Engine Oil vs Gear Oil
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 9
From:
RE: Engine Oil vs Gear Oil
ORIGINAL: Big Hog
Just go to the dealer and ask what's best for your bike and then go with that from then on. That's what I did.
Just go to the dealer and ask what's best for your bike and then go with that from then on. That's what I did.
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Think I'll stick to my own common sense.
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
RE: Engine Oil vs Gear Oil
Sometimes you just have to go with what you know and the result from your own research. \\; Take amsoil pioneer in synthetic oil. \\; Now they even make a special blend just for the V-twin. \\; Transmission needs gear oil that's there is in there gears. \\; Hence that's why I went the 75W/140 in the tranny, \\; WOW 5th gear is quite and able find "N" fast. \\;
Novice
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 16
Likes: 3
From: Upstate NY
RE: Engine Oil vs Gear Oil
I hope this reply \\;works this time. 3 tries with FAST REPLY failed.
I put Amsoil 20W-50 MCV in my 2001 Fatboy tranny after doing a reduced effort clutch kit. Prior to that, I was running Amsoil 75W90 Gear Oil which was what they recommended a few years ago. With the new oil, the bike developed a tranny whine/howl once warmed up. At first I thought it was a tire howl, but the roads were common roads for me with no previous howl.
I found this thread and decided to contact Amsoil. to summarize, here's what I learned.
1. They no longer recommended the 75W-90 Gear oil. They said it is on the low end of the viscosity range and the 20W-50 is actually a little heavier (hard to believe given my experience last week).
2. They always follow OEM recommendations. So since HD recommends Syn3 or F+ in the tranny, they recommend their equivalent.
3. They said MCV is only preferred by them over their Severe Gear Oil SVT 75W-110 because of ease of maintenance.
4. One rep said that discussions with HD riders show a preference for the SVT or SVO gear oils over MCV motor oils because of reduced noise and smoother shifting.
5. Their website shows SVT 75W-110 or SVO 75W140 as replacements for the old HD tranny fluid 99892-84.
I picked up some SVO 75W-140 for the cold starting wt of a 75 wt oil and the high temp protection of a 140 wt oil. I'll let you know what differences I notice when it goes in this weekend, weather permitting.
Rob
I put Amsoil 20W-50 MCV in my 2001 Fatboy tranny after doing a reduced effort clutch kit. Prior to that, I was running Amsoil 75W90 Gear Oil which was what they recommended a few years ago. With the new oil, the bike developed a tranny whine/howl once warmed up. At first I thought it was a tire howl, but the roads were common roads for me with no previous howl.
I found this thread and decided to contact Amsoil. to summarize, here's what I learned.
1. They no longer recommended the 75W-90 Gear oil. They said it is on the low end of the viscosity range and the 20W-50 is actually a little heavier (hard to believe given my experience last week).
2. They always follow OEM recommendations. So since HD recommends Syn3 or F+ in the tranny, they recommend their equivalent.
3. They said MCV is only preferred by them over their Severe Gear Oil SVT 75W-110 because of ease of maintenance.
4. One rep said that discussions with HD riders show a preference for the SVT or SVO gear oils over MCV motor oils because of reduced noise and smoother shifting.
5. Their website shows SVT 75W-110 or SVO 75W140 as replacements for the old HD tranny fluid 99892-84.
I picked up some SVO 75W-140 for the cold starting wt of a 75 wt oil and the high temp protection of a 140 wt oil. I'll let you know what differences I notice when it goes in this weekend, weather permitting.
Rob
Stage I
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Engine Oil vs Gear Oil
I just went down the same road as Snakeoil. \\; I bought an '03 Deuce in '05 (love it). \\; The previous owner ran Redline oil in the tranny and I don't remeber in the engine and primary but he thought it was "special oil". \\;  \\; I never had a Harely before (used a Honda to train on) but I thought shifting could be smoother. \\; I'm a big synthetic fan. \\; I read that Mobile 1 was developed/specified by NASA for the Shuttle. \\; I switched to Mobile 1 20W 50 in all three holes. \\; The engine ran cooler by ~10F. \\; The primary \\;was clean after changing but I don't know how to measure any difference there. \\; I did think that the tranny was still loader and rougher than what I liked. \\; I switched to Mobile 1 Gear Oil 75W 145 in the tranny after reading what posts said on the forum.  \\; I have noticed a distinct improvement in shifting smoothness, less \\;noise when shifting and it is easier to find neutral with Mobile 1 synthetic gear oil 75W 145. \\; \\;I would be OK with other full synthetics as well. \\; I have not yet changed the tranny gear oil or looked for shavings on the plug but \\;I don 't expect to see any with a full synthetic. I have only used the gear oil in the summer so temps above 60F (cold weather has not been tested yet).
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Brighton Mi.
RE: Engine Oil vs Gear Oil
Spectro gear lub 75w90 i think is the number. well anyhow I put that in my chain case about to weeks ago and now my clutch enguages right at the end on the lever travel. I bought the 02 Flht damaged and from Slicks salvage near Lansing Mi. About 26000 m,i and now 28300 mi. I wounder if the gear lub was not raited for wet clutches? I sure acts contaminated. I guess I will just drain it and put in Mobile 1 V-twin oil, befor it starts slipping. Just remembered The Spectro was formulated for chain cases and was not synthedic,
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 \\; \\; If one thing doesn't work try something else.
 \\;
 \\; \\; If one thing doesn't work try something else.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Crown Point Indiana
I had the syn 3 in all three holes now but went back to HD 20w50 for engine and HD Formula + for tranny and Primary. I had no problems with the syn 3 but the tech at HD said the other would work just fine and save some money. He said he thought the formula + was even better than the syn 3 for the trans.