Author Topic: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...  (Read 2417 times)

Offline brider

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Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« on: April 24, 2019, 08:37:55 PM »
I absent-mindedly added 40 cc rather than 20 cc of moly to my Cal 2 rear drive...from under 10% of the total capacity to under 20%. Should I drain and re-do it, or am I good?
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oldbike54

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2019, 09:18:57 PM »
 Guzzi forum bud , only drain half out , save it for the next change .

 Dusty

Offline T4halo

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2019, 10:17:16 PM »
Guzzi forum bud , only drain half out , save it for the next change .

 Dusty

That was funny. Well done.
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Offline brider

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2019, 07:09:17 AM »
That was funny. Well done.

???? I don't get it...... :huh:
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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2019, 07:09:17 AM »

Offline Rick in WNY

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2019, 07:47:01 AM »
He's referring to the fact that Guzzi riders tend to be... ummm.... frugal, yes, frugal.

No point "wasting" 20cc worth of liquid moly when you'll just need it next time you drain the rear.
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Online rocker59

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2019, 07:50:09 AM »
???? I don't get it...... :huh:

Drain half of the 20% moly / gear oil mix out.  Add straight gear oil and you'll be at 10% in the rear drive.

Take the half 20% moly / gear oil mix you drained, put it in a container with same volume of straight gear oil, and you'll have your next oil change already measured out and waiting on the shelf.

  :boozing:
« Last Edit: April 25, 2019, 07:50:45 AM by rocker59 »
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Offline brider

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2019, 08:00:45 AM »
He's referring to the fact that Guzzi riders tend to be... ummm.... frugal, yes, frugal.

No point "wasting" 20cc worth of liquid moly when you'll just need it next time you drain the rear.

Ohhh, the frugal thing, I get it! Dusty was a little TOOOO subtle with that zinger, I like it better when Chuck ends the sentiment with <snapping suspenders>.

But seriously: If I was the immensely wealthy person that I am in my mind and didn't care about salvaging 20cc of moly for my next change 10 yrs from now, WILL IT DO ANY DETRIMENT TO JUST LEAVE IT IN?
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Offline Wayne Orwig

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2019, 08:08:12 AM »
But seriously: If I was the immensely wealthy person that I am in my mind and didn't care about salvaging 20cc of moly for my next change 10 yrs from now, WILL IT DO ANY DETRIMENT TO JUST LEAVE IT IN?

Moly isn't really good for roller bearings. It is good for sliding surfaces.

Simply adding it to the rear drive is a bad idea, and a good idea.

So there is a no good answer to that question.


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Offline LowRyter

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2019, 08:44:59 AM »
I'd just ride it.
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oldbike54

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2019, 08:45:11 AM »
 Apparently subtlety is lost on this group  :shocked: :laugh:

 Dusty

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2019, 08:48:52 AM »
Apparently subtlety is lost on this group  :shocked: :laugh:

 Dusty

It would be easier to just ride it for twice as long before the next oil change instead....

(More subtlety for the group)

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Offline earemike

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2019, 08:53:37 AM »
I'd just ride it.

Yeah, ride it or dump it and do a half and half.

Not sure what harm an extra 20ml of molly will do?
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Offline Rolf Halvorsen

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2019, 09:01:02 AM »
I agree with Wayne. Moly is good for steel sliding surfaces - but not good for ANY kind of bearings (balls and rollers).

In the V11 Sport manual from Moto Guzzi it says from the factory: Do not use grease with MoS (black stuff identical with molydbensulfid = Molykote) in the greasing of the rear axle.
The rear axle has 2ea. U-joints with roller bearings AND the mid part is a sliding surface between 2 steel parts.

I have stopped using Molykote in the rear drive many years ago. Modern gear oil can take the load.

Online rocker59

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2019, 09:10:56 AM »
Apparently subtlety is lost on this group  :shocked: :laugh:

 Dusty

I knew exactly what you meant, Brother Dusty!   :boozing:
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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2019, 09:12:31 AM »

I have stopped using Molykote in the rear drive many years ago. Modern gear oil can take the load.

Yep.  Me, too.  Probably been twenty-years since I used any moly in a rear drive.

it's straight Mobil-1 75w90 synthetic gear oil, for me!
Michael T.
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oldbike54

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #15 on: April 25, 2019, 09:20:14 AM »
 Heck , none of my stuff ever even sees synthetic and it all has stupid high mileage .

 Dusty

Offline Roebling3

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #16 on: April 25, 2019, 09:50:41 AM »
What Wayne Orwig said! Moly stacks and clings in tight places, inhibiting flow. IOW not good around roller and ball bearings.  R3~

Offline brider

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #17 on: April 25, 2019, 10:24:26 AM »
Yep.  Me, too.  Probably been twenty-years since I used any moly in a rear drive.

it's straight Mobil-1 75w90 synthetic gear oil, for me!

OK, so I did another search, and instead of searching for "how much moly?", I searched "is moly necessary", and after reading thru a very opinionated (what, here?!) thread, found this about the Molykote A that is specified by Guzzi:

HOW TO USE

How to apply

Add to engine oils in proportion of
3% by volume, 5% to lubricating and
gear oils, and 10% for particularly
heavy stress. Can be used in all
lubrication systems, such as drip
oilers, central lubricating systems etc

So, the 10% quantity specified by Guzzi seems kinda excessive for a rear drive, I don't see how a Tonti rear drive can be any more highly-loaded than a car's rear diff, and I've never put moly in any truck of mine.

I'm going to drain it and put straight 80w90 in, and figure the residual left in and on the gear surfaces should be enough.

Glad I asked!
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Offline kballowe

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #18 on: April 25, 2019, 10:33:54 AM »
Synthetic or regular ?
Synthetic or regular ?
Synthetic or regular ?

Moly ?   

Such decisions...... 

Me?  I get the synthetic "blend".  Its the best of both worlds.  AND every Wal-Mart has a whole shelf of this stuff !   
Nothing but the finest lubricants for the Moto Guzzi !
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« Last Edit: April 25, 2019, 10:39:04 AM by kballowe »

Offline Wayne Orwig

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #19 on: April 25, 2019, 01:56:06 PM »
I've never put moly in any truck of mine.

I'll bet you have. Most rear drive lubes have an EP additive that is moly. Just in much lower amounts that what Guzzi used to call for.
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Offline kirby1923

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #20 on: April 25, 2019, 02:07:03 PM »
One advantage in using a very small amount of moly in the rear  is it turns the oil dark black.

I run redline  in my trans  (pink)   

Dyno in the engine (amber)

If I find a spot (leak) on the floor I know where its coming from....color coded.
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Offline bigbikerrick

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Re: Oops, too much moly in the rear drive...
« Reply #21 on: April 25, 2019, 03:11:06 PM »
I personally would just leave it until the next change. I only use moly in the 7:33 rear drive ( sidecar gears) on my Cali Aluminum. That tiny 7 "tooth" pinion works pretty hard in there.
All the others get synthetic super tech from wal mart. I change my lubricants more often than necessary....Thats a side effect of being retired with too much time on my hands. :grin:
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