final drive temp

i took my seca on a ride to visit some friends near duluth and had a great ride - although the sight-seers on the scenic drive up to two harbors tried to kill me.

one question though - on my way here, i stopped in superior for a break and thought to check if my final drive was getting hot. it felt fairly warm to the touch but not "crazy" hot - i'm just curious if this is a good indicator of needing to change my oil - or do they normally get warm or hot to the touch.

 

I have never felt my final drive, but getting a really hot day of driving around the lake is hard to come by. I would imagine a lot of heavy rear brake use (like dodging tourist along HWY 61 up the north shore) would transmit heat to the whole assembly. Now I think I will check as well, even though I have fresh oil in there.

Going beyond Two Harbors on 61 gets really interesting on heavy traffic days from tourist and logging trucks. I usually avoid going up that way during the summer even though it is a fantastic ride.

 

probably has some to do with your brakes

drum? maybe the heat is going though the rim and into the gears?

heat is due to friction more friction more heat

 

FWIW,
I noticed the same thing when I first got my bike. After changing the final drive oil I noticed no difference at all.
I have a lot of kin up in Wakefield-Bessemer area and spent much of my younger years there. The western UP area would make for some awesome bike rides.

 

made it home ok - i checked the oil and it looked a little dirty, but it was definitely over-filled as it ran out the fill hole (yes the bike was level).

i checked it a few times on the way home and the drum didn't feel warm but the drive gear was pretty warm - not so hot that i couldn't keep my hand on it - but hot enough to make me a little nervous.

now that i'm home and have a place to work i'll be changing that oil and seeing what happens.