Scooter Final Drive OCI?

[Scoot_4_20]

One source said to change final drive oil at 600 miles [at break in] and then again at 7500 miles but I've seen a place online that says it should be changed every year. Is that really necessary on my 2002 Honda Elite 80?

So far I haven't changed it but I'd like to, just so I can say I did, and have it all in tip top running condition. It has a check screw to check the level and add to it but the drain screw is tucked behind the transmission and that's more work than I want to do to get if off. Older models did NOT seem to have that same screw hidden that way.

I'm wondering if I could pump it out of the check hole or maybe even lean the bike over. If I'm not mistaken, the drive oil in it doesn't look very dirty at all. They recommend the same motor oil in the final drive, and about 5.1 ounces of it.

If not, do you think the manual is right by saying 7500 miles will be OK? If so, I'm all set. The bike only has 2600 miles on it.

 

[Scoot_4_20]

Just saw another manual for it that says it should be changed every 2 years.

 

[BigCahuna]

Change it if it makes you happy. 5.1 ozs of oil is not a big investment in money or time.,,

 

[Scoot_4_20]

Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
Change it if it makes you happy. 5.1 ozs of oil is not a big investment in money or time.,,


Not a big investment in money, but it would be a big investment in time if I chose to remove the transmission to get to the drain bolt.

 

[BigCahuna]

Then let it go to the factory recommended spec. It's 9 years old with 2600 hundred miles on it, at that rate by the time you hit 7500 miles that will take another 21 years, and probably be somebody else's problem.,,

 

[beanoil]

I change mine every year as part of the winter storage prep. Does it need it? No. But I do it anyway because the scoot is exposed to rain often, and it's just an easy way to stay on top of any problems early. 6 ounces of Redline Shockproof is cheap in my book compared to a rear hub problem.

 

[Scoot_4_20]

Do you have a Honda Elite? If so, do you remove the transmission to get to the drain bolt?

 

[car54]

I had a 2000 elite and I changed it by waiting until the engine was low on gas, and then laying it down sideways so it dripped out of the fill plug. I refilled with a large syringe since the hole was so small. I used a 70w-90 gear oil since it's just gears, no need for the additives that a motor oil has. I changed it once a year or so and had no problems when I got rid of it at 18,000 miles. My current scooter, a vino 125 has a drain plug that makes changing the gear oil a lot easier and I also do it once a year. Still hasn't used an entire quart of gear oil.

I think you could probably go a lifetime without changing it, but it can't hurt to play it safe and swap it out. With the HDEO you are using, the engine will last forever so you should take care of the final drive so it doesn't give you problems

 

[Scoot_4_20]

Hi,

Had to pay a local bike shop $45 to get this done but they also changed the final drive oil, which he said was quite black. He used a Dremel tool to gouge out the part of the final drive housing brace so we can get the drain screw out. I was glad to get that taken care of. Wished I thought of asking him to just fix access to the drain bolt and then I could have changed the oil myself when I got home for about $1 worth of oil - I have all kinds of oils at home. I hate to pay $10.95 for 6 ounces of 85w140 gear oil.

He listened to it run and told me he doesn't think it needs to have the valves checked at this time, and he said it may well go to 40,000 miles or so before it does, and it now has only 2700 miles. He says he helped another customer get to 90,000 miles on a Honda Elite just like mine. I was glad to hear this - may mean I'll have VERY low upkeep costs with this scooter.

Now I need to get it back to them and have them adjust my steering head bearings. If I try to let go of the bars when riding, it really wants to wobble badly. I thought it may have to do with a poorly balanced front tire but evidently not. I tried to fix it myself but I don't have wrenches big enough to loosen it.