Final drive noise

[EdK]

Hello, I had my 78 GL1000 on the center stand doing some brake work and I put it in gear and am hearing noise in the hub area(I think). It's not caliper noise, the wheel spins freely and I can't recreate the noise spinning by hand in neutral. I pulled the boot on the shaft and the u-joint seems tight. When I grab it and shake it, I hear a little slop noise at the final drive end. I plan on removing the final drive, but I was wondering if this slop noise is normal? Once I pull the drive, what should I be looking for other than obvious gear damage? I'm also going to drain the drive oil and see if I can detect any shavings. The bike is lightly ridden and I changed the drive oil and put moly on everything I could get to a few years ago - last time I had the rear tire off. New wheel bearings as well. I have no idea how long this issue has been going on, not sure if I can hear it while riding.

Thanks,
Ed

[Fred Camper]

Since you may not hear it when riding, I wonder how many of us have the same noise and do not know it?

[CYBORG]

If you decide you need one I have several good used ones you can have for shipping, or pickup

[EdK]

Good to know, thanks.

[EdK]

Well, I took the final drive off but haven't taken it apart yet. There were no shavings in the oil, and from what I can see the drive looks ok. When I turn it by hand I don't feel anything funky. It still has a lot of moly in there, is that still good or should it be cleaned and regreased? There is a spacer in there that could make noise if it's off center. I'm going to take it apart and if it looks good, I'm going to put it back together and make sure I tighten the bolts in the right sequence and hopefully that does it. Any opinions are welcome, thanks.

FD1.jpg

FD2.jpg

[CYBORG]

The drive side teeth look good. Nice and square. Input side should be the same. (to much grease to tell from the photo). Lash might be off. Have to open it up to be sure. Unless super high mileage, or run without grease, probably alright. Don't over look the wheel bearings as a possible cause.

[Rat]

Looks ok to me too … I’d clean it up, regrease, and run it

Gord