R100GS Driveshaft Grease Nipple
 

Greetings All

I'm fitting a rebuilt drive shaft to my 1993 GS and from what I can see the grease nipple at the bevel end of the drive shaft can make contact with the end of the spline shaft in the bevel drive. I removed the grease nipple and rechecked it and I can definitely rotate the bevel drive through a much greater degree of rotation.

Has anyone else found this to be a problem? The people who did the modification (Munich Motorcycles) say that they have no problems with this mod. I can only think that the reason for that is that the drive shaft, bevel drive angles in normal operating conditions don't hit that critical angle where things can go snap.

Or do I need to fit a plug and only put the nipple back in when regreasing the joint?

Thanks

drive shaft - my experience
 

I also have a drive shaft modified by Munich's. When I got it back the UJs had been retained by a washer welded in place. This increased the dimensions of the joint so much it wouldn't pass down the paralever housing. This required grinding the excess metal away until it would fit. After 2 years operation I removed it for regreasing and found the gb end nipple had come out and was in the housing. I think it had just vibrated out (the thread was undamaged) but I took it in to Munichs who said it was OK so I put it back. I guess it wouldn't hurt to leave them out until the next service provided you can find a suitable blank. I grease mine (and the wheel bearings) with a marine grease in case of water crossings. Next time I have it out, I must try and find someone to check the balance.

Nipples
 

That is the exact, correct procedure.
If you leave the nipple in, you will break it.

John

+1...
I carry a grease nipple in my toolbox for this exact purpose. If i leave it in, it will snap! Never seem to have a problem with the open hole, maybe a little bit of grease woogs out, but not a lot. Most of it stays where it should.