Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What fluid to put in the primary?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 10-07-2010 | 02:24 AM
electra glide's Avatar
electra glide
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 724
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Default What fluid to put in the primary?

Have just put Amsoil or SYN 3 in all 3 holes, but was recently thinking about doing ATF. Have also heard of guys using lighter weight automotive oil, conventional even in theirs. What do you use?
 
  #2  
Old 10-07-2010 | 02:55 AM
OLD 96's Avatar
OLD 96
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 2,417
From: WACO
Default

Right now I am running Walmart Supertech synthetic 20-50 oil. I have run Amsoil in primary but figured it was a waste of money. After all it is a chain and clutch. I have run transmission fluid in my shovels with a closed primary. Have run 30 wt. oil. Remember. Back in the day the primary chain was lubed with the same oil that ran through the engine. A oil line ran into the back of the inner primary onto the chain and then that oil was scavanged back into the oil tank to run though the engine/primary endlessly or until the engine wore out. Which ever came first.
I always wondered what HD engineer came up with that idea?
 
  #3  
Old 10-07-2010 | 04:04 AM
mech-a-nic's Avatar
mech-a-nic
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: clayton, NC
Default

I use Moblie 1 V-Twin 20/50 In all 3 holes. Dealer recomend it and they don't sell it. No probles so far and you can find it at some walmarts if not any auto parts store.
 
  #4  
Old 10-07-2010 | 04:24 AM
mike5511's Avatar
mike5511
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
Default

Redline primary oil.
 
  #5  
Old 10-07-2010 | 04:54 AM
NELS's Avatar
NELS
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 126
From: Watertown, CT
Default

re:Back in the day the primary chain was lubed with the same oil that ran through the engine. A oil line ran into the back of the inner primary onto the chain and then that oil was scavanged back into the oil tank to run though the engine/primary endlessly or until the engine wore out. Which ever came first.
I always wondered what HD engineer came up with that idea?

Seems to me I remember the oil was allowed to drip out of the primary on my "47 Knuckle giving rise to the "oil leaker" tag that Harleys had. How was the oil scavanged back?
Not trying to hijack just curious
 
  #6  
Old 10-07-2010 | 07:03 AM
CT-Bagger's Avatar
CT-Bagger
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 836
Likes: 1
From: Rocky Hill, CT.
Default

Any oil used with a wet clutch should be rated for it.
Any of the synthetics should carry that rating but why would one put Wal-Mart crap in a bike worth 10-25 thousand dollars.
$14.99 for a quart of Amsoil is cheap if you consider how much per mile it actually boils down to.
An Amsoil replacement in all three holes is only $75 bucks.
The dealer gets $390.00 and uses their Syn3 garbage.
Do the math and don't skimp quality to save 2 dollars.
 
  #7  
Old 10-07-2010 | 07:11 AM
1flhtk4me's Avatar
1flhtk4me
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,670
Likes: 91
From: Billings,Mt.
Default

I was using Valvoline 20W50 MC oil. in my old Road Glide.It was only $3 something a qt.
 
  #8  
Old 10-07-2010 | 07:20 AM
valvestem's Avatar
valvestem
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: Northeast U.S.
Default

Originally Posted by NELS
re:Back in the day the primary chain was lubed with the same oil that ran through the engine. A oil line ran into the back of the inner primary onto the chain and then that oil was scavanged back into the oil tank to run though the engine/primary endlessly or until the engine wore out. Which ever came first.
I always wondered what HD engineer came up with that idea?

Seems to me I remember the oil was allowed to drip out of the primary on my "47 Knuckle giving rise to the "oil leaker" tag that Harleys had. How was the oil scavanged back?
Not trying to hijack just curious
Didn't the older HD's have a "chain oiler" as well that dripped engine oil on the final drive chain?
 
  #9  
Old 10-07-2010 | 07:24 AM
sargek's Avatar
sargek
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Default

Running HD F+ because the synthetics I have tried made my clutch "grabby". Works just fine. Used to run Mobil Delvac (?) 15/40 diesel engine oil in the primary on my Wide Glide and it worked fine as well.
 
  #10  
Old 10-07-2010 | 07:36 AM
1mrbill's Avatar
1mrbill
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
Default

I use Mobil 1 synthetic ATF in the primary. No problems.
 


Quick Reply: What fluid to put in the primary?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:25 PM.