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Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » Archive through June 14, 2018 » Uly transmission fluid? « Previous Next »

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Huntsville
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 10:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My shop manual simply says "transmission oil", which doesn't help me at all. What can I use purchased at an auto parts store? Thanks
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Teeps
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 11:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I only used Formula +.
Others have used Mobil 1 V-Twin oil.
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Ftd
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 12:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I second using Formula +. I use it in my Uly and HD...no issues.
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Zane
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 01:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I use HD Syn3 in both the transmission and the engine. Simpler logistics and the low sulfur content protects the stater.

Expensive but gives me peace of mind.
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Ratbuell
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 03:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

That's the biggest concern - get something that plays nice with the stator and rotor. I also run Syn3 in everything - one jar on the shelf means I never grab the wrong thing.
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Arry
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 03:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I, also, use the Formula+ (a Harley product). It's what the manual says to use.
It seems logical, to me, that the primary/trans has different requirement than the engine.
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Hughlysses
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 04:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Another vote for Formula+. This lubricant was introduced at the same time as the 06 models which had improved transmissions and supposedly lower effort clutches. The Formula+ was supposedly engineered to work best with the lower effort clutch without causing slipping.

I know you can't get it at the auto parts store, but it really does seem to make a difference. When I did my 09 engine swap on my 07, I used Amsoil 20W-50 in the transmission for the first change, thinking I'd try simplifying to one lubricant for both uses. It shifted noticeably worse than my 07 had with Formula+, so I switched back to Formula+ and the shifting immediately was better.
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Shoggin
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 05:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What specifically was "better"?

Clutch grip/slip engagement? Up and down gears easier? Finding neutral (Damn Buells lol)? Dogs clunking?
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Huntsville
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 06:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks guys, I'll stop by the HD dealer tomorrow and get some Formula +. I put Rotella in the engine
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Etennuly
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 09:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I run formula+ also. Shifts smooth and easy. I change it at about 5000 miles. It does get stiffer and clunkier as it nears its end of service. At 65,000 still clutches well. Only have adjusted the cable a couple of times and the clutch ramp nut once.
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Etennuly
Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 09:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I also run Rotella. In hot months I add STP or Lucas.
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Natexlh1000
Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2018 - 01:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Are you running Rotella for the Zinc content?
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Yo_barry
Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2018 - 06:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

On my Uly, I've only used Formula+.

On my S3T I ran Mobile 1 in the primary for several oil changes (every 5K miles.) I quit using it because there was always a white milkish looking deposit on the inside of the derby cover. I never had that before or after using the HD product.

Barry
Hollister, CA
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Ourdee
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2018 - 10:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have ran Amsoil 20w50 synthetic. Went back to Formula+.
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Tempest766
Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2018 - 12:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If it's a properly diesel certified 20w50 then I'm happy. I refuse to be a slave to brand names.
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Etennuly
Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2018 - 09:45 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Look at HDs first choice of oil if their brand of motorcycle oil is not available. It is in the owners manual and service manual. Diesel oil meeting the classification standards.

I used to run precisely as prescribed HD non syn oils by the book. I had one of the quietest, smoothest running Uly engines around. I switched to Rotella because I stock it in my truck shop at about $6 per quart. HD oil went from $7.50 to $13.00 at the height of the Obomination depression. Obviously they needed the extra funds to kill off Buell.

I always thought it funny that several of my riding buddies would comment on how quiet my engine was compared to theirs. I rode with one of them as he picked up his Uly from an oil change at HD. 90 degree day, they just filled his with Amsoil 20-50. It rattled like the old marbles in a dryer analogy.

He and I traded bikes a few times so I could help analyze some problems. It sounded awful. He liked riding mine. But he was sold on full syn. Was told he had to have it by the dealer sales advisors at its even higher cost.
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Tootal
Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2018 - 11:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A synthetic 20-50 is going to protect like any other 20-50 but physically it's thinner than dino juice. The extra thickness of dino juice quiets the engine noises. Your's is making the same noises as his, there just muffled better.
I've been using AMSOIL straight 60wt. in the primary. When I put it in the first time my clutch was slipping in 4th and 5th gears. After a while it stopped. Anytime you switch oils in the clutch area this can happen. You really should disassemble the clutch and thoroughly clean it and then reassemble with the new oil.
I've run AMSOIL, Castrol and Rotella and nothing hides the piston slap of the front cylinder. It uses enough oil now I just use the cheaper oils until I can properly rebuild the top end. In the Summer I can see using Rotella and a thickener or a straight 60wt.
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Sagehawk
Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2018 - 07:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

In spirit of this thread, I've switched to formula + in wifes 96 sporster sport and the xb12x. Both still don't shift any smoother or easier. They just clunky ass shifting boxes and we've come to appreciate what they are. For comparison, when I was but a wee tyke, I got to ride a rickmann- Matisse framed zundapp dirt bike and I swear that shift lever throw was 8 or 10 inches! Haha, I'm lying but that was the longest throw for a shift lever I've ever experienced. You had to be precise, slow and make sure shift was complete before engaging clutch again. It was what it was being in the seventies.
TOOTAL : wanted to share that a amsoil has a 15-60 wt. Oil that I thought about trying after this Texas summer is over. Somewhere around next February. Amsoil advertises this stuff for Indian bikes I think.
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Ftd
Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2018 - 09:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have been using a 10W-60 synthetic in my Uly, Bourget and Harley for a while. No complaints.
Easily obtained from Amazon or NAPA stores.
I feel it is better for cold starts and hot summer FL
Days.
https://products.liqui-moly.com/synthoil-race-tech -gt1-10w-60-2.html
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