Final Drive - Could use opinions

[Dagwood]

Decided to pass on that 2001 with the steering issue, but found this 2000 next day, 4K less miles and $400 less so I snagged it.

Appears nothing was ever done as far as maintenance, so starting PM working back to front. sure enough, final drive has never been removed, expecting the worse but I think things are not too bad. Can only compare to my standard that has been maintained so would like others to look at the pics. Thanks!
tealnet.net/driveshaft1.jpg
tealnet.net/driveshaft2.jpg
tealnet.net/pinion cup.jpg
tealnet.net/ringgear.jpg
tealnet.net/flange.jpg

[hubcapsc]

The ring gear and the flange are a little worn. Keep them lubed and looked at with some
regularity so you know if/how-much the wear increases. You're probably good to go
for a long time 

-Mike

[sandy]

I agree with Hub but the wear creates play and the movement will accelerate wear. If you use a good grease, it should last 10-30K miles. Start saving your money now.

[Dagwood]

Thanks guys, guess I'll ride it out for the rest of the year then bite the bullet for a new final gear set and flange. Kind of hoping I can just do the ring gear/hub without getting into replacing the pinion gear. I'll do the pattern check maybe I'll get lucky.

[hubcapsc]

Thanks guys, guess I'll ride it out for the rest of the year then bite the bullet for a new final gear set and flange. Kind of hoping I can just do the ring gear/hub without getting into replacing the pinion gear. I'll do the pattern check maybe I'll get lucky.

There's a lot of 1500 goldwing final drives on places like ebay for cheap. Often ones with
nice looking splines.

If you get a good one, you can press the splines out of its ring gear and
put it into your ring gear and since you'll be putting it back together with
the same ring gear it will probably be just like it was before (except with
good splines)...



-Mike

[pancho]

You might get lucky, but pinion and ring should always be changed as a set. The easiest way to maintain the proper lash and fix the splines is to press the splines off the ring gear and replace them with some good ones from an eBay 1500 Goldwing final drive. This keeps the original ring gear and pinion with the original shims and lash setup. In the meantime, use moly on the flange to help keep the wear down, but it will be accelerated due to clearance.

[Dagwood]

Have the service manual from Dag's site. checked for a used GW final, everything looks like junk at the moment. Worse comes to worse, will spring for a new final set and flange, press the splines out of the new final and press into the old ring. Then when a decent GW spline comes along if ever will press it into the new ring and find a trashed final drive to rebuild using the new ring/GW spline and matching pinion gear. Kinda the long way around, but it will work out in the end. Thanks again!

[Skinhead]

I would not replace any of those parts.  Plenty of life left in them and they will last many miles with proper maintenance.  If you really don't trust them, send them my way.  I'll get the remaining 100000 miles out of them.

[Dagwood]

I would not replace any of those parts.  Plenty of life left in them and they will last many miles with proper maintenance.  If you really don't trust them, send them my way.  I'll get the remaining 100000 miles out of them.

Man, share a room with a guy ONE time and he wants my parts   Looking to get away to your side of the state Joe, at least for one visit. Stay tuned  

[Mapper]

Unrelated opinion to the final drive: I don't generally like the "interstate" that much ---- yours is a BEAUTY!  Very nice!  $4k seems like a steal that I would probably have jumped on.

[Skinhead]

I would not replace any of those parts.  Plenty of life left in them and they will last many miles with proper maintenance.  If you really don't trust them, send them my way.  I'll get the remaining 100000 miles out of them.

Man, share a room with a guy ONE time and he wants my parts  Looking to get away to your side of the state Joe, at least for one visit. Stay tuned 

We can drink some more rum.  Lemme know when your gonna be in town, we'll get the band back together.

[Dagwood]

Unrelated opinion to the final drive: I don't generally like the "interstate" that much ---- yours is a BEAUTY!  Very nice!  $4k seems like a steal that I would probably have jumped on.

Thanks Mapper. I actually nabbed it for $3200 with 46K miles. PO was told if it started and didn't leak to just run it until it did. His hip went so he turned to a Spyder. So I'm going through the whole bike back to front, she is going to be a great bike.

[Paladin528]

you can still get the internals of the drive from mother honda (or parts houses).
A full ring and pinion set is a couple of hundred bucks and no need to press anything out.  you do have to set it correctly though when reassembles.

I do have a clean Goldwing pumpkin with perfect splines should I need to swap the splines in a hurry ever.