K1100LT Spline Lube

[BobZ]

Taking it apart tomorrow. Noticed a little oil seepage on bottom of engine /trans. Have had no clutch issues.

What's anybodies best guess at what I might find. Had hoped to only slide trans back a little rather than remove everything.

Thanks for suggestions,

Bob

[deilenberger]

Plan on removing the transmission. If you don't have the guide pins for doing this - make them. It will also greatly help if you have a helper and a motorcycle lift doing this job.

The leak is almost certainly the O ring located behind the clutch-basket nut. These harden up with age and stop sealing. Most people replacing the O ring also replace the main-seal on the engine just since they're 95% of the way there. I actually think a lot of main-seals have been replaced unnecessarily.

Getting to the O ring requires complete disassembly of the clutch. ALL parts should be marked before disassembly and then reassembled using the marks so you don't loose the clutch assembly balance. Don't count on the factory marks being there or being visible.

You will need a large socket and large torque wrench for the center nut on the clutch basket (32mm comes to mind - but that's strictly from memory..) and the torque is somewhere up above 100ft/lbs (again from memory.)

You will need a torque wrench to do the job properly - actually several, one for lower torque values and one for the center-nut.

I'd also suggest reading up on doing the job at the IBMWR tech pages, and hopefully you have at least one manual handy. It's probably also a good time to consider changing the transmission oil, rear-drive oil and the brake fluid.

Good luck!

BTW - the slide it back technique cost me a clutch. I don't recommend it at all.

[lostboy]

Since it's a '93, it'll be quite a bit easier than the '94 on bikes (ABS 1 vs ABSII). Bite the bullet and yank the gearbox completely, so you can properly clean the splines. If it's really only seeping you might just lube the splines and call it a day.

On the other hand, it should be a long time before you go back in and that seep could turn into a real leak. I'd have a rear engine seal and clutch holder o-ring on hand, as well as the nut and waher for same. They are supposed to be replaced anytime the they are removed. Clutch bolts and washers, too.

[lostboy]

Don, you type too fast for me!

[deilenberger]

Lloyd - good point on replacing the nut and clutch bolts.

I'll admit to not doing this the last 4-5 times I've done a clutch O ring replacement, but the manual does call for it. The big nut in particular I believe is reuseable - the split nut design isn't one that would seem to loose it's self-locking ability. I suppose if worried about it - a bit of blue Loctite would work well. But - if there is any doubt - new is the way to go.

[BobZ]

My mechanical colleagues and I got 'er done today. Wouldn't you know, splines showed no wear and appeared very well lubed. Insides were very clean as well.

You just never know what you will find. I've had the bike nearly 3 years and put on approx. 20k miles. It has 60k now.

We did learn a lot about the K-bike. The rest of our bikes are R's.