Change Final Drive Oil...

Discussion in '7th Generation 2010-Present' started by JBzRed07, Sep 12, 2012.

  1. JBzRed07

    JBzRed07 New Member

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    I was reading about the maintenance of the Final Drive on some other Online resources, and I see where some folks have changed their Final Drive Oil sooner than the service intervals recommend. I'm kind of glad I did because that stuff is really nasty after breaking in at 2,600 miles. It is recommended that we stick with the recommended Honda-branded 80W Honda Hypoid-Type oil. However, upon reading further, it is ok to use 75/90 synthetic, which I am using MOBIL 1 75/90 Full Synthetic as are some of the other VFR1200 owners that I have spoken with. One guy uses MOTUL 75/90 full Synthetic.
    Important note... When you refill the Final Drive with fresh oil, be sure to have the bike parked on the side stand, this is very important; if not you will overfill, causing all sorts of problems. The correct fill level is when the oil is visible at the bottom of the threads of the fill hole.
    Lastly, when you replace the drain bolt and the fill bolt, whatever you do, do NOT over torque them! They will break very easily if you do, especially the aluminum filler cap.

    Some references:

    FD Oil change. - Seventh Generation VFR's - VFR Discussion

    Honda VFR1200F Weblog: Final Drive Service
     
  2. lshark

    lshark New Member

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    dealer did mine at 700 miles i did it at 8500.....next tire change will be next time...used Bel Ray Gear Saver 80W-90
     
  3. lshark

    lshark New Member

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    be sure to use a Hypoid type oil
     
  4. therealmatysek

    therealmatysek New Member

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    to park on side stand is only for draining, you won´t over fill it on center stand because you should use 200ml of oil
     
  5. dashredder

    dashredder New Member

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    How does the bike feel after the fluid change? Can you tell a difference in how the bike rides after the switch to the synthetic Mobil1, BelRay, Motul, etc?

    A good chain clean/lube is pretty noticeable so just curious how the change compares.
     
  6. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    The owners manual says to drain and fill it on the side stand. That way you don't have to measure out 200mL. If you fill to the edge of the fill threads while on the center stand, you WILL overfill the gear case.
    Pretty straightforward.
     
  7. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    Do you have to do this on a vfr 800?
     
  8. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    Yes, but only at 5,000 mile intervals and you have to use 75/140 synthetic if you're towing.
     
  9. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    Reviewed the shop manual for the gear case oil change and it's a little contradictory......1st paragraph says put it on the side stand then the next paragraph says fill it while vertical but is fuzzy as to the bikes position when checking the fill level and it intimates that you can check it upright but the owners manual is very clear on this. An ooopppss in the shop manual or at the very least a tech writer oversight.
    Still, it's easy to change the case oil and probably minor overfill of the case will not hurt anything or possibly at the most cause some weeping from the gear case vent. Beats leaving dirty case oil in there.
    Light years quieter and smoother than chain/sprockets. I love this bikes ability to have a shaft system and yet have the thrust of a Saturn V rocket. I think the shaft fits with this bikes ability to inhale long distances at highly extra-legal speeds and do this day after day with only the need to put gas in the thing. Finally, Big Red designed into the system the feel of a chain yet the reliability/quiet/smoothness of a shaft.
    Genius.
     
  10. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    6th gen don't have a drive shaft and all the extra weight that goes with it-seeing how easy it is to work with on a 6th gen, I see nothing but disadvange to shaft drive. There is nothing to fill I think its all sealed bearing isn't it?:alien::smash: It would be nice to have more power-but where is the gas tank on the 7th-isn't the size of tiny tim!
     
  11. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    Ride one.
    Then comment.
     
  12. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    If you can't see the advantage of a shaft drive then you've never had one. If you travel long distances and put on lots of miles, the shaft drive is pretty nice. They aren't perfect, and
    aren't the best solution for every situation, but they certainly do have their place. I've had several, some better than others.
     
  13. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    The system on the VFR12 is light years better than that of my (now sold and I can't seem to be able to remove it from my profile - sorry, I'm old and analog) Kawasaki C-10 (admittedly early 80's technology).
    Chains are lighter and sap less power than a shaft but on THIS bike, a shaft fits perfectly. Especially with the way it was designed with the below-the-pivot shaft position.
    Check the tire pressures, load her up and head out to the Ozarks (for instance) with nary a thought to the final drive system. THATS what I'm talking about !
     
  14. MichaelD

    MichaelD New Member

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    Shaft drive is wonderful. Spending 200.00 + every 20,k for chain and sprockets kinda sucks. On my shaft drive bikes all I've had to do is change the gear oil in 60k miles.
     
  15. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    I think the 1200 was not designed as a sub for the previous VFRs and as the project manager for the 1200 said, it's a whole new genre of motorcycle and a chain on a seriously fast GT like this one doesn't quite fit what Honda were trying to accomplish with this bike.
    Comparing the 1200 with the prior VFRs is comparing apples and oranges (which a lot of folks seem to want to do).
    As shaft systems go, Honda made this one with mucho technology what with the smaller gear sets and offset pivot point.
     
  16. Rubicon1

    Rubicon1 New Member

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    I agree and you don't have to clean the chain muck off of the bike.
     
  17. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    I guess it works well on a tanker like the 1200-how much does that bike weight-I don't think it would work in my tiny wood floor garage.
     
  18. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    A guy riding a 2006 calling the 1200 a "tanker"? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Now if you owned a '99 that would be different.
     
  19. Aruvis

    Aruvis New Member

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    hey guys,

    is it neccesery to do it that often? maintenance guide only suggest to do it at 24k ? :)
     
  20. cornerexit

    cornerexit New Member

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    I'd do it sooner and go with a synthetic replacement. Once you have some synthetic in there I'd go with OEM intervals.
     
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