Primary Gear oil

[tri glider]

I'm switching to Amsoil syn gear oil 75/140 in my 2009 triglide, should I use the same oil in the primary? Thks, Chuck

[10rhrk]

No, I wouldn't use a gear oil in the Primary. Use Harley's Formula + or a good 15W40 Oil. I use Rotella-T 15W40 in my primary. Have on the last three touring bikes with good result's. I have heard of some using transmission fluid. I don't think that's heavy enough to protect the compensator. You could use Amsoil 20W50 in it.

[427dave]

The Harley 3 oils to use. 20w-50 = engine, 10w-40 = primary, 75-140 = tranny in Amsoil is what I run.

[10rhrk]

The Harley 3 oils to use. 20w-50 = engine, 10w-40 = primary, 75-140 = tranny in Amsoil is what I run.

If you read some of the other forum's, there's lot's of Harley owner's using Mobil 1 15W50 in their engine's. They say they like it better than Amsoil. I use it in my engine. I don't care for the Amway oil. If you look at Amsoil's white paper test, Mobile 1 is right there with them in most test. Mobil oil issued a statement saying the 15W50 you buy at Walmart for 6.77 a quart is ok to use in the big V-twin Harley engines. I prefer Redline with shockproof for the tranny.

[eagle1]

as some may or may not know the red line is a 20X60 motorcycle synthrtic oil. great stuff.IMO same with their shockprook gear oil

[msocko3]

I run Formula+ in the primary, there have been guys experiencing damage to the ramps of the compensator while using ATF.

[1550vt]

On the note concerning the use of the 15w50....I think it is much too thin for southern climates. Up north....maybe okay. I tried it once and turned around and came back home after it got heated-up. I do and have ran Mobil-1 20w50 V-Twin. I just think the 15w50 is too thin and my Harley's have said the same thing on a real hot day.

[10rhrk]

On the note concerning the use of the 15w50....I think it is much too thin for southern climates. Up north....maybe okay. I tried it once and turned around and came back home after it got heated-up. I do and have ran Mobil-1 20w50 V-Twin. I just think the 15w50 is too thin and my Harley's have said the same thing on a real hot day.

What you are saying doesn't make sense. The 15W50 is the same as the 20W50 when the engine is at operating temp's. The 15 would be cold starting, of which I think is a tad bit easier on the engine. I know lot's of Hdforum member's who live in the south swear by it. Heavier oil doesn't mean better lubrication. Just more load on the engine.

[1550vt]

Go ahead and run the oils designed for water-cooled motors if that works for you. I do understand viscosity and I also know a lot of riders in the hotter climates run straight 50W and swear by that as well.

Air-cooled motorcycle oils require/recommend the addition of certain metallic additives that are not found in off-the-shelf water-cooled engine oils in any viscosity.

But...run what you want. There must be thousands of posts across hundreds of threads over multiple forums that go on and on about oils and I can honestly say that I have never read one that could confirm a catastrophic failure blamed on any certain motor oil. It probably doesn't matter in the short run, but may in the long run.

[427dave]

I read somewhere a while back that Amsoil manufactures the oil for Mobil 1. I don't know if that is true, but saw it somewhere. In a lot of the oil tests Amsoil and Mobil 1 are almost side by side at the top, however HD Syn is down from both.

[10rhrk]

[QUOTE=427dave;81817]I read somewhere a while back that Amsoil manufactures the oil for Mobil 1. I don't know if that is true, but saw it somewhere. In a lot of the oil tests Amsoil and Mobil 1 are almost side by side at the top, however HD Syn is down from both.[/QUOTE

Lot's of myth's about motor oil. I don't post an answer to anybody's question's on here unless I know the fact's. It's already been proven, Amsoil does not make anybody's oil but their own. Mobile 1 15W50 has been approved for Harley air cooled engine's. If anybody don't believe that, contact Mobile. Syn 3 is good oil! It's just over priced like Amsoil for what it is. I'm a common sense guy, I want the best I can buy for my Harley's without over spending. That's why I run what I run.

Mobile 1 15W50 in the Engine
Rotella 15W40 in the Primary
Redline V-Twin with shockproof in the Transmission

[1550vt]

You are reading a post from a man that will do anything to prevent buying "Genuine HD" parts and chemicals over the Stealership counter. Like that $75 shirt my wife bought for me in Durango....MADE IN CHINA and three buttons came off the first time she washed it.

I fully believe a rider should make up his/her own mind based on what he/she believes. I run Supertech oil filters (made by Champion) and have for years. You can buy those at Wally-World for around $2.50, or you can go buy a Champion filter at the Stealership for $8 or more. Champion has also published a letter stating that the Supertech meets the same standards as the Champion filters sold buy Harley. It's posted on some forum someplace.

I know guys that will only run Havoline. I think the very best oil is the slippery kind and most of the rest is pure hype among the brands and the passion for the brand generated by the rider.

[10rhrk]

You are reading a post from a man that will do anything to prevent buying "Genuine HD" parts and chemicals over the Stealership counter. Like that $75 shirt my wife bought for me in Durango....MADE IN CHINA and three buttons came off the first time she washed it.

I fully believe a rider should make up his/her own mind based on what he/she believes. I run Supertech oil filters (made by Champion) and have for years. You can buy those at Wally-World for around $2.50, or you can go buy a Champion filter at the Stealership for $8 or more. Champion has also published a letter stating that the Supertech meets the same standards as the Champion filters sold buy Harley. It's posted on some forum someplace.

I know guys that will only run Havoline. I think the very best oil is the slippery kind and most of the rest is pure hype among the brands and the passion for the brand generated by the rider.

Each to their own, but I would not own a Harley Davidson Motorcycle if I felt like you said you do. I don't refer to Dealer's as Stealer's. I don't know anybody who's had a gun held to their head and forced to buy anything from a Harley Dealer.

As for motor oil, I've personnally been involved in lot's of test and research in different type's of lubrication. We tested under different type's of condition's and sent sample's to Lab's like Blackstone. One thing I can assure you, Heavier oil does not equate to better lubrication. It only makes the top end quieter, but in turn put's more load on the engine. Run what you wish, it's your motorcycle and your money. JMO

[1550vt]

Okay. I fully understand that you are an expert on motor oil....you win....I concede defeat.

For your information "Stealership" is a pretty common slang-term among those of us that have owned Harleys and dealt with them all over this country and some foreign countries for the past 25-years. You just joined in August.....you have a lot of reading and catching-up to do.

What you say we just give this thread back to the original owner and not get off the subject of Primary Gear Oil.

I surrender!

[10rhrk]

No expert here, I'm just trying to give honest answer's to question's concerning thing's I know about without interjecting my personal feeling's.
Sorry if I seemed abrupt with my post to you. I'm well read on the term stealership, I've been a member of HDforums for two years. Heard it many times!
I surrender as well. Ride safe!

[1550vt]

10....no harm no foul. We Harley riders are all passionate about our fluids and the subject will generate a food-fight every time it gets a chance.

There is one guy you have to look-out for here on the forum. Be careful around Wizard. He loves to lurk in the shadows and jump-in to stir the pot.

Same here....Ride Safe!

[10rhrk]

10....no harm no foul. We Harley riders are all passionate about our fluids and the subject will generate a food-fight every time it gets a chance.

There is one guy you have to look-out for here on the forum. Be careful around Wizard. He loves to lurk in the shadows and jump-in to stir the pot.

Same here....Ride Safe!

Thanks, I Had the pleasure of meeting Wizard at the Triketalk rally in the valley this year. Great guy! Don't mind helping people and Know's what he's talking about too.

[Nana]

Wizard stirs the pot???? Surely you jest!!! ROTFL.......he's more fun than a barrel of monkeys!

[Gorilla]

Monkeys did someone call my relatives again