| Author |
Message |
    
Glitch
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 02:56 pm: | 
|
Thanks Freezerburn  |
Typeone
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 03:35 pm: |
|
very cool thread!
the M1 gear oil debate has always been interesting to me, I stopped using it a long time ago. thnx for the updated experiment and further detail, guys! |
Gowindward
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 04:30 pm: |
|
I never used the Mobile 1 gear oil in my bike. I just really wanted to see if there was anything really happening with it and copper alloys. I really didn't expect the results as they stand. I used Mobile 1 15w50 in the gear case up to 25K miles then switch to the Formula+ when it came out.
At Homecoming last year in one of the tech sessions, they really stressed how Formula+ was going to be really good for the clutch on not just the Uly, but any Buell of any age.
My bike has 30K on it now and (knock on wood) no stator problems. |
Sloppy
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 07:14 pm: |
|
Let's recognize that it is not "MOBIL1" gear oil that reacts with yellow metals, it's almost EVERY GL-5 Gear Oil.
So, only use a lubricant that is recommended for your application by the manufacturer!!!
BTW, Mobil 1 recommends their MOTOR OIL in your gearbox, they do NOT want you to use their gear oil!!! Mobil1 Motor Oil is ALSO a GL-4 gear oil...
Analogy Alert: Would you put No.2 Diesel in your Buell's gas tank when Chevron recommends to use Gasoline? So why use gear oil when the manufacuter specifies to use their motor oil??? (note: Redline has a GL-5 oil that they now are recommending for Buell tranny's)
Bottom line: if you're not sure what to use, then send an email to the lubricant manufacturer and ask them... |
Lost_in_ohio
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 08:19 pm: |
|
Very nice experiment. |
Motorfish
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 10:01 pm: |
|
Brilliant experiment and great info! |
Dtx
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 10:25 pm: |
|
Can you tell Gowindward is an engineer? 
Nice work!
I have been using the Formula+ lately and really feel it does the job the best. I won't be switching back to any of the others in the tranny. |
Disturbed
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 11:49 pm: |
|
Great info everyone!
I'm gonna switch to the Mobil 1 V-TWIN in both! |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:51 am: |
|
I appreciate the desire to provide the best lubrication.
I believe that synthetic provides superior lubrication protection to conventional oils.
That said, I do not understand the price component to the decision process.
I use Syn3 and Formula+. The manufacturer recommends Formula+ in the tranny, and I feel it shifts fine.
I guess something other than Syn3 could provide somewhat better lubrication, but I feel the differential would be marginal.
What is the cost differential between the Syn3 and the Mobil 1? Three dollars a quart?
I don't understand the penny pinching. Syn3 is convenient for me to get and Buell recommends it.
Mine gets swapped out every 2,500 miles anyway. It barely loses the shape of the bottle before I switch it. |
Disturbed
| | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 01:10 am: |
|
I'm not penny pinching at all. I wouldn't hesitate a bit to use SYN3 in both again. I'm happy with it's performance to date.
The only reasons I want to try Mobil1 V-TWIN is in HOPE that the tranny may like it better AND I have READ it reduces temps. Now does it reduce temps compared to SYN3? I doubt it. My fan never comes on as is so I think we are cool enough.
Cost is of no concern to me when it comes to oil. The Mobil1 V-TWIN man actually be more expensive for me than SYN3 because I have a significant drive to go get it. MY HD dealer is closer than Wally World. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:41 pm: |
|
FatB... your questions are fair... I think the whole topic is here because it *did* make a difference on the tubers.
I think part of it is "old habits". When I owned my M2, switching from Sport Trans (Formula+ did not exist at that time) to Mobil 1 Gear oil made a HUGE improvement in shifting quality. That was after adding an updated Buell shifter, followed by replacing that with a Banke shifter, and putzing endlessly with the primary chain tension and clutch settings.
Of everything I tried, the switch to Mobil 1 gear oil made the biggest difference in shifting quality.
So I kept using it when I got the 9sx. But the game had changed. Now Harley has Formula +, which is decent stuff, and now my transmission is far less fussy. I've tried both Mobil 1 gear oil and formula+ in my XB tranny (05)... the Mobil 1 is just slightly better then the Formula+, but not enough different to bother with anymore. So now I run formula+, if I can get to a dealer to get it. If it were time for a change and I did not have a chance to run across town and get the Formula+, I would probably just throw in good synthetic engine oil. I haven't tried it, so I don't know if I would be able to tell a difference between that and Formula+. |
Ikeman
| | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 02:54 pm: |
|
A good read in my opinion:
http://www.sportster.org/tech/OilandtheHarleyDavid sonMotorcycle.pdf
I found it pretty informative from the standpoint that the Syn3 appears to have been formulated for the motors it's intended to be used in. In other words, I don't think there is a 'best' oil but there may be a best oil for a given application. |
|
