Water in Swingarm

[gv550]

I got my S10 stuck in a water crossing today, the bottom was soupy sand and I stalled the engine. The bike stayed upright. I restarted the engine, switched the TCS off and powered my way out but when I stopped on high ground there was a lot of water flowing from the swingarm drain hole in front of the final drive. The final drive was submerged in water. The large rubber plug is still in place.
So, do I need to remove the final drive and clean the shaft and lube the spine? Should I change the final drive oil, or does the breather have a check valve to prevent water entry?
My ABS light stayed on for quite a while after this dunking, but eventually went out on its own after a couple hours of riding.

 

[~TABASCO~]

I would suggest you pull the drive out and get the water out of the very bottom... Good time to lube the drive shaft as well.... Ive taken many of them apart and have seen some crazy stuff down in there... Rust, ,mud, leaking rear drives, etc.... Its really easy to pull it out, and better to eye-ball it all over...

On the non drive side, take the pinch bolt out, then take the side rubber "seal" out and wash all the crap out of the swing arm.. let it dry over night or longer and then put it back together...

Again, just because I've seen crazy stuff with these bikes....

 

[Checkswrecks]

What Tabasco wrote is a good idea. When sliding it all back together, grease up the splines and axle, because they rust and Yamaha spares a few cents in how little they apply.

 

[gv550]

Thanks guys. I'm going to pull the pumpkin, clean things up and apply spline grease.
What about changing the final drive oil?
Bike is 4 months old and had the FD oil changed at 1000 km. 18,000 km on it now.

 

[~TABASCO~]

For sure, change the oil. In fact, run that new oil 500/1000 miles and change it again. Very easy and cheep, wash out the particulate matter that is in all (from the factory) stock oil.

 

[BaldKnob]

Thanks guys. I'm going to pull the pumpkin, clean things up and apply spline grease.
What about changing the final drive oil?
Bike is 4 months old and had the FD oil changed at 1000 km. 18,000 km on it now.

I would change it if you suspect water contamination. Your bike is relatively new so change it just to get rid of the metal debris. Only 200ml in there. Water can only get in the FD thru the vent, from my understanding. Should be fine either way, it's built tough.

 

[worncog]

I found a fair amount of sand in my swingarm after a wet swamp excursion recently. THAT was surprising, and a PITA to clean out.

 

[RED CAT]

The large rubber plug on the inside of the swingarm is a loose fit on the Gen 1 bikes and will let in water or even fall out. This was tightened up on the Gen 2 bikes.

 

[gv550]

Thanks for the replies.
I warmed the bike and drained the final drive, the oil was quite milky. Replaced the oil and ran for a day and drained the oil again, much better now.
I removed the pumpkin and found the swingarm and shaft to be mostly clean and dry, and the front spline still had factory grease on it. I didn't look at the rear spline, not sure how the remove the shaft from the final drive so just let it be for now. I used the opportunity to replace the stock Battlewings with a pair of Mitas E07 so hopefully won't be getting stuck in the muck.

 

[limey]

I do water crossing all the time and never worried about water in the swing arm or the final drive.

 

[worncog]

I do water crossing all the time and never worried about water in the swing arm or the final drive.

It's when you stop or get stuck with the swingarm submerged. Then water will percolate up into the weep hole on the left side just in front of the final drive.

 

[snakebitten]

Notice Limey's avatar.

He's a floater. First time I met him I got to see his Tenere with the seat off.
I saw Lilly pads and frog carcasses on top of his ABS pump.

Guys like him and eemsreno and trikepilot convince me to just ride and worry less. This IS a RTW engineered machine.
It's the real deal. No posing at all.

(not arguing against proper maintenance, of course)

 

[limey]

It's when you stop or get stuck with the swingarm submerged. Then water will percolate up into the weep hole on the left side just in front of the final drive.

I did that last week showing for the wife and got the pig stuck on a water crossing. The only thing I would worry about is loosing the rubber plug and crap getting in the swing arm. And the drain hole where the ABS unit sits can become plugged and fill the housing with water.

 

[snakebitten]

So, did it work?
WAS she impressed?

I know Brenda would pretend to be just to appease me.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I did that last week showing for the wife and got the pig stuck on a water crossing. The only thing I would worry about is loosing the rubber plug and crap getting in the swing arm. And the drain hole where the ABS unit sits can become plugged and fill the housing with water.

The only guy I know who would do a water crossing deep enough to get the Ton-ere stuck, just for shitz.

 

[limey]

She's not a DICK like me never said a word but this is her with her first water crossing.


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[snakebitten]

That is so hilarious.

I'm surprised you even slowed down enough for her dismount.

I suspect she is way past being surprised by anything you do.

 

[bigbob]

She's not a DICK like me never said a word but this is her with her first water crossing.


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Did you ride both bikes across?


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[limey]

Bob hit the nail on the head ,she has a lowered BMW F650GS and she was really nervous so I woul ride both bike when ever we hit a water crossing.

 

[bigbob]

Bob hit the nail on the head ,she has a lowered BMW F650GS and she was really nervous so I woul ride both bike when ever we hit a water crossing.

So even if you stay upright you get your feet wet. You do love her!

Did your helmet get wet?