Hitchcocks Forum

Morning Chaps



I've just dragged Slo Poke across Europe (1000 miles in 4 days) in horrendous weather and - upon returning - find that the gearbox oil is quite badly contaminated with water.



Obviously, I need to drain and replace the oil but should I flush the gearbox, somehow, and - if so - how and with what?



Slo Poke's a 1996 500 fitted with an Indian 5 speed gearbox, BTW.



Cheers



Iain

If the gearbox is oil filled, short of disassembling it, I would drain it, get the back wheel off the ground, start it and put it in a low gear at idle speed then keep pouring kerosene through it until it came out fairly clear, then let it stand over night or longer
to drain the kerosene. Put the drain plug in at first for a while. People who hose their bikes when cleaning often end up with water in the gearbox. If kerosene in there worries you, give it another oil change after a few miles.

Thanks Leon



Kinda what I had in mind - although diesel was going to be my fluid of choice.



I'll give it a whirl.

Hi Iain, I would just drain the oil and refill with new stuff and carry on as normal. Regards, Paul.

I get this with the trials Cub, probably gets in from pressure washing. I just change the oil and it's fine. If you are worried then change it twice with a run between.

What BW & PeterF say - drain & refill. Never hurt our Golden Flash

Thanks for the further thoughts, chaps.



TBH, I'm a bit tight on time before the weekend (when we have to take a short round trip to the Malle Mile) so I'll be going with the quick (drain and refill) option, first, and taking a look at the replenished oil next week.

Wot Paul said. Drain and refill with usual oil. Oil has 'detergents' in it to trap water, so it will flush the water out. You may want to give it a couple of changes over a short period of use until mayonnaise goes away. (Same applies with grease and ATF)

Not so. Oil will not flush water out. It will ‘capture’ it in suspension and produce an emulsion, so called ‘mayonnaise’. This will help prevent the damage ‘standing water’ would cause.

And if we drain the oil with the water captured in suspension within it, we also drain the water as well. Refill with fresh oil after draining the contaminated stuff. Job done. Regards, Paul.