R1200GSw LC Wethead Final Drive change and Spline Lube Pictorial!

Typically in neutral. Without the boot it should take less than 30 seconds.

Just did mine last week, took no time at all???

I better get out there and try again

I got it !!!!

Ok this is what I did to make it easier for ME

1. Followed Jims good advice and pics
2. Kept it in Neutral so I could easily move the shaft back and forth
3. Put a screwdriver thru the universal so I could wiggle the shaft(female) back and forth with my left hand while holding up the rear and pushing up with my right
4. and the BIGGEST help was I hooked a small bungee and pull back on the Rubber Gaiter to see the two mating shafts better ...

Good deal. Next time it will be faster.

How long did it take?

Jim,

Never did understand why it would be easier to line the splines up with the gater off, if you have to drop the drive back down to put the gater back on. Is it just a matter of being able reach in and jockey the u-joint around while you're spinning the rotor on the FD to align the splines?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I'd like to do this work over the winter, but I didn't want to end up like Bikerboy 108 did, sitting in my garage wondering if I bit off more than I can chew.

It does two things. It lets you get a feel for how to line it up while watching it, and gets it close so when you swing it up with the gaiter you will be able to slide it in if you didn't move too much. I have used a screwdriver like Pat, or a wire to hang the driveshaft at the right point with the spline angled down towards the final drive.

Thanks. Good to know.

Not Jim here... but the shaft moved slightly so when I went to do it again with Gaiter on it didn't line up BUT since I did it once with the gaiter off and I could visually see how and why they mated when I did put the gaiter back on AND PULLED THE RUBBER GAITER BACK to see it I knew how it needed to be to work

Jim I used the wire also to get the universal "UP" in the shaft housing but on mine the female part of the spline flopped around too much and I needed the screwdriver to get it "Tweaked" into position..

WOW!! Great job!

Thanks, Bikerboy. I've got a list of things to do once the weather turns, and this is one of them. Installing some Clearwater Kristas and a Billie light is on that list as well. Kind of looking forward to some down time so I can tinker in the garage as the rain falls outside. (Of course, I live in Northern CA and last year was the first year we really had any rain to speak of in a long while, so maybe I'll just be tinkering.)

JVB, you rock. Thank you...

FYI the bike has 20,000 miles and really didn't need it

Thanks for your pictorial Jim, this helps a lot of people.

I lubed the front and rear drive shaft splines on my 08 R1200GS without removing the swing arm, but would not recommend doing it this way, it's more than a bit difficult. Interestingly at 35,000 km neither spline needed lubricating.

At the time I did not think of the swingarm needle roller bearings. I did investigate the swingarm bearings on my old 93 model K75S at 75,000 km and again at 120,000 km but they were like new each time.

Thanks JVB. Did mine last night! Fitting was bone dry. Not dirty just dry. I try to keep that boot clean though. Thanks again!!!

Why do you have to remove the speed sensor and caliper if just changing fluid? Can't I just drain out the bottom and fill here?...



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I'm gonna guess because it's a good idea to clean the junk that collects on the speed sensor and a perfect time to lube the FD.

Good call


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You don't, IF all you are doing is changing fluid. But, note that the pictorial is about lubing the splines, which means dropping the FD down, which means removing the speed sensor.