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What weight gear oil do you use?Originally Posted by MDO
I see some are 70w-90 and some are 90w-140
Gear oil is not my strong point. Lucas makes a dedicated oil for the differential & tranny.
I have heard good reviews on Mobil 1 & Valvoline full synthetic gear oil.
I also read the gear/tranny fluid is under low stress & can take 10,000 mile change intervals.
2017 Harley Davidson Freewheeler (107 cu.in. vivid black).
Try Redline heavy with shock proof,
Mobil 1 is good also
I am currently running Lucas 75-145 synthetic
The Redline cuts down the clunk
Plus it is designed to cling to the gears better
You can view on the site what a burned up tranny looks like
You will see shifter forks burned blue
Spectro makes a Platinum 6 Speed gear oil
Baker the leader in the Tranny industry ships their trannys with a quart of this lube
I have run this in my 07 Dyna,it was a very good lube
Much like most oil threads you will see many likes
IMO your ride you decide
I just hate seeing motor oil in a gear box
Nuff Said," Were Burnin Daylight, Lets Ride"(Sober 37 years)
Current ride : 2021 FREEWHEELER M8, oldest ride 1960 FL
You have me convinced. I will keep the Lucas 20W/50 for the motor. Hell, I might as well try their tranny fluid. How long of a change interval are you using?Try Redline heavy with shock proof,
Mobil 1 is good also
I am currently running Lucas 75-145 synthetic
The Redline cuts down the clunk
Plus it is designed to cling to the gears better
You can view on the site what a burned up tranny looks like
You will see shifter forks burned blue
Spectro makes a Platinum 6 Speed gear oil
Baker the leader in the Tranny industry ships their trannys with a quart of this lube
I have run this in my 07 Dyna,it was a very good lube
Much like most oil threads you will see many likes
IMO your ride you decide
I just hate seeing motor oil in a gear box
2017 Harley Davidson Freewheeler (107 cu.in. vivid black).
Those 2 reasons are why I liked Redline while I had a Harley. You had to listen extremely close to tell any difference in the clunk though. It was slightly better. I also like gear oil for gears. But Harley says motor oil is fine and they have to warranty their drivetrains.Try Redline heavy with shock proof,
Mobil 1 is good also
I am currently running Lucas 75-145 synthetic
The Redline cuts down the clunk
Plus it is designed to cling to the gears better
You can view on the site what a burned up tranny looks like
You will see shifter forks burned blue
Spectro makes a Platinum 6 Speed gear oil
Baker the leader in the Tranny industry ships their trannys with a quart of this lube
I have run this in my 07 Dyna,it was a very good lube
Much like most oil threads you will see many likes
IMO your ride you decide
I just hate seeing motor oil in a gear boxBut what happens after the warranty period? It's on you then so choose wisely.
The only reason some people are still alive is it's illegal to shoot them.
American Legion Rider
10,000 miles
Nuff Said," Were Burnin Daylight, Lets Ride"(Sober 37 years)
Current ride : 2021 FREEWHEELER M8, oldest ride 1960 FL
An oil thread!
To delve deeper, for those interested...
What weight oil is "20-50"? (no, it is not 20 weight when cold and 50 weight when hot)
Can someone look at their M8 Owners manual and see if they have a page that reads similar to the one below?
Kevin
Same chart.... In my manual...2017 T/G, Except no 10/40 listing In place of the 10/40 is 20/50 full Synthetic.. ......An oil thread!
To delve deeper, for those interested...
What weight oil is "20-50"? (no, it is not 20 weight when cold and 50 weight when hot)
Can someone look at their M8 Owners manual and see if they have a page that reads similar to the one below?
Kevin
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar.....
2019 Tri-Glide.......
Thank you. Was not sure if HD was still saying it was best to run straight 50 in temps higher than 60* and straight 60 in temps higher than 80*.
(not that you will damage the engine running a thinner oil, like 20W50, in hotter temps....it's just not the best practice)
Kevin
Table 1. Recommended Engine Oils
TEMPERATURE
50 °F (10 °C)Screamin' Eagle SYN3 Full Synthetic Motorcycle Lubricant SAE 20W50 HD 360 Above -1 °C (30.2 °F) Excellent Genuine Harley-Davidson H-D 360 Motorcycle Oil SAE 20W50 HD 360 Above 4 °C (39.2 °F) Good Genuine Harley-Davidson H-D 360 Motorcycle Oil SAE 50 HD 360 Above 16 °C (60.8 °F) Poor Genuine Harley-Davidson H-D 360 Motorcycle Oil SAE 60 HD 360 Above 27 °C (80.6 °F) Poor
This is from the 2017 Freewheeler manual. For the new M8, the MOCO likes 20w-50
I knew people would like my oil thread.
2017 Harley Davidson Freewheeler (107 cu.in. vivid black).
Not sure how you're coming to the conclusion your stated.
I am reading the chart you posted and seeing that if the lowest temp you ride in is above 60 and below 80, the recommended oil is SAE 50, and if the lowest temp you ride in is above 80, the recommended oil is SAE 60.
The Excellent, Good, Poor ratings are referring only to "Cold Weather Starting" below 50.
The reason the temps are there is that different weight oils are ideal for different temps....otherwise, why even have a chart...they would just say that 20W-50 is the recommended oil.
Kevin
I live in a strange climate. It can be 25° 1 day & 75° the next day.
100° in the summer & 0° in the winter.
The more I looked at oil, the more confused I've become. The HD dealers around here recommend the Syn3 oil 20W50 in all 3 holes, with 1/2 reccomending a specěfic tranny & diff. fluid. It's hard to figure out what's best. Lucas Oil recommended to me in my climate, their full synthetic high performance 20W50 would be best. I am liking it so far.
2017 Harley Davidson Freewheeler (107 cu.in. vivid black).
If for an entire oil change (approx. 5000 miles) one cannot say that riding temps will always be above 60*, then the 20W-50 is what HD recommends as best.
I have similar weather to what you have, but I'll do 4-5 oil changes a year when the temps are always above 60*. Sometimes a couple of oil changes where the temps are always above 80*.
Can't imagine what it would be like in some of the areas in the Southwestern States!
The viscosity of oil for riding conditions is pretty easy to figure out....BUT, WHICH oils to use, in which holes, can be a never ending quest to find what is "Best".
I have tried more oils than I can count. I think all of the main line oils will provide adequate lubrication...but there are other things to consider, such as noise, smoothness, clutch engagement, how many miles before the viscosity modifiers start breaking down, etc.
The subject is endless.
I can't say I'll never try another oil...but it has been a couple of years since I quit "testing out" new oils.
Kevin
Kevin, thanks for responding. I am curious to know,
what oil/lube are you using in your 3 reservoirs?
2017 Harley Davidson Freewheeler (107 cu.in. vivid black).
In the Tri-Glide I use Redline Heavy Shockproof in the trans. Last couple of years been using Syn3 in the primary. Part of the year is Redline 20W-50 in the engine, rest of the year is Royal Purple 50W in the engine.
I also use Petron Plus additives in the engine and trans.
Kevin
I have been running Lucas in the last 4 Harleys I have owned with zero issues 20/50 until now,i switched to Lucas straight 50 weight,I have a heated garage so cold starts are not an issue.I still use Bel Ray in the trans and HD primary oil.But will switch to Lucas primary oil this spring.
I with you on the Lucas 20W50. I had an immediate improvement in shifting after installing it.
I may go with their dedicated tranny & primary oil, the experience on here has convinced me.
2017 Harley Davidson Freewheeler (107 cu.in. vivid black).
Oil Break down
I like reading these posts on oil! I have been running nothing but full synthetics in all 3 hole since buying my 2000 FLHTC 2nd year of Twin Cam!
I run the Synthetic because I read somewhere that Dino oil starts to break down fast at 270deg!
These newer twin cams run hot! My old 2000 hit 270deg in the oil bag in Sturgis in 2015fried the fuel line and it split
DK has done a lot of heat research on the twin cam engine and I'm using most of his stuff on my 2015 Freewheeler. I have the remote oil filter and have not installed the 2nd oil cooler yet (it's been 25deg low 60's for high) don't freell the need to install till this summer!
JMO I would never run anything but synthetic in a twin cam: They just run too Hot!
IMO the M* runs just as hot if not a bit hotter
The plus is they cool down quicker
I think the metals in the M8 are a bit better to stand this heat
Nuff Said," Were Burnin Daylight, Lets Ride"(Sober 37 years)
Current ride : 2021 FREEWHEELER M8, oldest ride 1960 FL
+1! I totally agree.
2017 Harley Davidson Freewheeler (107 cu.in. vivid black).
oil
run 20/50. live in okla where temps in summer are 100 plus.remember old days when i would run 70 weight kendahl oil in my knuckle.times have change.be cold out and that oil was like tar.new oil run thinner.my truck uses 5/20.hd going to recomend their oil.i run mobil 1.buy any parts store/walmart travel xcoss county.use what you want.
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