Hi, I am brand new to Goldwings, and the one I got a few days ago has been sitting in a heated garage for years and only started and ran thru the gears on a weekly basis on the center stand. It has no leaks, runs well except for an idle problem that I think carb rebuild and synching will cure. I did the full oil/filter change and the radiator flush and fill and was doing a chassis lube when I noticed a grease zerk on the rear of the output shaft. It is on top of the shaft just in front of the right shock mount. My question is this: what type of grease should be used in this zerk, and how much? I do not want to use the wrong lubricant, nor do I want to over grease it and blow out a seal.... Thanks in advance for your help!
Jeff in Portland, Oregon!
I found a grease zerk!
- waldburger56
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:22 pm
- Location: Portland, Oregon
- Motorcycle: 1982 GL1100 Interstate
1982 H.D. FLH
1970 H.D. Hardtail
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
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- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
Re: I found a grease zerk!
The service manual doesn't say how much, or how often. I pump "some" in there once a year.
What it does say:
Drive Shaft Joint
Lubricate the drive shaft joint by pumping the recommended grease through the grease fitting at the final drive gear case flange.
Recommended grease:
NLGI-2 or equivalent lithium-based multipurpose grease with molybdenum disulfide additive.
The maintenance schedule is to "lubricate" every 8,000 miles.

Drive Shaft Joint
Lubricate the drive shaft joint by pumping the recommended grease through the grease fitting at the final drive gear case flange.
Recommended grease:
NLGI-2 or equivalent lithium-based multipurpose grease with molybdenum disulfide additive.
The maintenance schedule is to "lubricate" every 8,000 miles.
- waldburger56
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:22 pm
- Location: Portland, Oregon
- Motorcycle: 1982 GL1100 Interstate
1982 H.D. FLH
1970 H.D. Hardtail
Re: I found a grease zerk!
Thank you! I am in the process of finding a Honda manual for this bike, so until I do, i may be back with more "newbe" questions, should I find something else that common sense does not explain! By the way, the "Classic Goldwing Riders" site recommended your site highly! and, I am glad they did! 

- FlashBack
- Posts: 115
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2013 8:56 pm
- Location: Cheshire, Oregon
- Motorcycle: 1983 Honda GL1100 Interstate
Re: I found a grease zerk!
Evening. Was there any dicovery on how much grease to pump in to the drive shaft joint? Is there a weep for when it is full after lubricating?WingAdmin wrote:The service manual doesn't say how much, or how often. I pump "some" in there once a year.What it does say:
Drive Shaft Joint
Lubricate the drive shaft joint by pumping the recommended grease through the grease fitting at the final drive gear case flange.
Recommended grease:
NLGI-2 or equivalent lithium-based multipurpose grease with molybdenum disulfide additive.
The maintenance schedule is to "lubricate" every 8,000 miles.
One or two pumps on the grease gun?...lol
Thanks
- virgilmobile
- Posts: 9087
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- Location: Denham Springs,La.
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL1500 I
Previously owned
78 GL1000
81 GL1100
82 GL1100 I
83 GL1100 I
83 GL1100 standard
84 GL 1200 I
Re: I found a grease zerk!
I've owned a few gl1100's....I've never bothered to pump grease into the zerk..
I examined it's location and determined that it is suppose to get the grease into the splines of the drive shaft...Somehow..
Unfortunately the zerk location is not even close to the place that needs grease.
Unlike a "U" joint that you can pump grease directly into the bearing cap,this design just gets some grease in the general area.
I guess it's better than nothing BUT
As always,it's better to just remove the rear end and grease the splines by hand every time you replace the tire....
Just like the rest of the bikes....
I examined it's location and determined that it is suppose to get the grease into the splines of the drive shaft...Somehow..
Unfortunately the zerk location is not even close to the place that needs grease.
Unlike a "U" joint that you can pump grease directly into the bearing cap,this design just gets some grease in the general area.
I guess it's better than nothing BUT
As always,it's better to just remove the rear end and grease the splines by hand every time you replace the tire....
Just like the rest of the bikes....
Re: I found a grease zerk!
Was just reading my Clymer and hadn't noticed before that it gives the amount of molybdenum disulfide grease to pump in. 90 grams. That's about 3 ounces of grease. If that's correct, then it should be taking more than 1 or 2 pumps unless you have an elephant of a grease gun.
- dingdong
- Posts: 4024
- Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:35 am
- Location: Oklahoma City
- Motorcycle: 1976 gl1000
1993 gl1500A
2004 NRX1800 Rune SOLD
Re: I found a grease zerk!
But like Virgil said, it is a useless zerk. No way for the grease to hit the splies.
- winguyjo
- Posts: 410
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2018 9:26 pm
- Location: b.c. Canada
- Motorcycle: wing1 : 1982 gl1100 interstate; resurrection complete. SOLD
wing2 : 1980 gl1100 interstate; resurrection complete. SOLD.
wing3 : 81gl1100i frame/82gl1100a engine/81cb900 bits. resurrection complete. naked. SOLD.
wing4 : 1977 gl1000 black w/ blue pinstripes; resurrection complete. SOLD
wing5 : 1977 gl1000 black w/gold pinstripes; nearly roadworthy when purchased, NOW RIDING.
wing6 : 1975 gl1000 blue; SOLD
Re: I found a grease zerk!
interesting ... my '75 doesn't have one, but every 'newer' wing ('77 - '82) that i have owned has one. i've never actually used the fitting as all the bikes i have worked on got grease applied directly to the splines during the resurrection process and i have never owned any of them long enough to require re-greasing.