K11 Owners Group

SteveB007 · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 10

Hello all,
93 K11RS with 35k miles. Time for a transmission fluid change. I hear good things about synthetic, but others say that syn will cause seals to leak...What say ye?
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Steve in Santa Fe
1993 K11RS

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:27 pm Post subject:

I put synthetic in my '97(tranny and final drive) at 32k and have had no problems with it.
Will also be putting it in my '95 probably this weekend.
_________________
Ride safe.

1997 K1100LT 0302488
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1995 K1100LT 0302044(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Mystic Red · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject:

Old wives tale. Wink

_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

endoman100 · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:36 pm Post subject:

I just put it in mine and no problems.
_________________
In the words of the stones
Time Is On My Side
Yes It Is
1993 K1100RS

Rider · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject: Synthetic Transmission Oil

I've been using synthetic lube in various motorcycle gearboxes for years and have never had a leak problem. It does make them shift better.

Ed
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2007 650 Burgman, 2003 400 Burgman

Some days you get the bear, some days the bear gets you.

Turbine · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:56 am Post subject:

With my 90,000 klm's now I have put synthetic oil in the 3 areas since 10,000 klm's.
I change them all once a year with the filter what ever the klm
The one before a K100rs went from 10,000 klm to my 135. The gear box was opened after 100,000 for a gear selector only.
I have Elf main engine oil & then Amsoil gear in others at present.
The best thing about it is if I'm going away you do not have to think do I have to change the oil before. You only HAVE to take some oil with you on long trips.

larryb22 · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:35 pm Post subject: Transmission oil level

Seems I read somewhere that you can use a wrench to check the level of the transmission oil. The only "wrench" I can see in the tool kit is for adjusting the rear suspension spring. It has a line scribed across it near the bottom. Is this the tool to check the transmission oil level? There's nothing in the owners manual about checking the tranny oil level.
Thanks,
Larry
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2008 Yamaha XV250
S/W Michigan USA

SteveB007 · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 10

According to my Haynes manual, that is the very tool for checking the tranny oil. Make sure it is clean and slide it donn thru the top filler (scribed end first) until it rests on the case at the bend. Pull it out and read on the scribe. Mine has a similar tool.
_________________
Steve in Santa Fe
1993 K11RS

Don Sproule · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:07 pm Post subject: trans fluid level

Don't forget to always check transmission, engine and rear drive fluids while ther machine is on the centerstand. If you check it while on the sidestand, you will get a false (low) reading.
I know this because a previous owner had overfilled the engine on the '95 LT that I own and blew the rear engine seal. It healed up on it's own, but the temporary leak contaminated my clutch disc.

Don Sproule

larryb22 · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject: re: dipstick

Hanes could be wrong, the spring tool only goes in a little ways. Thus the tranny would be 3/4 or more full of oil.
I did find a sort of stamped "dipstick" about a quarter inch wide and is "L" shaped. The long end is about 4" long. It has a line near the bottom that says "MAX". This has to be the tool "dipstick" for checking the tranny oil level.
Larry
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2008 Yamaha XV250
S/W Michigan USA

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:25 pm Post subject:

Only the 2 valve K bikes had the tranny oil marking on the shock wrench. For the four valve Ks there is that separate L-shaped piece of metal for checking the tranny fluid level.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject:

Stoked Steve · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:56 pm Post subject:

I've been trying to sort this out myself. I don't have a factory tool kit whith the "L" shaped tool, but my new RAM shock came with the spanner marked for the level. The problem is the spanner handle won't go in more than an inch or so, certainly not all the way down. So maybe this type of dipstick (spanner) simply won't work on the K11?

I was able to insert a long srewdriver down there and see where the oil is though.
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:19 pm Post subject:

A K75/K100 dipstick works fine on a K11. I keep one in the garage for just that purpose.

Except for where the paralever rod mounts the transmission is the same as the earlier Ks.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

larryb22 · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:20 am Post subject: Synthetic trans oil

I have used Mobile one synthetic gear lube in Honda's.
Comes in two weights, a 75/90 and a 75/140.
Don't know what's in the yellow brick now, but the tranny shifts perfect. Sometime you can't even feel the gear change with you toe. Shifting from neutral to first (at a stop) doesn't even make a sound and you can't feel a gear engage, the only way you can tell is, the gear indicator goes from "0" to "1". What lube are you folks using?
Also how are you checking the rear drive oil level?
Larry
_________________
2008 Yamaha XV250
S/W Michigan USA

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:06 am Post subject:

The final drive level should be at the bottom of the threads when you remove the fill plug.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

larryb22 · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 11:51 am Post subject: oil level

Thanks Duck,
I kind of thought that it would be that.

Larry
_________________
2008 Yamaha XV250
S/W Michigan USA