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Hey, folks. After several rounds of questions to all you gurus (and the other 99.9% as well-- just kidding) I finally ordered the Bridgestone Spitfires. They arrived yesterday, and just this evening I got around to starting the installation. I'm going to take the rims one at a time to a local tire shop, that will mount & balance them for $30 each. I know, I could have ridden the bike to a shop and just had them changed while I wait, but...

As is my nature, I am taking this opportunity to wrench a little bit. I'm optimistic I won't strip any bolts or otherwise break anything this time...Going to thoroughly inspect the brakes and bearings, and repack the latter.

Tonight, I took off the rear wheel. I had greased the axle when I had it off before, per a suggestion from Runsilent, and it came right out this time (Thanks Run). I also removed the final drive (its a shaftie), so that I can clean and then regrease the splines. I am referencing Zootech's note in the maintenance section on doing the same (Thanks Zoo).

I'll take pics during the reassembly and all during daylight hours this weekend, as the lighting in my garage was too poor when I started to get decent pics. I'll do a write up in maintenance.

OK. Just felt like writing about that.
JC

NOTE: I edited this to add "Just kidding" above.

there is no need to pull the final drive on the CX500 to regrease the shaft. it has a zerk fitting just before the final drive that you can use to grease the shaft

jmillheiser wrote:there is no need to pull the final drive on the CX500 to regrease the shaft. it has a zerk fitting just before the final drive that you can use to grease the shaft

My understanding (and I am clearly learning as I go) is that the zerk fitting lubes a bearing in the drive, but not the splines at either end. And the splines call for a moly grease (Zoo's post has a link to an article detailing exactly WHICH moly grease to use), while the zerk fitting is intended for a multipurpose grease (per the Clymer's manual). Also in my Clymer's manual, the zerk fitting is mentioned as part of the maintenance when changing the gear oil (just and extra "to do" when that is done). The splines are addressed in removing the wheel, and in the section on removing the drive (which literally took less than a minute, since I already had the wheel off-- nice 'n easy four bolt job).

Let me know how that gibes with what you all know...

Thanks,
JC

A note on my last note. I've looked more in the Clymer's manual, and found a minor inconsistency. Page 22, dealing with changing final drive oil, says to apply a small amount of multipurpose grease through the zerk. Page 171, dealing with reattachment of the final drive, says to apply the molybdenum disulfide grease (Honda Moly 60 or similar) through the Zerk.

I am thinking it would be better to go all Moly, rather than mix two types of grease in the drive?

And the peanut gallery says...

Thanks,
JC

SPOOOOOOOON!

Im not sure about it myself, because I have heard in some circumstances that Moly grease can be too slippery for some bearing applications. I would call up your local dealer and ask them, just to be safe.

NorthernPete wrote:SPOOOOOOOON!

I am glad to know you are also allied with the mighty blue salmon of justice. Evil is afoot!