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synthetic or not

 
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  #1  
Old 11-26-2006 | 12:14 AM
tiiiim2's Avatar
tiiiim2
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Default synthetic or not

had a harley tech today told me not to change to synthetic to change made his life miserable when he went to synthetic after 10000 miles lots of seals leaking after change any thought
 
  #2  
Old 11-26-2006 | 01:02 AM
KBFXDLI's Avatar
KBFXDLI
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: USA
Default RE: synthetic or not

Depends on your bike, year, mileage. At 10,000 miles you should still be ok to use synthetics. Over 25k I would say no. But if you have a 10 year old bike with 10,000 miles I would say no as well. Oil seals have a tendency to get used to dino or synthetic. If your bike is more than 3 years old with dino......I personally would not switch. If it's a 2005 or newer.....you probably won't have a problem. But this is JMO.
 
  #3  
Old 11-26-2006 | 01:10 AM
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bear95252
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Default RE: synthetic or not

Well I have a close friend that is a Master Harley Tech (35 years with Harley) and the only oil he will put in his Harley is AMSOIL 20W50 and it puts 128 SHP to the street. There are still Harley Techs that will tell you that syhthetics will cause Bearing Skid. ( A crock of crap created by Harley to keep you from using Synthetics prior to them coming up with Syn 3 which is made by the lowest bidder.)

I can tell you that if you have a very old hi mileage motor and the seals are caked and dried out synthetic has a very agressive additive package that will clean those seals up. If they are shot then they will leak. I your bike is fairly new and low mileage then synthetic is the way to go. My personal preference is AMSOIL but Mobil 1 V twin is a good oil also. Lots of folks on this forum like Redline but it is not formulated for Motorcyle use. In any case, Synthetics are far superior to any petroleum oil.

03 Ultra Classic
AMSOIL 20W50 Engine and Primary
75W90 Severe Gear in trans.
 
  #4  
Old 11-26-2006 | 01:12 AM
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Bryan1724
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,439
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From: Lancaster, PA
Default RE: synthetic or not


ORIGINAL: bear95252

Well I have a close friend that is a Master Harley Tech (35 years with Harley) and the only oil he will put in his Harley is AMSOIL 20W50 and it puts 128 SHP to the street. There are still Harley Techs that will tell you that syhthetics will cause Bearing Skid. ( A crock of crap created by Harley to keep you from using Synthetics prior to them coming up with Syn 3 which is made by the lowest bidder.)

I can tell you that if you have a very old hi mileage motor and the seals are caked and dried out synthetic has a very agressive additive package that will clean those seals up. If they are shot then they will leak. I your bike is fairly new and low mileage then synthetic is the way to go. My personal preference is AMSOIL but Mobil 1 V twin is a good oil also. Lots of folks on this forum like Redline but it is not formulated for Motorcyle use. In any case, Synthetics are far superior to any petroleum oil.

03 Ultra Classic
AMSOIL 20W50 Engine and Primary
75W90 Severe Gear in trans.
Exactly what he said.
 
  #5  
Old 11-29-2006 | 10:02 PM
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wnogood
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Default RE: synthetic or not


ORIGINAL: Bryan1724


ORIGINAL: bear95252

Well I have a close friend that is a Master Harley Tech (35 years with Harley) and the only oil he will put in his Harley is AMSOIL 20W50 and it puts 128 SHP to the street. There are still Harley Techs that will tell you that syhthetics will cause Bearing Skid. ( A crock of crap created by Harley to keep you from using Synthetics prior to them coming up with Syn 3 which is made by the lowest bidder.)

I can tell you that if you have a very old hi mileage motor and the seals are caked and dried out synthetic has a very agressive additive package that will clean those seals up. If they are shot then they will leak. I your bike is fairly new and low mileage then synthetic is the way to go. My personal preference is AMSOIL but Mobil 1 V twin is a good oil also. Lots of folks on this forum like Redline but it is not formulated for Motorcyle use. In any case, Synthetics are far superior to any petroleum oil.

03 Ultra Classic
AMSOIL 20W50 Engine and Primary
75W90 Severe Gear in trans.
Exactly what he said.
DITTO! Well said my friend!

nogood o~`o
 
  #6  
Old 11-30-2006 | 02:52 PM
WildBill2566's Avatar
WildBill2566
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 2
From: Manningtree, England
Default RE: synthetic or not


ORIGINAL: bear95252

Well I have a close friend that is a Master Harley Tech (35 years with Harley) and the only oil he will put in his Harley is AMSOIL 20W50 and it puts 128 SHP to the street. There are still Harley Techs that will tell you that syhthetics will cause Bearing Skid. ( A crock of crap created by Harley to keep you from using Synthetics prior to them coming up with Syn 3 which is made by the lowest bidder.)

I can tell you that if you have a very old hi mileage motor and the seals are caked and dried out synthetic has a very agressive additive package that will clean those seals up. If they are shot then they will leak. I your bike is fairly new and low mileage then synthetic is the way to go. My personal preference is AMSOIL but Mobil 1 V twin is a good oil also. Lots of folks on this forum like Redline but it is not formulated for Motorcyle use. In any case, Synthetics are far superior to any petroleum oil.

03 Ultra Classic
AMSOIL 20W50 Engine and Primary
75W90 Severe Gear in trans.
If you check the RedLine website you will find it is formulated for m/c use and they suggest some of their oils specifically for American air cooled V-twins.

Otherwise I totally agree with your statement.
 
 
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