After reading about others discovering their rear wheel splines weren’t greased from the factory, I decided to take a look at them on my California Tour and not wait until the first tire change. Sure enough, my bike is one that got overlooked.
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Dry Rear Wheel Splines
- Thread starter TravelinPawPaw
- Start date
After reading about others discovering their rear wheel splines weren’t greased from the factory, I decided to take a look at them on my California Tour and not wait until the first tire change. Sure enough, my bike is one that got overlooked.
Not sure the factory "overlooked" yours or any others.
It is my understanding -- not necessarily the same as "I know for an indisputable fact
-- that Moto Guzzi does not think such is needed. That seems inexplicable (to me), but the MG SE tech told a Georgia dealer that when my brother requested that be done at first service on his (now mine) V7 III. In fact -- even more inexplicably to me -- he seemed resistant to it.
My EV's splines were lubed ... but by Wayne Orwig when he did other magic to it years ago. In fairness to the "no need" crowd, it had gone many thousands of miles without any apparent damage. It now has 104K miles. I did "regrease" those recently, but that was more out of curiosity to see how they looked after all those miles. "Fine," btw.
Bill
Very interesting! Thanks for the insight.
I was hoping to reduce the noise that appears to be coming from the rear of my bike, but lubing the splines didn’t reduce it. More investigation is in order.
Not sure the factory "overlooked" yours or any others.
It is my understanding -- not necessarily the same as "I know for an indisputable fact
That seems inexplicable (to me), but the MG SE tech told a Georgia dealer that when my brother requested that be done at first service on his (now mine) V7 III. In fact -- even more inexplicably to me -- he seemed resistant to it.
My EV's splines were lubed ... but by Wayne Orwig when he did other magic to it years ago. In fairness to the "no need" crowd, it had gone many thousands of miles without any apparent damage. It now has 104K miles. I did "regrease" those recently, but that was more out of curiosity to see how they looked after all those miles. "Fine," btw.
Bill
Agreed - I always re-lube mine when I take off the wheel, mainly because others (of a circa 2014 vintage that was commonly not greased), reported extreme difficulty removing the wheel due to rust/corrosion. MG must have had a change of heart because my 2016 Audace had grease from the factory
Interesting.
My bro's (now mine) was a 2017 III.
Maybe not everyone down on the line read the memo.
Bill
Mine is also a 2017. What’s the III ?
Bill
Bill
V7 III
Moto-Uno
High Miler
My 2018 Eldorado was dry as a popcorn fart . As were the axles . I don't care what horse crap excuse
they use at the factory , those components should be greased , it's not like it's going to fling off onto
the rear tire ! Just how little is done for your $450.00 PDI ? Peter
they use at the factory , those components should be greased , it's not like it's going to fling off onto
the rear tire ! Just how little is done for your $450.00 PDI ? Peter
Some here would know -- I don't -- if the swing arms and rear hubs for all models come assembled in the box/crate.
If so, it would seem to me that if such should be done -- and I agree that it should but, obviously, some in Mandello have not -- by factory, not at PDI.
Bill
My wife has serious back issues, and for comparison, I took my wife on a Road King test ride to see if it was more comfortable and maybe easier to get on and off of. The salesman was very courteous, and gave us a quote. Shipping $1,295. Assembly $1,295. What a coincidence they were exactly the same. 
I’m sure happy she is more comfortable on the California.
I’m sure happy she is more comfortable on the California.
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2011
- Messages
- 6,516
IMHO - Pulling wheels and axles are not part of any PDI I’ve ever performed.
As for Harley Davidson, well the “Wallet tap” component of every HD, works excellent!
$1,295 assembly indeed…
I can tell you that when pulling a wheel at my shop, I clean and grease every axle but not for what most people think. Most modern wheels rotate on a permanently sealed greased bearing, but the axle can rust to the inside ring of the inner race thereby making axle extraction a real bitch!
(I’ve seen many threaded ends of the axle mickey’ed up from a amateur with a hammer and/or a drift who banged on the end of the axle.)
My friend Bernie Breece, who owns Ben Breece Harley in Ottawa, Ohio (An EXCELLENT Dealership BTW), let me take pictures of his outstanding “Big Bertha” tool that he fabricated for pulling out those rusted in axles. It‘s a massive 10# slide hammer and even then, some HD axles can be very stubborn and resistant!
As for Harley Davidson, well the “Wallet tap” component of every HD, works excellent!
$1,295 assembly indeed…
I can tell you that when pulling a wheel at my shop, I clean and grease every axle but not for what most people think. Most modern wheels rotate on a permanently sealed greased bearing, but the axle can rust to the inside ring of the inner race thereby making axle extraction a real bitch!
(I’ve seen many threaded ends of the axle mickey’ed up from a amateur with a hammer and/or a drift who banged on the end of the axle.)
My friend Bernie Breece, who owns Ben Breece Harley in Ottawa, Ohio (An EXCELLENT Dealership BTW), let me take pictures of his outstanding “Big Bertha” tool that he fabricated for pulling out those rusted in axles. It‘s a massive 10# slide hammer and even then, some HD axles can be very stubborn and resistant!
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Always good to hear about excellent dealerships.
Moto-Uno
High Miler
And the totally ludicrous part in the HD assembly ( hey I worked at the dealerships for decades) , is remove cardboard
cover , undo 2 (or 4) straps and have an assistant roll it off the crate ! I've still got the straps ( yep , made in china ) . On
the models with a tourpak , you had to move it back about an inch or so on it's bracket . Peter
cover , undo 2 (or 4) straps and have an assistant roll it off the crate ! I've still got the straps ( yep , made in china ) . On
the models with a tourpak , you had to move it back about an inch or so on it's bracket . Peter
I get that there is some assembly required. And they are always SO shiny in the showrooms. And shipping isn’t free. But exactly the same number? Nuts. But it isn’t just HD. All the dealerships tack on extra charges. I’m really happy I found a 2017 with 750 miles on it! Now 2,500 miles.