This has probably been talked to death,but the Harley dealer recommends their Syn-3 oil in all 3 holes,crankcase,primary,trams...of course!..then I have heard others say to run it in just the engine and primary and run a heavier wgt. in the trans.
So what's the deal?...mine is a 99 TC.88 with 23k.
Did these older 88's get that advise back in 99 or is this synthetic so good that it's not a problem used in any hole of the bike??
Thanx's:biker:
Well I haven't used syn3 ever I use mobil 1 v-twin but I've seen what mobil can do in cars so it's got my vote I read that it could be used in all 3 as well and did that the first oil change on my 98 Evo engine Wide Glide and I didn't much care for it in the trans in my opinion it needs something thicker so since I had the bike in the garage for some other work I decided to go with a 75-90 in the trans I will let you know how that works next ride I go on but I do know that the 20-50 was really clunky and I didn't care for it. just my 2 cents
Syn-3 in all three holes won't hurt anything but there are a wide variety of better choices.
I use Mobil-1 V-Twin in the engine, 15w-40 Rotella Diesel oil in the primary and 75w-140 synthetic lube (I use Mopar because I have access to it.) in the trans.
Mobile-1 75w140 synthetic in trans. If syn3 were gear rated I'd recommend it. However, I know too many dealers NOT using it due to issues in 6-speeds. Gears need gear rated lube. Not engine oil.
I tried Dexron III in the primary. Didn't see any real advantage. My stator burned out while the atf was in there but I don't believe the atf had anything to do with the failure.
i started using moble 1 20-50 v twin in all three no problem yet might go to dex=III for primary next time its cheaper might even try gear lube in the trans just to see if its better
I scrolled through this thread and see where people have switched from the syn3 to the 75/90 gear lube with the idea of it being thicker and to help with the trans clunk...well as gear lube will help with clunk..its not due to being thicker...80/90is pretty equal to 10/40 motor oil as far as thickness...gear lube is designed for just that..gears...it has been blended to provide a better cushion...ive switched to using all separate oils in all three holes ...I use all klotz products ..there primary oil the 80/90 gear lube and the 20/50 oil...yes syn3 can be ran in all three but to me I like the idea of having specially formulated oils for each I personally dont like synthetic oil in my primary I like the more positive feel of a tacky oil for the clutch..I do notice rolling off stops the difference between the too on where the clutch begins to make friction when engaging the clutch. ..as for the trans..whats better then oil made for gears? And same with the motor...thats just my .02 on it..most have no problem with syn 3 in all 3 and I ran it for years until I did the big build on my evo..now I only run klotz
Been using stuff from harley syn in motor and whatever they sell for primary and trans?? Going to switch over to other brand just have not done it yet.
I can get mobil one local all the time, Now if I find trans and primary lubes local i want I'll be fine.
Dealers quite a stroll from home ,but parts guy lives close and said he would meet me with the parts... still like to change cause everyone says there is better oils???
I prefer gear rated oils as well in the trans. As stated, not for the thickness (Which as synthetic, it's not the same regardless) but for the properties.
I prefer the Dextrom III ion the primary as between the thinner viscosity of the Dextron, with the warm, thin viscosity of the synthetic trans oil, it cuts down on the parasitic drag, reducing gear clunk and trans gear free-wheeling.
switching over to mobil 1 synthetic ATF multi formula in primary.
also changing over to mobil 1 synthetic gear lub LS 75-90 in trans. Mobil one has worked for me in engine so figured I'd give it a shot in the other holes.
I personaly prefer amsoil 20/50 in my sportys engine and primary ,but every motor is like a person ,its got its own personality so use what works best for it,saw what dextron did to my wood splitters hydraulic cylynder ( it ate the seals on it) wasnt copampatible for the older hydraulic cylynders seals on it..have had it rebuilt since then by a good buddy who runs a hydraulic co.
Pardon me for sounding like a complete idiot, but the last H-D I owned was a Panhead and that was a while back. I've read thread after thread on tranny oil for a Sporty and for some reason I'm still a bit confused by all the different opinions.
Mine is a 2005 XL1200C and needs a complete change. I'm going with Lucas 20-50 in the engine and WAS going to use it in the primary/tranny until everything got a little fuzzy. Should I, or should I not, go with the 20-50 in the primary/tranny or something heavier? I not sure that I can trust the "3-n-1" H-D oil, how about you?
I realize thinner oil will help prevent overheating the clutch and heavier oil will make the tranny shift smoother. But, heavier oil may cause the clutch to slip and the tranny run hotter. See why I'm a bit undecided? I need some help with this guys.
Pardon me for sounding like a complete idiot, but the last H-D I owned was a Panhead and that was a while back. I've read thread after thread on tranny oil for a Sporty and for some reason I'm still a bit confused by all the different opinions.
Mine is a 2005 XL1200C and needs a complete change. I'm going with Lucas 20-50 in the engine and WAS going to use it in the primary/tranny until everything got a little fuzzy. Should I, or should I not, go with the 20-50 in the primary/tranny or something heavier? I not sure that I can trust the "3-n-1" H-D oil, how about you?
I realize thinner oil will help prevent overheating the clutch and heavier oil will make the tranny shift smoother. But, heavier oil may cause the clutch to slip and the tranny run hotter. See why I'm a bit undecided? I need some help with this guys.
I would go ahead and run the lucas 20-50 as long as you know it's compatible with wet cluthes and see how it works for you I ran Mobil 1 vtwin 20-50 in my sporty I had and she was ok with that so I didn't bother to try anything else. For the bigger bikes like my Dyna seems like a gear oil is the better choice but remember sporties share the Trans/Primary fluid but I have heard some run a gear oil in their sporty. Try your first choice and if you don't like it change it if it works then leave it alone.
Would i be good with putting Redine (synthetic) gear lube that is the (light) shockproof in my 99 dyna wide 88tc. tranny?
If not, what do you recommend??
Thx's:biker:
Would i be good with putting Redine (synthetic) gear lube that is the (light) shockproof in my 99 dyna wide 88tc. tranny?
If not, what do you recommend??
Thx's:biker:
if it's gear lube rated I don't see why not but since its a dyna why not run the heavy like everyone else it just makes more since for the price of buying the Redline anyways. just my 2 cents.
I'm trying 75-140 next change and see how I like that probably mobil 1 or castrol.
I got this Redline synthetic light shockproof at my local Baxter AP...says on the label about the ability to cushion the gears when meshing and can create lower operating temps. Don't know about all that,but i'm going to switch off the HD. syn-3 in the trans to the redline product or should i just make the switch to the "Heavy shock" and be done with it and just ride?:biker:
I got this Redline synthetic light shockproof at my local Baxter AP...says on the label about the ability to cushion the gears when meshing and can create lower operating temps. Don't know about all that,but i'm going to switch off the HD. syn-3 in the trans to the redline product or should i just make the switch to the "Heavy shock" and be done with it and just ride?:biker:
Thats all up to you, Since you have it it can't hurt to try it I'll bet that it's an improvement over the syn3 forsure! let us know how it goe! if you don't like it you can always switch for the Heavy next change.
I run Mobil 1 T-4 V-twin syn in my motor , Spectro 85w 140 Heavy Duty gear Guard in my trans currently.
I was running Dex III in my primary and it started leaking between the primary & trans , don't know if the seal is just old or an 01 isn't compatible with ATF . Stopped leaking after I switched back to HD primary lube , it also never leaked before I put ATF in.
I change my motor & primary @ 3K , kinda overkill but compared to motors oil is cheap.
I run Mobil 1 T-4 V-twin syn in my motor , Spectro 85w 140 Heavy Duty gear Guard in my trans currently.
I was running Dex III in my primary and it started leaking between the primary & trans , don't know if the seal is just old or an 01 isn't compatible with ATF . Stopped leaking after I switched back to HD http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=331165655249&alt=web primary lube , it also never leaked before I put ATF in.
I change my motor & primary @ 3K , kinda overkill but compared to motors oil is cheap.
ATF is a high detergent. Seals get a build up grime behind them. If it leaked on ATF, the seal is on its way to failure...... The ATF is safe on the seal material. If you ever rebuilt an auto trans, your hands are so clean after bathing in ATF, that you hate to dirty them again......
This is a "in the hand of the user" issue to me at this point. My local hd. Dealer of course recommended that the syn3 can be used in all 3-holes without any worries,but some of that could still be a sales pitch. So do you suppose the R n D. guys back when the cam-chain tensioner issue was drawn up thought"hey!..lets recommend a real slippery oil to help those cam chains not chew the S$&T out of this plastic nub thing...well here we are with that like it or not....sorry!..just wasted venting.
Anyway i am going to drain the tranny and switch over to Redline(heavyshock) and leave the syn-3 in the primary for awhile and see how it does.
That's more than my 2ct's...keep the change!:biker:
Amsoil has done, and is doing more, research on synthetic oils than anyone else in the industry. They had the first API approved automotive synthetic motor oil. Their products are first rate period!
Just switched out the HD.syn-3 oil from my 88tc. to Redline heavy shockproof syn. in the tranny...gonna see if shifting is affected,not that their was a problem, just thought the tranny should have more of a gear oil. I gonna leave the crankcase and primary syn-3 and run it for awhile and see how it all works once it finally gets warm here in ptld.
It's easier to read that tranny dipstick with that "pepto" color.:biker:
well riding my bike is just about as fun as sex and a ride lasts longer...this thread is just about keeping her lubed up and ready to go and I don't have to cuddle my bike afterwards and my bike doesn't get upset if I ride another bike hmmm.....:dunno
actually there are a few models that call for a 5w-30 or 10w-30 in the manual trans some even say to use ATF in them there are a few models still made with a third pedal but many have gone the way of the dodo bird makes me miss my Tacoma I had a 6 speed in that man was it fun I remember when knowing how to drive a MT meant you could get more MPGs and better reliability now if you can even find a MT on a new vehichle the mileage is less or equal to the AT could you imagine an automatic MC? they're out there...not my cup of tea though.
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