Greasing the splines

[Kwikasfuki]

Norman & Valentino, how long does the procedure take? From what I have researched this has the potential to be a serious problem if not tackled early. Is the interval of 15000 miles correct?

I just guessed at 15000 miles. Based on my riding, thats the interval that I intend to do the procedure. As for how long it takes, I reckon it took me 2.5 hours but that was at a steady pace  :D If I had to redo, I reckon between 60 - 90 mins (same as MGvalerio).

What I would say is have the correct tools to hand. Make a big difference.

That was a very informative video. It still looks a bit daunting to me but perhaps I will have a go at doing mine over the winter months when the bike is laid up for the snow.

I hope you have a warm garage  ;D
If you need assistance give me a shout. Always willing to help a fellow biker. Maybe I can tempt you to take the secondary flies out as well!

[MGvalerio]

[URL = http://img824.imageshack.us/i/immag0632.jpg/ ]

[Redrat]

My Pan never went into a dealer because the first one did not know about greasing the splines with Pro Honda Moly 60 Paste and the second confirmed they used ordinary MS grease as Honda no longer supplied it. I purchased a 3oz (£15) tube imported by Motocross UK from American Honda. Moly 60 Paste is described as a solid lubricant used in assembly, repair and extreme pressure areas - and you use a few grammes (half teaspoon !!!!) on splines or apply thinly to sliding parts so as to form a film ---NB I think you used a lifetime quantity  :o but I have seen photographs of extreme wear from lack of 'paste'. I would go so far as to agree with service instruction to apply paste to 'contact sliding parts' every time the rear wheel is removed.

[Boomer]

Just about any Molybdenum DiSulphide (MDS or Moly) "grease" will do.
It is an assembly grease that is used during assembly for any part that will run dry, either initially or always.
In car engines it is recommended for use in camshaft journals and such during reassembly, but not recommended for use anywhere in bike engines as it can cause clutch slippage once mixed into the oil.

I've been using MDS on my GTR1000 splines for years and they show only moderate wear after 160,000 miles.
The splines should have been MDS'd at the factory so if there is none there when you first look at them, I would recommend a warranty claim as excessive wear could result. Mine had plenty on the wheel-finaldrive splines and on the shaft-finaldrive splines. I haven't checked the front end of the shaft, yet.

MDS should not be used on bolts or anything exposed as water can wash it off.
Bolts and other fixed items are better off with Coppergrease.

Any part that uses bearings should use LM (Lithium or "White") grease.
Examples are suspension linkages, headrace bearings, but NOT wheel bearings as these are pre-greased and sealed.

[Redrat]

Any old MS grease? I wonder why the paste is produced then?  When I researched this topic I was amazed at what is on the engineering market - but more so the extreme cost of specialist grease and paste - hence £15 for 3ozs of MS paste as against £5 for 16ozs of MS grease - I know which one was the hardest to clean out of my pores and which one I will use gloves next time !! 60% content as against 3% and comes in cardboard/metal tube because it erodes plastics and styrene resins.

[Boomer]

Dunno, haven't seen anything in the GTR manual about using MDS paste.
The GTR1000 manual recommended MDS grease for the splines.
I'd have to check the relevant section in the 1400 manual.

[Redrat]

No mention of paste anywhere  !!!!!
Copied this from the manual
M: Apply molybdenum disulfide grease.
MO: Apply molybdenum disulfide oil solution.
(mixture of the engine oil and molybdenum disulfide grease in a weight 10 : 1)

[Kwikasfuki]

When I bought the Moly 60 paste, they did say Honda was no longer going to manufacture Moly 60.

I admit I did go overboard with applying the paste, but wasn't sure about the quantity to apply. Any excess would be flung off anyway

[Lonewolf]

Ive just Googled the Moly 60 paste and you can apparantly still get it. Depending on what its shelf life is, would it be a good idea to order some do you think?

[Redrat]

A seerious subject so I have cut and pasted the following from USA  -  Motorcross World UK is where I got my supply !!

This stuff is for use on shaft drive splines at the back wheel. It is reckoned by most people to be the best there is and as I understand it all marques are using it. It comes as a bit of a shock, therefore, to hear that Honda no longer supplies it. It hasn't been "discontinued"...it is just "not for sale". (a Honda mangement process!). I have spoken to 5 Honda dealers and I've spoken twice with Honda UK technical staff and I have struggled to get this information. Earlier Honda shaft drive models used to state that the spline 'grease' should contain 60% molybdenem disulphide in order to protect the splines. Later models, like mine, just say Molybdenem disulphide (known as 'moly'). Honda won't give a reason for withdrawing it but say that Rocol produce an equivalent. Loctite used to produce a 60% moly but not any more and I use the Rocol at work and it is only 20% moly. And more worrying the dealers don't know what they're using!! This is quite serious stuff and I've since found out there is a lot of comment on this on the web. (Just google this subject). I found a source for Pro Honda moly 60 paste at Motorcross world UK and they have just had a case delivered from America so it is still available. What I don't understand why Honda Europe have stopped selling it. Apparently the dealerships are being left to make their own arrangements for obtaining a replacement.(Honda UK's words, not mine). All riders of shaft drive bikes need to be aware of the situation as using less than 60% moly is known to have a big effect on the longevity of the drive. If you do your own servicing you will know what you use. If you rely on professional mechanics to do your servicing you need to know what they use. Every time the back wheel is removed the splines should be recoated.

[aljaxon]

i know this is an old thread but i currently have my rear wheel off and was wondering about re greasing the splines.
re the original post isnt acf50 a bit scary to use near some rubber as it eats away at it?
and will my 2011 model be the same procedure as the earlier models on the pics?
and where can i get moly paste from!!!
cheers

edit found another thread with a link on here
http://www.motocrossworld.com/site/scripts/product_browse.php?product_id=22378
it comes in 85g containers
how much would i need to do the whole greasing ?

[STX1300man]

re the original post isnt acf50 a bit scary to use near some rubber as it eats away at it?

I'd certainly hope not as many people (including me) have their bikes treated all over with it once a year.

Sme good info here http://www.acf-50.co.uk/motorcycle.htm where it says it is safe on most rubber.

[aljaxon]

i read a while back that the old formula  attacks natural rubber (latex as the yanks call it ) and possibly some other rubbers but the new formula doesnt.
i bought some and didnt want to take the chance on my old yam rd350 as ethanol is doing a good enough job on its own on my carb rubbers......

[dapperdan]

This is a very informative thread, the military may use such grease on tank final drives, 70 ton challenger 2 with spline drives counts as high pressue , next time im in a garrison i shall sniff about, oil and lubes are offen sold off cheap as military surplus, its a long shot but hey ! The pictures of the work being carried out are very helpful, will certainly enable poeple to overcome what sounds like a daunting task, but i would advise that all external areas are spotlessly clean before starting the strip down , it only takes a small amount of grit in the grease to produce a grinding paste that will cause untold damage to parts with machined tolerance levels measured in microns . Also what about other manufacturers that use shaft drives, what do they use, Triumph , BMW , Moto Guzzi , ,,,  Great post , only added tuppence to a thread that is worth 200 quid in labour at a dealership ;-)

[aljaxon]

a bike mechanic i was talking today said he wouldnt go anywhere near moly paste again as it actually acts like a grinding paste. i didnt know enough to argue with him as ive never seen the stuff never mind used it.
i said i know that copper grease has like a gritty feeling to it compared to "normal grease" and he said the moly paste is even worse.....
i assume he is talking bs?