others.  The rear wheel was pulled at the dealer about a month ago when I got rid of the car tire that was on the bike when I bought it.  They told me they always grease the splines when they pull the wheel.

Thanks for the replies.

[Bagger John - #3785]

I'm the OP and it turns out I used synthetic.  I'm not going to worry about it based on the comments of others. 

I use Spectro 75w-90 Synthetic Hypoid Gear Oil in all of my final drive equipped bikes and the temperature you stated is along the lines of what any of mine will run after a period of extended riding.

If oil boils out of the little chrome breather at the top of the unit you've got a problem. Otherwise, no.

[RainMaker]

I'm the OP and it turns out I used synthetic.  I'm not going to worry about it based on the comments of others.  The rear wheel was pulled at the dealer about a month ago when I got rid of the car tire that was on the bike when I bought it.  They told me they always grease the splines when they pull the wheel.

Thanks for the replies.

Did you watch them moly paste the splines, pinion cup, etc?  Replace the 3 O-rings?  It's surprising that very few Honda shops know as much about these machines as this group and they end up not performing the maintenance correctly.  Make sure you find a good Valkyrie mechanic.  Just a heads up.

[98valk]

I'm the OP and it turns out I used synthetic.  I'm not going to worry about it based on the comments of others.  The rear wheel was pulled at the dealer about a month ago when I got rid of the car tire that was on the bike when I bought it.  They told me they always grease the splines when they pull the wheel.

Thanks for the replies.

Did you watch them moly paste the splines, pinion cup, etc?  Replace the 3 O-rings?  It's surprising that very few Honda shops know as much about these machines as this group and they end up not performing the maintenance correctly.  Make sure you find a good Valkyrie mechanic.  Just a heads up.

why are people always replacing the o-rings? I just changed my originals with the red-eye ones at 52k miles. The originals were fine, still covered in paste, no flat spots, not loose, no cracks even under magnification, etc.
I've worked with o-rings in an industrial capacity for many yrs.
 So just asking for opinions and experience on this for I didn't see anything wrong with the ones I removed.

[hubcapsc]

I'm the OP and it turns out I used synthetic.  I'm not going to worry about it based on the comments of others.  The rear wheel was pulled at the dealer about a month ago when I got rid of the car tire that was on the bike when I bought it.  They told me they always grease the splines when they pull the wheel.

Thanks for the replies.

Did you watch them moly paste the splines, pinion cup, etc?  Replace the 3 O-rings?  It's surprising that very few Honda shops know as much about these machines as this group and they end up not performing the maintenance correctly.  Make sure you find a good Valkyrie mechanic.  Just a heads up.

why are people always replacing the o-rings? I just changed my originals with the red-eye ones at 52k miles. The originals were fine, still covered in paste, no flat spots, not loose, no cracks even under magnification, etc.
I've worked with o-rings in an industrial capacity for many yrs.
 So just asking for opinions and experience on this for I didn't see anything wrong with the ones I removed.

I've seen the big skinny one looking worn out... I change them, but I've saved numerous ones
the seem good in case I ever really need them... it might be that OEM ones and the red Red Eye
ones are better than some other ones that we use, but Ida Know...

-Mike

[Paladin528]

Wheel bearings going bad can cause the axle to heat up which goes straight through the Pumkin.

A buddy of mine has his axle shear off down in Alabama a couple of weeks ago due to a seized bearing.

[98valk]

I'm the OP and it turns out I used synthetic.  I'm not going to worry about it based on the comments of others.  The rear wheel was pulled at the dealer about a month ago when I got rid of the car tire that was on the bike when I bought it.  They told me they always grease the splines when they pull the wheel.

Thanks for the replies.

Did you watch them moly paste the splines, pinion cup, etc?  Replace the 3 O-rings?  It's surprising that very few Honda shops know as much about these machines as this group and they end up not performing the maintenance correctly.  Make sure you find a good Valkyrie mechanic.  Just a heads up.

why are people always replacing the o-rings? I just changed my originals with the red-eye ones at 52k miles. The originals were fine, still covered in paste, no flat spots, not loose, no cracks even under magnification, etc.
I've worked with o-rings in an industrial capacity for many yrs.
 So just asking for opinions and experience on this for I didn't see anything wrong with the ones I removed.

I've seen the big skinny one looking worn out... I change them, but I've saved numerous ones
the seem good in case I ever really need them... it might be that OEM ones and the red Red Eye
ones are better than some other ones that we use, but Ida Know...

-Mike

I see the manual states use new each re-install. Per my experience Buna-N in this case is usually good for one or two re-uses. Reason I changed mine this time, but I was surprise the good condition they were in. Next tire change will see how well the red-eyes held up.  Probably with OEM every other tire change is good time to use new if not damaged. always best to lube o-ring before install.