Middle gear warning !

[datter]

I was out giving my bike a tune up today before taking my 8 year old out for his very first motorcycle ride. I found the tire pressure was down some, the odd loose bolt here and there, and also that my main engine oil was a bit low. I fixed all that up then this thread came to mind, so I checked my middle and final drive oil... only to find the middle drive oil on the low side.

I don't imagine it was in any danger of suddenly seizing, but it needed fluid which I might not have otherwise thought to put in there... so thanks for this thread.

[egsols]

Got me thinking too. Checked middle level and its okay but could use a change. Tried to check rear but can't get the plug out. Any problems with rear plug? Should I just use some heat and impact on it?

[malber]

The PO of my bike gave me some good advice about changing the middle and final gear oil. Part of it is because the drain plug on the final gear is not siezed by spins freely. It doesn't leak however. He said that he used to use a Mity Vac to siphon out the old oil. I just picked one up and will be trying this on the next free maintenance weekend. Works well on the middle gear too due to the positioning of the drain hole right over the center stand cross beam.

[prometheus578]

Egsols,
Many threads about the rear drive plug.
Heat, impact, chisel and hammer, etc.
Once out, coat it with anti-sieze.

[egsols]

Thanks prom

[egsols]

Last night used heat, impact, hammer and chisel (in that order) Filler plug is now out. (although it will need a replacment). Oil level is good but due for change.

Thanks again.

[Crazcnuk]

Mine did the same thing. I swapped it with a drain plug from the engine, as the engine plug has threads right to the head, whereas the rear diff plug, on mine, had a space where there were no threads.

[egsols]

Funny thing,

Got my spare bike parked at a garage at work. Hasn't been riden since 94. As I kinda buggered the head on the screw last night thought I'd give a quick try to pull one off the spare. Put the allen wrench in the hole, tapped on it a fews times to make sure it was in good, put a 15 MM box end on the allen wrench for levarage and pulled. Bolt came out like it was put in yesterday!!!! Who would ave thunk it.

[xsilerating]

Bolt came out like it was put in yesterday

I had the same sort of reverse problem as well... no problem removing the rear drive plug , wish it had of been as easy with the oil filter bolt and the oil drain plug that most remove easily !

Oh well, better some than none

[jmyers40]

Originally posted by malber


It's outlined in the maintenance chapter of Clymer. You use the plastic dipstick that comes with the stock toolkit.

About that dipstick, both of mine are gone from the two XS11s I have. Anyone have a detailed photo of one of these? Or possibly a measurement on the fill ines from the bottom of the stick???

[jmyers40]

Originally posted by egsols
Got me thinking too. Checked middle level and its okay but could use a change. Tried to check rear but can't get the plug out. Any problems with rear plug? Should I just use some heat and impact on it?

You know how to use the box end of a wrench as extra leverage? I'd suggest using a penetrating oil for a couple days, then add a little extra length to your hex wrench before dusting off the impact. "Patience and WD-40", that's what an old guy I used to work for always said about that sort of thing.

[powerram50]

i changed out my oil,middle, and final drive lubes as soon as i bought my bike.i new it sat for 3 years before i bought it.

[xsilerating]

Originally posted by jmyers40


You know how to use the box end of a wrench as extra leverage? I'd suggest using a penetrating oil for a couple days, then add a little extra length to your hex wrench before dusting off the impact. "Patience and WD-40", that's what an old guy I used to work for always said about that sort of thing.

Instead of penetrating oil or WD-40, I suggest that you use PB Blaster. Worked great for me when I had trouble removing a number of bolts (oil filter; oil drain plug; etc.) and none of the 'other' familiar lubricants did a d@mn thing.

Worked every time.

[prometheus578]

Middle drive dip-stick

jmyers....
http://xs11.com/tips/maintenance/maint13.shtml
they're also still available at Yamaha for a few bucks.. maybe about $6, if I'm not sadly misshapen.

[Peter G]

Just a few thoughts on WD40 clickyclicky

Cheers Pete