Should I remove my drive shaft when greasing rear drive?

[jonsmyth]

I got the posts and write-ups here on the site about greasing the splines and dampers under the circlip on the rear wheel. I have it all torn down here while the hurricane is overhead. I got Honda moly 60 lube. While in here lubing it, should I go ahead and pull the driveshaft so I can moly the driveshaft and u-joint? My '87 has 87,000 miles on it and I bet the shaft has never been serviced...

Thanks to all!

[Blue Giant]

Yup! No better time than the present!

 

[SilvrT]

I got the posts and write-ups here on the site about greasing the splines and dampers under the circlip on the rear wheel. I have it all torn down here while the hurricane is overhead. I got Honda moly 60 lube. While in here lubing it, should I go ahead and pull the driveshaft so I can moly the driveshaft and u-joint? My '87 has 87,000 miles on it and I bet the shaft has never been serviced...

Thanks to all!

 

YES!

 

You will only have to lube the U-joint splines coz the pumpkin end is lubed by the oil in the pumpkin.

 

When you put it all back together, follow the instructions somewhere in this site... meaning, insert the axle without the tire/wheel and then slowly tighten the acorn nuts on the pumpkin/driveshaft.

[MiCarl]

You will only have to lube the U-joint splines coz the pumpkin end is lubed by the oil in the pumpkin.

 

This keeps being said and it's incorrect. There is an oil seal behind the coupler that keeps the oil down in the pumpkin. If you've got gear oil in the coupler it's because your seal is shot.

 

The splines on BOTH ends of the drive shaft should be lubed.

 

In fact, the splines at the pumpkin end are more prone to wear because they also rock (no universal joint on back).

 

This is true of the MKI, MKII and the 2nd gens. I suspect every Yamaha shaft drive is the same set up.

 

MKI drive shafts are rare as hens teeth. There is no way I wouldn't lube it religiously.

[SilvrT]

This keeps being said and it's incorrect. There is an oil seal behind the coupler that keeps the oil down in the pumpkin. If you've got gear oil in the coupler it's because your seal is shot.

 

The splines on BOTH ends of the drive shaft should be lubed.

 

In fact, the splines at the pumpkin end are more prone to wear because they also rock (no universal joint on back).

 

This is true of the MKI, MKII and the 2nd gens. I suspect every Yamaha shaft drive is the same set up.

 

MKI drive shafts are rare as hens teeth. There is no way I wouldn't lube it religiously.

 

At first I didn't believe you (coz it's in my nature) so I went and studied the parts diagram.....

 

Thanks for correcting me (and whoever else states the same) ... as I now see what you're talking about.

 

 

The question I now have is... why is there an "oil seal" on the shaft itself that is forward of the splines? Was this designed this way on the MKII so that a) any grease would not fly out and b) so that if the inner seal did wear out, the outer seal would cover it's a$$..?

[MiCarl]

At first I didn't believe you (coz it's in my nature) so I went and studied the parts diagram.....

 

Thanks for correcting me (and whoever else states the same) ... as I now see what you're talking about.

 

 

The question I now have is... why is there an "oil seal" on the shaft itself that is forward of the splines? Was this designed this way on the MKII so that a) any grease would not fly out and b) so that if the inner seal did wear out, the outer seal would cover it's a$$..?

 

I verified in the MKII manual this morning that it calls for Molybdenum Disulphide grease for both ends of the shaft on assembly. I was unable to quickly locate the assembly instructions for the MKI (online manual).

 

The 2nd oil seal on the MKII is to make it difficult to grease the splines. In fact, I believe the book calls for it to be locked in with some adhesive or other. I know I destroyed my seal when I disassembled the rear end.

 

I don't believe the book calls for lubrication of the splines as part of routine service on the 1st gens. I suspect the seal is to keep out dust to protect the grease. Perhaps they were aware of failures of the splines on the MKI?

[SilvrT]

I verified in the MKII manual this morning that it calls for Molybdenum Disulphide grease for both ends of the shaft on assembly. I was unable to quickly locate the assembly instructions for the MKI (online manual).

 

The 2nd oil seal on the MKII is to make it difficult to grease the splines. In fact, I believe the book calls for it to be locked in with some adhesive or other. I know I destroyed my seal when I disassembled the rear end.

 

I don't believe the book calls for lubrication of the splines as part of routine service on the 1st gens. I suspect the seal is to keep out dust to protect the grease. Perhaps they were aware of failures of the splines on the MKI?

 

My '85 chewed the splines at the pumpkin end. I had no idea of the need to take the shaft out lube them because it had a grease nipple...which we all thought did the job. Not so I discovered... those splines were totally dry and rusted to the point that they just stripped. Lucky for me I was able to find a complete pumpkin for $80.

[Bob K.]

I'm trying to do my due diligence by reading through old threads in order to get the differential and driveshaft maintenance completed on my '93 Venture. Yet opinions across the years are all over the map on whether or not the differential end of the driveshaft is lubricated by the differential oil on '86 and newer bikes.

 

This thread seems to say "yes", and is backed up by Yamaha Bulletin M92-006 and Venture rear-end specialist John Furbur. Yet some '86 and newer bike owners say their splines on the differential end are as dry as can be: https://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?87852-Rear-tire-Final-Drive-and-Drive-Shaft

 

So which is it? Is the differential end of the driveshaft on '86 and newer bikes supposed to be lubricated by the differential oil? And if the splines are dry, does that mean something is malfunctioning, such as the oil lubrication passages being blocked inside the differential?

[cimmer]

Here is a Yamaha tech bulletin on the subject of drive shaft maintenance.

 

1stGen_Final.pdf1stGen_Final.pdf

 

I hope this helps out everyone.

When I removed my drive shaft on my 89 VR the spines were very wet with gear oil. I ended up tearing up the seal on the drive shaft and had to replace it before reinstalling it. I dont have any plans to remove the drive shaft from the differential again but when I remove the rear wheel I do grease the spines at the U-joint connection.

Rick F.

Edited September 1, 2018 by cimmer

[videoarizona]

[Bob K.]

I removed the driveshaft from the differential on my '93 and was happy to see that it was nicely bathed in differential oil. When I tipped the differential upward, differential oil freely flowed through the two oil passages. I took it apart primarily to confirm it was A) getting oiled properly; and B) not gummed up with grease from PO maintenance. I had no grease gunking up the works, so I'll install a new oil seal, put it back together, and not worry about checking it in the future. Appreciate the help!

 

Edited September 2, 2018 by Bob K.

[dna9656]

This keeps being said and it's incorrect. There is an oil seal behind the coupler that keeps the oil down in the pumpkin. If you've got gear oil in the coupler it's because your seal is shot.

 

The splines on BOTH ends of the drive shaft should be lubed.

 

In fact, the splines at the pumpkin end are more prone to wear because they also rock (no universal joint on back).

 

This is true of the MKI, MKII and the 2nd gens. I suspect every Yamaha shaft drive is the same set up.

 

MKI drive shafts are rare as hens teeth. There is no way I wouldn't lube it religiously.

 

 

I got 5 hens (1st gens) for parts on hand, 2 in the shop and 3 out in a Costco (shelter) cover! So if you need one contact me...

Edited September 4, 2018 by dna9656