Author Topic: Oil bath  (Read 5638 times)

Offline F14CRAZY

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Oil bath
« on: October 04, 2015, 01:12:11 PM »
Would it be feasible to modify the swingarm so that the driveshaft and splines ran in an oil bath?
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline johnny

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2015, 02:46:32 PM »
greetings...

feasible = achievable -n- attainable -n- doable -n- possible -n- practicable -n- realizable -n- viable -n- workable...

yesser... more feasible on a monolever than  paralever...

draw it up and have bocutter ed make it outta wood...

j o
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2015, 03:02:17 PM »
I mean if you RTV-ed the swingarm to the final drive and tapped a hole to fill it with oil, maybe halfway, it seems like it'd work.

I don't know how the seal between the swingarm and the trans works though. I know there's a rubber boot up there but that's it
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline kioolt

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2015, 03:15:14 PM »
I seem to remember about 20 years ago reading about someone that did just that.  I don't recall the particulars.  For reference though, my 82 R100RT has an oil bath drive shaft.  It has a fill and drain plug on the input side of the drive.  It also has a gasket between the drive and drive shaft housing.  As for the drive shaft to transmission where the rubber boot is there are only metal clamps of the rubber boot.  It's been a long time since I have serviced or even ridden my 82 but I seem to remember that the oil level is about half way between the fill and drain plugs.
2018 R1200RT 8,000 miles,2004 R1150RT 189,000 miles
1991 K100LT 128,700 miles,1982 R100RT 106,900 miles
The cheapest thing on a BMW is the nut that connects the seat to the handlebars.

Offline billday

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2015, 07:38:29 PM »
Why?
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Offline kioolt

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2015, 07:48:30 PM »
I believe I can answer that question for F14crazy.  It would eliminate the need for the periodic removal of the rear drive to lube the rear spline which is known for failure.
2018 R1200RT 8,000 miles,2004 R1150RT 189,000 miles
1991 K100LT 128,700 miles,1982 R100RT 106,900 miles
The cheapest thing on a BMW is the nut that connects the seat to the handlebars.

Offline billday

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2015, 07:25:06 PM »
Gear oil swirling around the shaft isn't going to preserve your splines.
  • New York State, USA 10977
  • 1985 K100

Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2015, 07:32:12 PM »
But didn't airheads have driveshaft splines that were in oil?
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline kioolt

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2015, 07:37:55 PM »
Yes they did.  BMW seemed to think it was ok for airheads.  I don't remember hearing about drive spline failures until the early K-bikes.

2018 R1200RT 8,000 miles,2004 R1150RT 189,000 miles
1991 K100LT 128,700 miles,1982 R100RT 106,900 miles
The cheapest thing on a BMW is the nut that connects the seat to the handlebars.

Offline TX brick

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #9 on: October 08, 2015, 08:37:54 AM »
My only concern is would the oil hurt the rubber damper in the shaft?
Ron

91 K75RT

Belton Tx

Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #10 on: October 08, 2015, 09:41:17 AM »
My only concern is would the oil hurt the rubber damper in the shaft?

I didn't know there was one. That could be an issue
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline kioolt

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #11 on: October 08, 2015, 10:01:01 AM »
It's really not hard to remove the rear drive at every tire change and lube the splines then.
2018 R1200RT 8,000 miles,2004 R1150RT 189,000 miles
1991 K100LT 128,700 miles,1982 R100RT 106,900 miles
The cheapest thing on a BMW is the nut that connects the seat to the handlebars.

Offline Motorhobo

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #12 on: October 09, 2015, 07:11:23 AM »
It's really not hard to remove the rear drive at every tire change and lube the splines then.

Agree -- unless you're putting enough miles on the bike to require two new rear tires anually, which F14CRAZY does. In that case it gets to be a tedious chore. But I'd think if you're putting that many miles on the bike, then most of them are highway which isn't as detrimental to splines as city or twisties. Last time I brought up the topic, a lot of folks here said they don't do the FD splines every tire change, but more like every 15k miles.
1994/1995 K75 ABS Frankenbike: original engine 136k miles, frame from Gary Weaver (RIP), 173k miles -- Current Odometer: 198k miles
1994 K75 since 2013, 82,000 mi (19k mine) w/California Sidecar Friendship II Sidecar & Black Lab 'Miss B' - RIP

Past: 1974 Honda 550/4 (first bike), 1994 K75 (sold), 1995 K75 ABS (parts bike), Sidecar Dog & Best Bud 'Bo' - RIP

Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Oil bath
« Reply #13 on: October 09, 2015, 11:50:26 AM »
You are correct that the vast majority of my mileage is Interstate and I also feel that means there's less wear going on compared with city riding.

I mean it isn't that tedious to do but its still something to do.

If the shaft was running in oil I figure it could be quickly and easily changed when the final drive and trans oils are changed
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


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