Shaftie Seal

[gcraig]

I havea a 83 GS1100 Shaftie and I am about to replace the rear tire. I have notice that there is some lube all the way around the shaft housing. There is no drips just a very small film on the edge of the housing and on the hub of the wheel. Should I just clean it and get back to riding or replace the seal.

[focus frenzy]

odds are it is the O-ring that is leaking, but it could also be the output.
pretty simple to fix, the O-ring is real easy, you just need two screws, (5mm I think) on the face where the bolts are that hold it together there are two threaded holes 180* apart from each other.
you take out the housing bolts and then screw in the screws, they push the housing apart and you can then replace the O-ring.
to replace the ring gear/output seal you need to pull the ring gear out.
the ring gear pulls out, it can be difficult, you need to use two thin pry bars and pry it evenly out of the bearing, it is a snug fit in the bearing.

[gcraig]

Well I pulled the rear tire off last night. It was fairly easy, did not realize I had to pull the exhust pipes off. So now that they are off I will sand and paint the front tubes black. When I looked inside for the big mess of rear lube strange it was clean. So all I have to do is clean the wheel and paint it and put it back on.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Any of the shafties require an application of grease on the wheel hub splines It can over time make it look like it is leaking

[focus frenzy]

you dont have to pull the exhaust!!!
you just have to pull the shocks loose from the swing arm and lift the swing arm high enough to clear the pipe so you can get the axle out.

[gcraig]

Man wish I know that you can disconnect the shock it sure would have been easier. I looked in my manual and it did not say anything about the rear tire removal just about the front. Well I hope I do not have to do this again for a long time. I have 19,000 on the bike and I think the tire I replaced was original. It was a Dunlap.