spline lube wash off?

[sbosbach141157]

I'm a newby to BMW, but have learned a lot in the last three months as I tackled one issue after another to get the old gal (83 R80RT) in order. I decided to inspect the splines and relube as well as replace the final drive and drive shaft lubricant. After this, I noticed a slight oil leak at the drive shaft drain bolt, so I drained the lube and replaced the washer for the bolt. The lubricant that drained out looked like a mix of the Honda 60 moly lube I used on the splines and the Mobil 1 75w90 synthetic I used in the drive shaft. I probably used too much moly lube on the splines, but I'm concerned I may have just washed off my spline lube. Is this normal, to lose some of the moly lube into the liquid lubricant? Drive shaft was filled with 150 CC of lube, to just below the fill opening.

[James.A]

The rear wheel drive spline and the inside of the final drive are isolated from each other. If the large seal in the final drive were failed it might allow gear lube to be expelled into the place where the drive spline is located but it is not likely that moly paste could get into the final drive to mix with the gear lube.

[Boxerkuh]

Don't quote me here, but my 86 R80RS only takes 100cc in the drive shaft, not 150cc. You never get all of it out anyway. I would double check the quantity. Woodnsteel is right about the tranny and the drive shaft being completely seperate. Wonder what you pulled out of it? :scratch :dunno

[jforgo]

I would check the splines. I have expressed misgivings before about the Honda stuff for the clutch splines - slides right on, also slides/spits right off. Maybe TOO slippery. Perhaps not the best for this application?
I looked at an 83 RS which religiously had the Moly 60 used. Lots of freeway miles @ 110K. He had killed his splines prior and replaced.

[sbosbach141157]

Thanks for the replies. I may just have too much oil in the drive shaft. The manual does indicate that I can check the oil level using a screwdriver in the fill hole, which I did until I got 2 mm of oil on the end of the screwdriver, as described. The 83 owners manual does call for 150 cc in the drive shaft. I understand the moly stuff is supposed to plate to the metal surfaces, so wash off may not be a problem. For now, I won't worry about it.
Steve

[keelerb]

I lubed my rear splines with DuPont Krytox and for a while afterwards noticed "drippings" onto the wheel. (Overlubed? T'wouldn't be unlike me!)

I just had the wheel off to replace the tire (and if you let a dealer do this, my take is, good for you but I think I do a better job...god knows, I care a bit more than any dealer does...) and the splines looked "good and lubed" still, and the drip has stopped, so FWIW I think all's well.... Don't claim to be an expert, though, so appreciate any words of wisdom from those who are (with thanks for all of your previous advice; you know who you are and you are hereby sincerely thanked again). - B

[keelerb]

To anyone who may be interested, no further drippings from the final drive. My amateur diagnosis is that I indeed overlubed and what doesn't bond in some fashion with the splines gets thrown off.

Just the incentive I need to overlube again, next time!

"Tighten 'er til she strips, then back off 1/8 turn." My motto!