| Author | Message | ||
     Dave_02_1200 |
I am considering trying Amzoil 60wt.in the trans/primary. I am hoping that the thicker lube will provide smoother shifts and longer transmission life. Are there any possible problems that could result? | ||
| Shoggin |
The transmission is lubed by engine oil, so there wouldn't be any affect to shifting. The primary case holds clutch though, so it may affect the clutch engagement, have you tried adjusting the primary chain? Do NOT make it too tight. Too loose is OK. I have used all sorts of different oils in the primary and found most engine oils (in any weight) make the OE clutch too grabby for me. HD Formula + works best for me with a stock clutch. I run the weird ALTO clutch in the Scg and it recommends ATF so thats what I run and I like it a lot. | ||
| Kmbuell |
Really? Might want to check that answer before making a decision. Pretty sure ALL Buell / Sportsters have a primary that includes the clutch and transmission. Try Redline products. 60 weight may be a bit stiff and make it more difficult to shift. You can use 20-50 HD synthetic also. | ||
| 89rs1200 |
The primary and engine were lubricated SEPARATELY in Buells and Sportsers prior to about 2002! Not sure of the exact year. These early Buells and Sportsers used about 1Qt of "Sports Trans" fluid. It is about 60 weight. I would NOT recommend using engine oil in these earlier models!! (Message edited by 89rs1200 on September 08, 2020) (Message edited by 89rs1200 on September 09, 2020) | ||
| Ratbuell |
Your STATOR is also in the primary; whatever lube you use needs to be rated for use with those windings and magnets. Check your clutch adjustment. If it still bothers you, pull the gearset out of the transmission, and get your gears micropolished. Did that on my S1W and it shifts like butter. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
"The primary and engine were lubricated SEPARATELY in Buells and Sportsers prior to about 2002! Not sure of the exact year. " Was there a change when they switched to the XB line? It's been a long time since I owned one, but I think I remember having to put separate oil/whatever in the primary than I did in the swingarm. When they switched from the trap door to the transmission being between the cases, did the transmission also switch from sharing lube with the primary to sharing it with the crankshaft? | ||
| Two_seasons |
I too use Harley Davidson Primary+ in my primary hole. Adjust the primary chain so that there is 3/4" deflection hot. Final drive belt should be adjusted "scary loose", meaning 2.5 to 3 inches deflection between rear and front sprocket.  | ||
| Shoggin |
"Was there a change when they switched to the XB line? It's been a long time since I owned one, but I think I remember having to put separate oil/whatever in the primary than I did in the swingarm. When they switched from the trap door to the transmission being between the cases, did the transmission also switch from sharing lube with the primary to sharing it with the crankshaft?" Yes. Exactly. | ||
| 89rs1200 |
Trap door came in later models of Sportsters and Buells about the time the XBs came about. Before that the engine and primary used different lubes as these chambers were physically separated. Engine oil and primary oil were never to mix. If they did, then it meant the crank seal under the stator was leaking. | ||
| Hootowl |
Lots of misinformation in this thread. Every sportster derived engine ever used in a Buell, including the XB platform, has separate engine and transmission fluid cavities. The clutch, primary chain, and rotor/stator share the same cavity as the transmission. As Rat said, whatever primary/tranny fluid you use, make sure it's rated copper safe, or you'll be shortly replacing your stator. | ||
| Hootowl |
I believe the confusion might be due to the switch from using sportrans to using HD Syn3. HD recommended the same 20w50 oil for both engine and transmission. That does not mean they share a fluid cavity, it simple means you use the same oil for both. | ||
| Hootowl |
"Try Redline products" They make great stuff, but do not use the shockproof heavy in your tranny. It will fry your stator. The solids in the oil gum up the windings and prevent them from being cooled properly by the oil. | ||
| 89rs1200 |
Hootowl, Thank you for the clarification. Now I know, all Buell's have separate primaries. | ||
| Hootowl |
Not all, only the sportster derived engines. The 1125 series have integrated motor/transmissions. They use the same integrated dry sump cavity for both. | ||
| Oz_mcd |
If you talk to redline they recommend using 75w90 gear oil in the primary/transmission on all Sportster based engines. Straight from the engineer at redline I called and talked to them direct because we used to run the MTL in the hot rod Sportster engines but had some slippage problems when they started coming out with the Kevlar and carbon clutch plates. The guy at redline said the 75/90 gear oil is the only thing they recommend and the only product they will stand behind for that purpose. He said he was sure there was other products they make that you can run but that is the stuff they said worked to top performance in there tests so it is the product they suggest. | ||
| _buelligan_ |
ALL Buell power plants other than the Helicon engine (Sportster/XR1000/XB engines) have a shared transmission/primary. The difference between tubers and XB’s is that they did away with the “Trap door” for easy transmission removal, instead you have to split the engine cases on the XB and 2004+ Sportsters to access the transmission. If you pull the primary cover off an XB engine you will see small holes behind the clutch that allow the “primary oil” to flow in and out of the transmission cavity. The H-D Formula+ is what replaced the old “Sports Trans” oil, it is formulated to coat the transmission gears to minimize wear, work properly with clutch plates as well as being electronics safe to not eat away at the stator windings. The engine oil only flows through the engine on these models. Only the water cooled buells have one oil to lube them all. |
