| Author | Message | ||
     Werewulf |
i see a lot of blokes on the harley forum, running auto Atf in their big twin primary with great success.. anyone had any experience with it on a buell? | ||
| Froggy |
I wouldn't recommend it. It has been proven that using some fluids other than Formula+ can cause damage to the stator. | ||
| Jos51700 |
Harley guys do it, why? Good old-fashioned Syn3 for me. I never understood the allure of "It works perfectly. Let's f*ck with it." | ||
| Moosestang |
Someone on another buell forum is using royal purple synchromax. Not exactly ATF, I use it in my manual transmission on my mustang. It's amazing how much cooler my transmission runs with this stuff. I'd love to try it in the buell, but I don't want to risk it. | ||
| Werewulf |
if we all left things stock and never thought outside the box, we wouldnt need forums... | ||
| Gearhead |
ATF is required when using a slipper clutch in an air cooled Buell. Since I don't have a slipper in the race bike I run 20-50 AMSOIL which works great! | ||
| Wantxbr |
Werewulf Remember in a big twin bike the primary is only a Primary, transmission is separate with it's own Fluid. The ATF is only there for chain Lube. | ||
| Sparky |
... Chain (and clutch) Lube. | ||
| Werewulf |
as one harley forum member who was using atf said, its used in a lot of industrial machines that have both gears chains and bearings... i personally dont plan on using it... i had the magnets on my roadking stator come loose last year... im careful about what i put in my primaries...i was just curious.. | ||
| Sloppy |
Some manual transmissions are indeed designed to run ATF lubricant. If you want to try a different lubricant then go for it. But you void any factory responsibility if you run into a problem, so you have to ask the question: Why? If you want to try something different then check with the OIL MANUFACTURER and see what they recommend. Otherwise you'll just be part of the "oil rumor club" who has no liability in your bike... ask those who tried GL-5 gear oils without checking with the manufacturer about that... | ||
| Hughlysses |
One of the tuber owners runs it in his. | ||
| Jos51700 |
Chrysler designated ATF for use in the A833 4-speed 'stick, and it lived behind everything from slant 6's to Hemi's. And, automatic transmissions use fiber plates, not at all unlike our clutches. So, I doubt ATF is the worst fluid you could pour in there. (After watching any film starring Ashley Blue, you could probably think of a lot worse) I for one, do not understand what was wrong with the OEM recommended oil. If it's a common problem, or a performance/ease-of-maintenance/appearance mod, sure, but primary/trans oil? Like I said, the thought process behind messing with that is beyond me. | ||
| Garyz28 |
The way I see it the factory is going to recommend what will cost them the least in warranty repairs. I might change to a different brand of oil, but I wouldn't go to a completely different type of lubricant. | ||
| Jos51700 |
Very true. And if it doesn't break, they won't have to pay for warranty repairs. And if isn't broken, er, oh, nevermind.... | ||
| Werewulf |
eight years ago, before harley sold synthetic, i went to thundercreek harley for an oil change on my new fatboy.. i brought some mobil-1 v-twin to be installed.. the service writer summoned the manager and refused to install the synthetic oil, because he had been working on harleys for 30 years and synthetic oil had no place in a motorcycle... its all relative! | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
It has been proven that using some fluids other than Formula+ can cause damage to the stator. I use pennzoil 20W50 in both the primary and swingarm... Are you sure I will f**k it up using anything other than harley syn? Is this bad? harley oil ~ $12 3 quarts of penz ~ $12 (Message edited by ochoa0042 on October 15, 2008) | ||
| Jos51700 |
"It has been proven that using some fluids other than Formula+ can cause damage to the stator. " I'd like to see "proven" defined.... "harley oil ~ $12 3 quarts of penz ~ $12 " Motor ~$1200 Is it worth risk? You gotta buy a LOT of cheap oil to justify those savings. | ||
| Froggy |
Formula+ is $7 a quart. I will try and dig up the threads about stators getting eaten by using the wrong fluid. | ||
| Glitch |
How can you tell if your transmission is running cooler? | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
How can you tell if your transmission is running cooler? well first there is the chicken and the rooster, they both have a ball in the penthouse, then moments later a little egg pops out the chicken (you can kill the rooster, feather it, and cook it with a beer up its ass right about now)K, so you now have the live egg and the chicken, get your medieval style catapult out from the shed, put the chicken in it, and see how far it can fly. Now you're left with the live egg and your problem... place the egg on the engine with a piece of duck tape, ride for 2 weeks straight, and it should hatch by then (then find a rooster and repeat). If its doesn't hatch, buddy you got problems!!! completely random post brought to you by bordem (Message edited by ochoa0042 on October 15, 2008) | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
Formula+ is $7 a quart. I will try and dig up the threads about stators getting eaten by using the wrong fluid. there a thread? oh shite!!! | ||
| Teddagreek |
Redline MT-90 on my bike and 6 years in my Air Cooled VW... I've always understood that ATF can be too slippery for proper engagement.. | ||
| Werewulf |
my stator failed on my harley, while running harley oil.... | ||
| Moosestang |
How can you tell if your transmission is running cooler? Well do you see that chrome handle that says hurst?  That thing used to get almost to hot to touch before the royal purple synchromax. Now there is almost no heat at all in the handle. My cars manual transmission calls for ATF by the way. | ||
| Ftd |
I run ATF F in the primary of my 61,000 mile 2000 Road King (Mobil 1 syn. gear lube in trans). Works better than any other lube I have tried. Formula + in Buell though as trans. primary share common cavity. Numerous discussions on this board on this topic: http://groups.msn.com/harleytechtalk/general.msnw? action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=1409305&Last Modified=4675689101081791752 Frank | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
Mobile 1 syn gear lube eats the coating on the stator. That's what's been said here. I used to use Mobile 1 syn gear lube - shifting is much easier with it, but switched last year after reading about the stator problems. | ||
| Bombardier |
GL-5 oil has sulphur in it which is detrimental to copper(wiring on the stator)and the coatings. This is the reason oil which is a GL-5 should not be used in your bike. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
So am I safe???  | ||
| Sloppy |
Ochoa: Is your oil comply with API "C" grade? If not, then find a motor oil that does. I don't think Penzoil is, but check the package. Bomb: Thanks for clarifying here. As Bomb explains -- it doesn't matter what brand of GL-5 gear oil you use in the tranny. GL-5 will corrode yellow metals so don't use it as your tranny is filled with them. Some say that they have stator failures with non-GL5 oils -- but those stator failures are due to a mechanical shear of the wires. GL-5 stator failures are a chemical reaction and completely different. You will likely not see the actual failure until a long time. Mine failed in about 1.5 years. Bottom line: There is only ONE brand of oil where the oil manufacturer recommends a GL-5 gear oil -- but Mobil 1 specifically says not to in our style of engines. If you're not sure what oil to use then send an email to the manufacturer. |
