R1200GSw LC Wethead Final Drive change and Spline Lube Pictorial!

Fill and drain are both 20Nm.

I can as well. I have seen no additional rust over the last 10k miles.

Gotta love that salt air where you are. I recall stomping around there back in the day. Parents got their first Harley's from the Harley dealer there.

Sometimes I wonder what the cause is. Yes it is humid and salty here, but I’ve seen horror show rust pictures from people who live in the mountains. I think water getting inside the drive and sloshing around for a long time.
The corroding spikes are definitely from the sea air.

In my attempt to lower the final drive I pulled the driveshaft front ujoint out so I removed the whole final drive to get the splines on that end unstuck. Looking at the driveshaft I see that the shaft has pulled apart a little. Pics attached. A moderate hit with a dead blow doesn't move it. Is this a problem or is there enough tolerance to compensate for this? Or, am I screwed because the connection is broken?

Or, thinking it further, am I seeing the result of normal flexing?

That's normal.

That does not look normal to me.

Here is what my '14 looked like with just over 12K miles last year.

I finally discover why my final drive oil was getting contaminated! The vent cap was missing since I bought the bike used 80K miles ago! Check to make sure yours is still installed!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/303576763368?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Finally got to the dealer and showed the picture. Tech said no worries.

Anyone ever done this? Thoughts?

- yes , I have heard of some who drill out a drain hole for bikes that regularly see water crossings.

Good idea. I don't think I'd want to drill a hole in my FD but all it would do for me would be to verify if water is present..if so, I'd still then drop the FD so this mod would probably cause me to lube it more often..more time but happier FD.

Really interesting idea. Wonder why BMW doesn't just include this, suppose they feel the boots when greased and seated correctly shouldn't allow water in.

Yes, but BMW also assumed unpainted driveshafts wouldn't rust, too...

I like the idea of a drain. perhaps something that is permanently installed with a free-floating ball to in it that would open/exposes an orfice as the swing arm moves Up and down to allow the water to drain out but then remains closed enough to keep the dust and dirt out.

I wonder why BMW didn't bother to design it exactly like you described it!

Because using a screw like that is insecure and can fall out, and if someone leaves it out they just introduce water and dirt into the area. There are better ways, but it would need to be designed purposefully.

I finally decided to drop the final drive For the first time during the 48k mile service I did today.

Considering that I never cracked it before and all the wet weather I’ve ridden in the last 48k miles and 7 years it doesn’t look bad. A little surface rust but none on the splines and as far as I could see no fretting or wear on the splines either. U-joints felt good. Cleaned up the surface rust, lubed up the splines with moly and put her back together. Thanks Jim for the wire trick to hold the U-joint up. Made putting it back together easy peasy