shifting gl1500 trike

[fordman]

hello I have a 96 gl1500 trike I am new to trikes and I noticed that it shifts kinda hard just like my old Harley it clunks into gear just got the trike and was told they used 20w 50 oil I think that might have something to do with it cause it should have 10w40 correct it has just over 16,000 miles on it thanks let me know what you all think Jason from pa

 

[trike lady]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Nice trike.

Please change the oil to Honda GN-4 and an oem filter. 20W-50 that is an incorrect weight oil for the GL1500, you want 10W-30 or 10W-40 with no Moly, energy conserving or with friction reducers as this will ruin the wet clutch. Don't forget a new crush washer. I used GN-4 in my 1500 with an oem filter and it worked great. Remember oil is cheap, engines are expensive. I changed the oil every 2500 miles or sooner with stop and go traffic riding.

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Welcome to the Gang from Western Colorado. +1 on changing the oil. I've owned a few GW's and now a GW trike. Always used the Honda oil. Of course, always used Harley oil in the Harleys too ...

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Hate to turn this into another oil thread but, Smoothest shifts I've ever had has been since I started using:

https://mobiloil.com/en/motor-oils/mobil-1/mobil-1-4t-motorcycle-oil

As a side note, when have you changed the clutch fluid and also brake and fork fluids?

 

[Ozarkryder]

Whatever oil you use, make sure it doesn't say "Energy Conserving" or "Resource Conserving" in the API circle on the back of the bottle.



The bottom of the circle should be blank on oil for unit construction motorcycle engines. It is also good if it meets JASO - MA standards. It will say so on the back of the bottle somewhere.

 

[grumpy]

Welcome to the forum. I won't comment on the oil. Everybody has an opinion on that subject. What I will say is you need to RIDE that beauty. Only 16,000 miles? That thing isn't even broke in yet! Enjoy.

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

I too would do an oil change using a Honda oil filter and GN-4 oil. Those are products you can count on working with your Wing. Sorry, can't remember if a GL1500 has a hydraulic clutch, but if it does and that fluid has not been changed in the last 2 years, that should be changed too.

 

[trike lady]

Yes, it has a hydraulic clutch. GL1200, GL1500 and GL1800 are the only ones that do. GL1000 and GL1100 are cable operated.

The engine also has hydraulic lash adjusters.

 

[CrystalPistol]

Beautiful Lehman GTL there, I am really liking Dello 15w40 LE hd oil for shifting in my '85 and '97 GLs