Final Drive Drain Bolt Leak - 2009 Spirit 750 - Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum

DRVMN · 11-10-2012, 07:57 PM

Has anyone had an issue with the final drive drain bolt leaking oil on a 2009 Honda Shadow Spirit 750 - VT750C2 ??? I changed the final drive oil last Spring (currently 930 miles on my bike), used a brand new crush washer (purchased from the Honda Dealer) and torqued the drain bolt to 9 ft.-lbs. as specified by the Owner's Manual. It was fine all summer and then twice this Fall I noticed drips on the floor (and a slopped up rim) from oil dripping from the drain bolt. I did not overfill the final drive (filled while bike was resting on the side stand) and I used Castrol Hypoy C Gear Oil - SAE 80W-90. The drain bolt was tight each time as I checked and re-torqued to make sure.

Would it work to put some Teflon plumber's/pipe tape on the drain bolt before installing it next time? Nothing is cracked, chipped, broken, etc. that I can tell.

Thank you in advance for any help, suggestions, etc.

By the way, it was a sad day today . . . I changed the oil and filter, cleaned up my bike, put it up on the motorcycle jack, topped off the fuel tank (I've been running fuel stabilizer in the tank for the last month now), as this was probably our last nice Fall day here in Minnesota. Crappy weather is on the way in tonight according to the weather forecast.

DRVMN · 11-15-2012, 07:35 PM

Anyone???

gmck · 11-16-2012, 02:12 AM

doubt teflon tape would help, those aren't pipe threads. might try a plastic drain plug washer or smear some RTV on both sides of the washer. There must be some scratch or something keeping the bolt from tightening perfectly flat.

tucker92 · 11-16-2012, 06:26 AM

The gear oil in these bikes tend to foam in colder weather and exit the vent. That may be what happened. Synthetic oil will resolve this problem

jpr1968 · 11-16-2012, 09:22 AM

Are you sure it's coming from the drain blot? Like already stated, in cold weather the gear lube foams up and comes out the vent. I changed to synthetic lube and hasn't happened anymore.

DRVMN · 11-17-2012, 04:38 PM

Thanks! I will give synthetic a try . . . it was much cooler out as I live in Minnesota and was taking my last ride to warm my bike up before changing the oil. Any brand(s) in particular that you prefer?

davelisowski · 11-17-2012, 06:26 PM

i use Lucas Oil SAE 80W-90 gear oil.

I've never had it drip or leak. Then again, TN doesn't have the harshness of winter like MN.

11-16-2012, 02:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
gmck Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,277	doubt teflon tape would help, those aren't pipe threads. might try a plastic drain plug washer or smear some RTV on both sides of the washer. There must be some scratch or something keeping the bolt from tightening perfectly flat.

11-16-2012, 06:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
tucker92 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 50	The gear oil in these bikes tend to foam in colder weather and exit the vent. That may be what happened. Synthetic oil will resolve this problem

11-16-2012, 09:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
jpr1968 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 4,558	Are you sure it's coming from the drain blot? Like already stated, in cold weather the gear lube foams up and comes out the vent. I changed to synthetic lube and hasn't happened anymore.

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