Gear Oil Question

[frogdink]

So I should probebly know this, but how often do I need to drain and re-fill the gear oil, and pump some grease into the grease fitting? Every year..? Hopefully not, or I have really neglected my baby. 1982 xj1100

[DiverRay]

If you use a synthetic oil, like Red Line, every other year should be OK. The grease fitting DOES NOT DO ANYTHING, so you need to pull the final drive and grease the splines by hand every time you change the tire. I change the middle and final drive oils about every 25K miles.

[fredintoon]

So I should probebly know this, but how often do I need to drain and re-fill the gear oil, and pump some grease into the grease fitting? Every year..? Hopefully not, or I have really neglected my baby. 1982 xj1100

Hi Frogdink,
I dunno what the XJ book sez but Clymer's XS11 book sez change middle & final gear lubrication every 5,000 miles or 12 months.
Also, the XS11's final drive grease fitting is a snare and a delusion and the XJ's may be too. Grease pumped through it lands on the outside of the female half of the spline and cannot get to the spline itself where it's needed.
Take off the 4 nuts and remove the final drive unit so you can pack the spline's innards with grease. Watch for the coil spring that's in there.
Doing this every time you fit a new tire is about the right interval and means that the wheel is off anyway.

[frogdink]

Yeah, I definetly havent done any of that, so thats good to know. Thanks guys.

[CatatonicBug]

Just be sure you don't over-fill them when you change the oil. Be re to do one of two things:

Either use the tech tip to make yourself a dip stick to measure the oil level (or buy one from yamaha)
Or, measure out the correct amount before you add it.

[DGXSER]

The folks that have done several all say that if you over fill the middle or even the final drive, it just spits out the vents a little till it gets down to the optimum level. I've changed mine in the final drive and checked the middle drive. I just used a piece of cardboard as a dipstick and measured how far form the top of the flanges the oil was. Not a tough thing to figure out really. And aside form leaving them low which could ruin your day or week, its not that critical to get the level exact.

[trbig]

There is a proper level... but both the middle and final drives have vents that will blow off the excess if you over-fill. The book tells how many ounces. Drain them, then use an old measuring cup to get the right amount in.


Tod

[MTaft]

I've got a question for all you guys, I need to know what type and amount of oil to put in the middle and final drive gears? I inherited a 1979 xs1100 special about four years ago and have never changed the gear oils. I've put less than 2,000 miles on the bike since I've had it. I sold my other bikes, decided to keep the xs. Now I'm really into bringing it back to full roar. The bike only has 10,000 miles on it and has been always kept in a garage. should I really change the gear oil every year?

[DiverRay]

The bike only has 10,000 miles on it and has been always kept in a garage. should I really change the gear oil every year?

If you use a "synthetic" gear oil, NO. I change mine out about once a year, but that is about 25K miles. The synthetic will go two years, as long as you ride it for at least 45 miles every three months or so. That is what will keep the water out of the oil.
I use Red Line 85W90 in all my bikes. I've NEVER had any problems with the middle or final drives. One bike I got with about 40K, it now has 103K on it.

[trbig]

Not going to get into another oil thread "My oil is better than your oil" thing, but it is HIGHLY advised to use synthetic gear oil (Brand of your choice) in the middle and final drives.. but not in the engine oil. It's too slippery for the clutches generally.

One thing I will caution though... make sure you break the allen filler screw loose BEFORE you drain the gear oil. They get stuck really bad at times and I'd hate for you to have to turn your bike upside down to fill it back up.

Actually... I'd kind of like to see that! Could you take some pics if you do??


Tod

[MTaft]

Thanks Guys!!

Thanks for all the Help!!