V7 850 transmission fluid change...

[MikeP996]

Went out to change the engine oil, transmission, and final drive oil on my '21 v7 850 special - the first time since I purchased it last year.  Engine and final drive were very easy.  Transmission was a fail.  I discovered that a socket would not fit on the drain plug due to the exhaust crossover pipe.  In fact, I'm wondering if the drain bolt will unscrew far enough to drop or if the crossover will prevent that.  ???   Since the socket wouldn't fit I then discovered that I didn't have a wrench large enough to fit AND the clearance to actually get the wrench in there looks dicey.  Obviously it would be a total non issue with the exhausts removed but that seems a bit OTT for transmission oil changing!

Any tips/tricks here that sort this out?  Thanks!

[Rons]

I just did mine on my 2026 V7 Sport. The clearance between the drain bolt and the catalytic convertor is minimal, but just enough. I used a 17mm ratcheting box wrench to loosen the bolt. Used a flexible funnel ( kinda like a bendable metal covered in plastidip) to guide the fluid into my drain pan.

I was able to unscrew the loosened bolt by hand. Also got it started by hand ( was tedious and took well more than one try) and then tightened it with the 17mm.

[MikeP996]

Thanks; sounds good!!

The drain bolt on my '21 V7 Special transmission (gearbox) is much bigger than 17mm.  MG must have changed it sometime after 2021!  Largest wrench I have is 19mm and it was too small.   I'll check with a caliper and purchase the correct wrench.

[YellowDuck]

Yes, you have to go in from the side with an open end wrench.  From memory it might need to go in above the frame rail (?).  Not sure, I just remember there was something a bit funky like that.  But once you figure it out it's easy.

[Michael_A]

It's something like a 24mm... maybe a big adjustable can work. Go between the frame rails and the gearbox bottom from the right side just in front of the foot-peg. I think yours may have a small thimble filter behind the drain plug. Angle needle nose should extract it if it doesn't just fall out.

[red stripeguz]

I bought a set of thin profile wrenches to fit for the transmission. I believe it is 24

[Vagrant]

Hold on. I just did my 25 v85 Friday. It's a 17MM. I just went out and looked the 26 v7 sport it is the same. You are looking at the wrong thing. Look straight in from the right side even with the front of the rear brake master cylinder. A 17 open end wrench will work. 

[Michael_A]

There was a change around 2024 or 2025. The drain plug went from 24mm previously with a filter, to 17mm with no filter. About the same time a side fill plug appeared that has no relation to correct level. The transmission fluid spec also changed to something like 500cc of 85-140 weight where previously it was 90wt and a bit more cc's (though I don't recall the exact spec for the earlier ones).

[Tom H]

I agree on the thin open end wrench. 24 sounds right. I think I use something like a 15/16" this because it's what I have. Get to it between the frame and the header pipe. Use some foil to cover the exhaust and let the oil drain.

Tom

[Vagrant]

The 17-20 v7III used a nylon filter and 500cc of 90# because it had a oil pump in it. The first v85 and I assume your 21 v7-85 did not so they went to 700cc of 85/140.

[Kev m]

The 17-20 v7III used a nylon filter and 500cc of 90# because it had a oil pump in it. The first v85 and I assume your 21 v7-85 did not so they went to 700cc of 85/140.

People keep assuming that.

But I keep reading that the V7 transmission (gearbox) remained at 500cc even when the filter screen was removed (and that's supposedly true on your V7 Sport too). I "think" (but would have to check to confirm) that the pump is still used.

[Rons]

This is what I used to contain the mess

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Green-Silicone-Flexible-Oil-Funnel-Foldable-Anti-Spill-Drainage-Guide-Tool-Multi-Purpose-Oil-Transfer-Funnel-Kitchen-Garage-Automotive-Household-Liqu/18899708173

[Rons]

People keep assuming that.

But I keep reading that the V7 transmission (gearbox) remained at 500cc even when the filter screen was removed (and that's supposedly true on your V7 Sport too). I "think" (but would have to check to confirm) that the pump is still used.

I know the new V7 Sport is 500cc of 75w140. I used a large syringe to measure it out. 3 squirts of 150cc and one of 50.

[T607]

I used a 24mm thin combi wrench with angled 6-point/open end from Uxcell, available at Amazon. Works perfect.

[Vagrant]

I know the new V7 Sport is 500cc of 75w140. I used a large syringe to measure it out. 3 squirts of 150cc and one of 50.

Correct. 500cc of 75/140 so I would doubt it has the pump. I would also guess the case is slightly different too.
First through fifth ratios are the same but sixth is slightly different than the v85.
2025 v85 sixth gear 27/24= 1 to 0.888
2026 v7 sport 28/24 = 1 to 0.857

[MikeP996]

Thanks guys, great info!!!  I like that funnel thing/will order one of those and the 24mm wrench!

[faffi]

The process for your bike, Mike, sounds similar to my V9, although the peg and brake stuff connected to it may not be in the way on yours. As far as I could see, the 6-speed transmission on the V9 does not have a drain plug, only the filter retaining plug to let the oil out. When the gearbox was to be drained, I first had ti unscrew one of the exhaust heat covers and bolt off the footrest bracket including the attached brake system to make room. In order to use a socket instead of a wrench, the exhaust system had be removed completely. Since I had a 24 mm wrench, I opted to use that, even if it meant feel instead of a torque wrench when fitting the filter and tightening the cap.

[MikeP996]

Thanks!  Yeah, in looking at it,  it appears to me that if the exhaust heat deflector is removed, there would be sufficient clearance/access to the bolt with an open-end 24mm wrench that isn't too thick.  I'll give it a go when the wrench arrives.  But depending on how long that bolt is, it may not clear the exhaust crossover pipe to allow complete removal.  If the bolt clears, the filter, which I understand is above the bolt, may not drop clear either!  We'll see...

The picture in the V7 850 service manual shows the bolt with NO exhaust system present so it appears that MG expects the exhaust system to be removed to drain the gearbox oil.  I do not plan to rise to their expectations!   

[faffi]

The threads are not overly long, if the clearance is the same as on the V9 you should be good.

[Kev m]

Correct. 500cc of 75/140 so I would doubt it has the pump. I would also guess the case is slightly different too.
First through fifth ratios are the same but sixth is slightly different than the v85.
2025 v85 sixth gear 27/24= 1 to 0.888
2026 v7 sport 28/24 = 1 to 0.857

So weirdly enough all the V7 850 parts catalogs at AF1 through 24' show both the filter at the drain plug and the pump in the case.

The 25/26' new edition parts catalogs show no filter or pump though the shafts now seem seem to use an oil separator.

AF1 Racing. V7 e5+ 850cc OEM Parts Catalogs https://share.google/0PjEqvduhirg3yswG

[faffi]

I do not have a parts catalog, but the service manual for my V9 insist there are two drain plugs for engine oil plus a drain plug and said filter plug for the gearbox, but it lacks the second drain plug for oil and gearbox. Could that be the issue with the parts catalogs as well, or are they correct in every detail for the respective model?

[Kev m]

I do not have a parts catalog, but the service manual for my V9 insist there are two drain plugs for engine oil plus a drain plug and said filter plug for the gearbox, but it lacks the second drain plug for oil and gearbox. Could that be the issue with the parts catalogs as well, or are they correct in every detail for the respective model?

Absolutely.... I never trust Guzzi tech materials 100%.

[MikeP996]

Open end of a 24mm wrench was able to access transmission drain bolt with no problem from right side.  No need to remove anything for access.  No issue with clearance from exhaust X-over for bolt or filter.  Quite easy, actually...  Thanks everyone!!

[Kev m]

I do not have a parts catalog, but the service manual for my V9 insist there are two drain plugs for engine oil plus a drain plug and said filter plug for the gearbox, but it lacks the second drain plug for oil and gearbox. Could that be the issue with the parts catalogs as well, or are they correct in every detail for the respective model?

Sorry, I missed this or failed to respond first time through.

I totally see what happened there as I watched it occur many times over the years professionally.

When they wrote the new V9 service manual they didn't start from scratch, they picked up the file/format or pieces of the previous smallblock service manual and reused what they thought they could.

They picked up much of the maintenance section from the V7II service manual, which I believe just like the MKI had TWO engine oil drain plugs. They missed the fact that they eliminated one of the plugs with the changes to the Hemi Head motor.

As a matter of fact I see a Heron Head valve cover in the V9 manual on pages Main-46 and Main-47 because they reused the art and text from the V7II manual there.

They also repeated the mistake calling the transmission oil filter an "Air Filter" that they first made in the V7II manual.

I don't see where it suggested a second drain plug for the transmission in either though? Maybe I just missed that.

[faffi]

It may not describe a second drain plug, I could be imagining that, but the way I remember the text it said to drain the oil via the drain plug and then remove and check the filter. The image definitely did not show the filter cap, nor the casting on my bike - it showed a standard drain plug like the one for the engine oil sitting almost on its own little casting. My son reckognized the description from his 2009 V7 Classic and said his bike has a drain plug without filter.

[Kev m]

It may not describe a second drain plug, I could be imagining that, but the way I remember the text it said to drain the oil via the drain plug and then remove and check the filter. The image definitely did not show the filter cap, nor the casting on my bike - it showed a standard drain plug like the one for the engine oil sitting almost on its own little casting. My son reckognized the description from his 2009 V7 Classic and said his bike has a drain plug without filter.

Maybe they revised it since your download. I looked it up this morning.

[MikeP996]

I meant to add in my post that the oil drained from the gearbox looked essentially new - clean and there was no metallic particles of any kind in the filter.  The final drive oil, OTOH, was black though also no metallic particles on the drain bolt magnet.

I don't have any records re service by the previous owners (3) but my impression is that at least with gearbox/final drive this was the first service of those units - at 7132 miles.

[faffi]

Maybe they revised it since your download. I looked it up this morning.

Could well be, I downloaded mine more than 3 years ago.

[faffi]

I meant to add in my post that the oil drained from the gearbox looked essentially new - clean and there was no metallic particles of any kind in the filter.  The final drive oil, OTOH, was black though also no metallic particles on the drain bolt magnet.

I don't have any records re service by the previous owners (3) but my impression is that at least with gearbox/final drive this was the first service of those units - at 7132 miles.

Gearbox oil that came out after 11.5k miles from my V9 looked fine, the final drive oil was very black and the drain plug held some metal on it, similar to my Virago with 20k miles on the clock, new oil every 7k-ish. I reckon this primarily comes down to how perfectly the gears where shimmed from the factory, but 20k change intervals seems a bit long.

[Michael_A]

Not unusual for the final drive oil, on its first change, to look pretty black. The factory uses a heavy "molly" grease upon assembly to check the teeth contact pattern, and basically leaves it in there after final assembly. All manufacturers do. Doesn't hurt a thing, but it comes out on that first oil change looking  nasty - sometimes alarmingly so - but its fine.