middle gear lock down

[jasonwatkins]

Ok guys sorry this is so long,
Sunday night I was riding down a low mph highway on my 80xs'g. I had checked all the fluids on my bike before leaving the house for an afternoon run. At about 50mph my rear wheel locked up tight ( pucker factor 7). When I stopped I could not roll foward on backwards, and could not change any gears. After a few seconds of sitting there wondering what to do the bike would roll backwards but not forward, so I backed it up around a corner into a parking lot. While I was getting my tool pouch out I noticed the middle gear was so hot it burned the back of my hand. When I checked the oil level, it was bone dry. I then put my hand the gear selector and it went down a gear. Having no oil on me, I rode down to a auto parts store(about 2 miles). It rode fine but made a whining sound. I bought 80/90 oil and filled it to spec. Then I rode the 15 miles to home. This morning I rode to work and everything seems to be fine. As I often have my wife on also do you guys believe I may have done some serious damage or does it sound like I got really lucky? I tried a search and could'nt find any problems like this that "healed" themselves. Everything on this bike, except the grips, is bone stock at present. I have also found where the leak is already.

[dwales]

I had that happen to me about 10 years ago on my 78 standard. Filled it with 90 weight gear oil, and kept a watch on it. No further problems, with the middle drive, to date. As far as I'm concerned, it is a rock crusher!

[jasonwatkins]

that takes a big load off my mind, especially as I just bought the bike about 3 or 4 weeks ago. I haven't even got my title back from the state yet. Thanks,
Jason.

[dwales]

I do hope that your experience goes as well as mine did. I was scared $h!tl&$$ when it happened to me. I was 300 miles from home, with my son. I thought I was going to have to rent something to get it home. Good luck, and keep the rubber side down.

[skids]

Where was that leak?

[dwales]

Mine turned out not to be a leak. I had taken the motor out of the bike, becaouse 3rd gear gaulded to the shaft. I then gave the motor to a friend to fix, and didn't check the middle oil when I got it back. It was bone dry! As I said, that was 10 years ago, and still going strong.

[jasonwatkins]

I have no clue what it's called as I am by far not a bike mechanic. But, if you're looking at the left side of the bike, it's the little round chrome thingy held on with 3 bolts. It was covered in oil while everything else felt nice and dry. I figure if I can't find a gasket for it I'll just have to make one with the fel-pro gasket material.

[uk1.1s]

source of your leak

Jason,

I'm guessing that your leak is coming from behind part number 13 below:



(Ken I hope you don't mind)

In which case there's a gasket in front of the bearing housing (part number 12) that hopefully is the answer to your prayers. If not that O-ring behind the bearing housing may need changing, but I really hope it doesn't come to that!

Good luck

[jasonwatkins]

After a little close examination today it appears that you are correct in your first answer of "part #12". Any clue on where to find one or what type (rubber, cork, paper, etc) it would be so I could make one myself. Thanks more than you know for that breakdown, with a picture and a few specs I can figure most of this mechanic stuff out.
Jason

[Ken Talbot]

Oops - sorry about that scrambled gif for those that viewed earlier today. (and no, I don't mind - that stuff's all up there to be used)

[uk1.1s]

Gaskets

Jason,

As for availability - the exploded view shows part numbers on the RHS, so you could go to your friendly bike emporium and order one (not madly expensive, but a little for a cut shape of gasket paper pr rubber).

Alternatively, if it's a paper gasket, take the cover off and get down to the gasket that's the culprit and make one from some gasket paper from a general auto spares store using the old one and the parts it fits between as patterns.

That's if that gasket is a paper one and not a rubber one - anyone else taken the middle gear apart to cast any light ?