Secondary oil change question

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  • abaton6
    • Mar 2026

    #1

    Secondary oil change question

    Working on my $300 1981 GS650 GLX. Took off the secondary cover, drained the oil, and can't seem to find where to fill, or the level hole. It's really obvious on my Cavalcade. I looked at Cliffs description on this, but that is for a GS850, not the same. Any help would be appreciated.
  • salty_monk
    Forum LongTimer
    GSResource Superstar
    Past Site Supporter
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    • Oct 2006
    • 14013
    • London, UK to Redondo Beach, California

    #2
    Should be on the top & I believe you fill till it runs out...
    1980 GS1000G - Sold
    1978 GS1000E - Finished!
    1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
    1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
    2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
    1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
    2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

    www.parasiticsanalytics.com

    TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

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    • Nessism
      Forum LongTimer
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      • Mar 2006
      • 35808
      • Torrance, CA

      #3
      Thought the 650 secondary gears were lubricated by engine oil?
      Ed

      To measure is to know.

      Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

      Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

      Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

      KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

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      • abaton6

        #4
        I'm a total newbe to this bike. I pulled the drain plug and got 6-8 oz of what seemed like gear oil out.

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        • Nessism
          Forum LongTimer
          GSResource Superstar
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          • Mar 2006
          • 35808
          • Torrance, CA

          #5
          The final drive uses gear oil but not the secondary gears.

          Section 2-11 in the factory manual describes the oil change procedure, including the need to remove two drain plugs. One on the sump cover and the other on the LH side of the engine by the shift lever, which drains the secondary gear cavity.
          Ed

          To measure is to know.

          Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

          Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

          Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

          KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

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          • abaton6

            #6
            Thanks. I ordered a manual from Ebay. I think the oil looked like gear oil because, God knows how long it's been in there!


            Originally posted by Nessism
            The final drive uses gear oil but not the secondary gears.

            Section 2-11 in the factory manual describes the oil change procedure, including the need to remove two drain plugs. One on the sump cover and the other on the LH side of the engine by the shift lever, which drains the secondary gear cavity.

            Comment

            • Nessism
              Forum LongTimer
              GSResource Superstar
              Past Site Supporter
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              • Mar 2006
              • 35808
              • Torrance, CA

              #7
              Basscliff has a free manual download (in case you didn't know).
              Ed

              To measure is to know.

              Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

              Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

              Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

              KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

              Comment

              • Steve
                GS Whisperer
                • Jun 2005
                • 35927
                • southwest oHIo

                #8
                Yep, two drain plugs but only one fill hole on the 650s.

                .
                sigpic
                mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
                hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
                Family Portrait
                Siblings and Spouses
                Mom's first ride
                Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
                (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

                Comment

                • salty_monk
                  Forum LongTimer
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                  • Oct 2006
                  • 14013
                  • London, UK to Redondo Beach, California

                  #9
                  Learn something new everyday...
                  1980 GS1000G - Sold
                  1978 GS1000E - Finished!
                  1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
                  1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
                  2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
                  1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
                  2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

                  www.parasiticsanalytics.com

                  TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

                  Comment

                  • Redman
                    Forum LongTimer
                    Past Site Supporter
                    Super Site Supporter
                    • Mar 2004
                    • 13762
                    • Michigan, west Michigan

                    #10
                    Confirming that 650g doesn’t have separate lube for secondary drive, it uses crankcase oil. One of the things unique to the 650s from other GSs.

                    i had 650g for years before getting 850g. Then it took a while before I noticed the fill plug on the 850g.
                    Bikes
                    Had 650G & 850G. GK since 2005. BOTM 850G 6/2024 , GK 9/2015​

                    Comment

                    • Steve
                      GS Whisperer
                      • Jun 2005
                      • 35927
                      • southwest oHIo

                      #11
                      Originally posted by salty_monk
                      Learn something new everyday...
                      My policy has always been that you should learn something new every day.

                      After you learn that new thing, you can go home.




                      The boss didn't always agree.

                      .
                      sigpic
                      mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
                      hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                      #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                      #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
                      Family Portrait
                      Siblings and Spouses
                      Mom's first ride
                      Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
                      (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

                      Comment

                      • Dogma
                        Forum Guru
                        • Sep 2007
                        • 7144
                        • Mason, OH (SW)

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Steve
                        My policy has always been that you should learn something new every day.

                        After you learn that new thing, you can go home.




                        The boss didn't always agree. .
                        I have a fear that for every day I learn something new, I forget two old things.
                        Dogma
                        --
                        O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you! - David

                        Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep insights can be winnowed from deep nonsense. - Carl Sagan

                        --
                        '80 GS850 GLT
                        '80 GS1000 GT
                        '01 ZRX1200R

                        How to get a "What's New" feed without the Vortex, and without permanently quitting the Vortex

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                        • Steve
                          GS Whisperer
                          • Jun 2005
                          • 35927
                          • southwest oHIo

                          #13
                          That's OK, the 'new' stuff takes more memory.

                          .
                          sigpic
                          mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
                          hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                          #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                          #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
                          Family Portrait
                          Siblings and Spouses
                          Mom's first ride
                          Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
                          (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

                          Comment

                          • tom203
                            Forum Guru
                            Past Site Supporter
                            • Aug 2010
                            • 8925
                            • Norway,Maine

                            #14
                            "Working on my $300 1981 GS650 GLX. Took off the secondary cover, drained"

                            what secondary Cover? As others have mentioned, there is a second drain plug at crankcase bottom just inside of shift lever that drains out of the secondary drive cavity. And it gets refilled from crankcase...it just leaks thru.
                            1981 gs650L

                            "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

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