How often should the splines be lubed

[rprothero]

Changing the rear fluid should I take the boot off and also lube the splines with some moly? How often should they be inspected/lubed

[Rider Rick]

Hi, the word "spline" is a very dynamic word around here, I've found. I don't know the answer, still absorbing all the info that can be gleaned about it. I searched for "lub spline" and found the link below. How many miles on your bike? I only have 9900 on mine so probably won't lube splines, although come to think of it I may do some preventive maint. on it in prep. for a trip.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20100&hilit=lub+splines

[jm1515]

Changing the rear fluid should I take the boot off and also lube the splines with some moly? How often should they be inspected/lubed

You can't access the FD splines (both sets) by merely pulling back the boot. The FD must be removed.
I've never just went in to 'inspect' them, but when I changed the FD pivot bearings to the JL bushings at ~ 32000miles on the bike the splines were fine. The U-joint was a little notchy, so I had it re-built. That was 17000mi ago. The splines got a good coat of moly paste then, which was still there in spades when I had to dis-assemble 6weeks ago because of clutch spline failure....
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22361

Bottom line, I would inspect and lube the FD side once (check for a notchy U-joint), then not worry....
The there are 2 other spline sets on our bike...the driveshaft-to-transmission set and the ever troublesome clutch-to-tranny input set, the one that failed on my bike. I've read that the driveshaft to tranny splines (almost) never cause any problems...

As for the clutch/tranny splines, some 'evidence' that they can be a problem, and lots of argument on whether to lube/no lube. Search the innernet for some some good reading.......

[rprothero]

good info sound like (no problems) i should just leave em be)...this said do I need to drop the final drive to change the fluid or will all the necesary oil drip out on its own..the plug looks like its directly below the housing so my thinking is the fluid would drain via gravity without having to take the wheel off and disconnect the final drive..Worse case is i could put it on an incline to force the drain plug to a lower point...

[iowabeakster]

Just remove the drain plug, gravity will do it all. Don't let it dribble on your tire.

Oh, and it is good advice to crack open the filler plug first, before the drain plug.

If the fill plug is stuck (and you strip it) you won't have an empty final drive!

It would be a hassle to drain the old oil out, and then find out you can't fill it back up.