| Author | Message | ||
     Gentleman_jon |
Based entirely on anecdotal evidence on this board, I decided to replace the Mobil One 75W90 gear oil in my primary with Harley Formula + primary transmission oil, to prevent premature failure of the stator. I hesitated to do this for several reasons, not the least of which was sloth. In addition, I did not feel that the case for damage to the stator had been statistically proved. None the less, I thought I would switch on a "better safe than sorry" basis, and report my findings. Frankly, I could not convince myself that I noticed any difference at all in the way the bike shifts or runs. I suspect that properly adjusting the level of the transmission fluid, and the primary chain, (two subjects well covered on this board), are more important than the choice of lubricant. Just my .02¢ | ||
| Djkaplan |
Except for the way synthetic smells when it burns, I've never noticed or felt any kind of difference in any kind of oil I've run in my primary/trans or engine. The people that can feel a difference must have calibrated asses. Just my $.01 | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Can't fool a real engineer!  | ||
| Cmm213 |
I might follow you in the change, the next time I change I think its going to be amsoil for me. | ||
| Xb9 |
"I suspect that properly adjusting the level of the transmission fluid, and the primary chain, (two subjects well covered on this board), are more important than the choice of lubricant. " I think you nailed it  And why take a chance? | ||
| Teeps |
Djkaplan Posted on Thursday, September 14, 2006 Except for the way synthetic smells when it burns, I've never noticed or felt any kind of difference in any kind of oil I've run in my primary/trans or engine. The people that can feel a difference must have calibrated asses. Just my $.01 Honest answer to say the least. However; never underestimate the POWER of PLACEBO! | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
Cant go wrong with factory stuff but I run Amsoil. | ||
| Dano_12s |
Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 is now approved for use in Primary+Trans. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
approved by whom? | ||
| Jmor03 |
I purchased the M1 75/90 for my primary and because of too many conflicting comments about the M1 75/90 I decided better safe than sorry and put in Formula+. | ||
| Whodom |
Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 is now approved for use in Primary+Trans. Mobil recommends the use of Mobil 1 MTX 10W-40, not the V-twin 20W-50 in Buell primaries and transmissions. | ||
| Honu |
I also switched frome M1 syn 75-90 to HD Formula plus just yesterday based on what people said on this board about stator problems. I did not notice any difference in shifting. | ||
| Whodom |
I switched from Mobil 1 75W-90 to Formula+ when I replaced my stator a few weeks ago BUT I also replaced my shifter shaft (the end of which was slightly tweaked from a drop before I owned the bike). Replacing the shifter shaft required the internal linkage to be adjusted. After the oil change and the shaft replacement/adjustment, my shifting is noticeably smoother and neutral is easier to find. I'd be willing to bet you're all correct and 95 to 100% of the improvement was due to the shifter shaft replacement and adjustment, not the oil change. At any rate, the Formula+ shifts at least as well as the Mobil, costs about the same, doesn't smell nearly as noxious, is available at virtually all HD dealers, and, as far as we know, hasn't eaten a stator yet. I don't see how we can go wrong with this stuff. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"However; never underestimate the POWER of PLACEBO!" PLACEBO, eh...? I'm pretty sure my bike gets faster when I wash it, and I know it got faster after I got Erik to sign it. If this PLACEBO stuff you speak of can make it faster too, I'll buy all you got! | ||
| Txfatcat |
Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 is now approved for use in Primary+Trans. I just switched to Mobile 1 v-twin 20w50 this week.....not sure if there is a difference in feel or not. I just know that it has been running great. I thought that it seemed a little quieter but not sure....maybe just my imagination Whodom where did you get that information on the MTX 10w40? Not questioning just like to have fact or a reference for the next time I change my oil and some of the Bad webbers here. I have not heard of this and have been running HD synth 3 in mine but i am tired of giving my money to HD | ||
| Whodom |
Whodom where did you get that information on the MTX 10w40? Not questioning just like to have fact or a reference for the next time I change my oil and some of the Bad webbers here. I have not heard of this and have been running HD synth 3 in mine but i am tired of giving my money to HD Txfatcat, I saw it posted here maybe a year or so ago, so I e-mailed Mobil 1 for myself and asked "What lubricant do you recommend for the tranmission/primary for Buell motorcycles?" They responded and said use MTX 10W-40. | ||
| Txfatcat |
kewl thanks....was the mobile 1 v twin out at the time. I didnt know it was available until the other day | ||
| Whodom |
Txfatcat, Yea, AFAIK Mobil introduced both oils at the same time. The V-Twin 20W-50 is intended for HD & Buell engines and the MTX 10W-40 is intended for most Japanese bikes. Both are fully synthetic and cost about the same thing (~$8/quart). Locally (SC), most Autozone stores carry both of them. I run the V-Twin in my 2000 S3's engine but have never tried the MTX 10W-40 in the transmission. | ||
| Tbowdre |
WTF? I can run mobil 1 V twin 20w50 in my tranny??? | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
As much as I respect Mobil Oils, I would be rather surprised if they were aware of the problem of premature failure of the stator insulation: it is just beginning to be widely recognized on this highly specialized board. Therefore, while their V Twin and MTX 10W40 might lubricate the transmission properly, I am not sure whether or not they would affect the stator problem any differently than their 75W90 gear oil. I guess this would depend on an analysis of the additives in those oils. | ||
| Ducxl |
I completely don't understand the aversion to the factory recommended "Sportrans fluid". I've always used it in my previous Sportster, and my BuellS without ANY negatives. | ||
| Whodom |
Therefore, while their V Twin and MTX 10W40 might lubricate the transmission properly, I am not sure whether or not they would affect the stator problem any differently than their 75W90 gear oil. The main difference is that Mobil specifically recommends these lubricants for use in HD or Buell transmissions, while they have never recommended the 75W-90 gear oil. | ||
| Dano_12s |
Whodom,Mobil did recommend the MTX -4 in the Trans.+ Prim.Now the new bottles of V-twin 20w50 have a approval seal on them for use in trans+prim. Check the bottles. | ||
| Whodom |
Dano_12s, I knew the V-Twin 20W-50 was OK for primaries and transmissions, but I specifically wrote Mobil 1 ~1 month ago and asked what should I put in my Buell transmission/primary and they said MTX 10W-40. I'm not using it, but that's what they recommended. It's possible their folks aren't staying up with their latest products or maybe for some reason they think the MTX 10W-40 is better-suited to the Buell application than the 20W-50 is. | ||
| Tbowdre |
I think what ever oil is deemed okay and recommended is what I should use. I just like the conveinience of using the Vtwin 20w50 product in both compartments! | ||
| Sgthigg |
"Frankly, I could not convince myself that I noticed any difference at all in the way the bike shifts or runs. " I dont doubt that going from a synthetic to a synthetic. Now try it going from reg oil to syn. you will be able to tell. | ||
| Jhanz |
I have already tried the Mobile 1, Syn 3 and the Amsoil in the primary on my 06XB9SX and here is what I noticed: When I switched to the Mobile 1, I noticed quieter and smoother shifts which were very obvious and smoother clutch action. I am not at all impressed with the Syn 3 in comparison. When I switched to Amsoil recently from the Syn 3, I noticed a big improvement. As far as Mobile 1 vs Amsoil, I would say that they are pretty close. | ||
| Jhanz |
I have already tried the Mobile 1, Syn 3 and the Amsoil in the primary on my 06XB9SX and here is what I noticed: When I switched to the Mobile 1, I noticed quieter and smoother shifts which were very obvious and smoother clutch action. I am not at all impressed with the Syn 3 in comparison. When I switched to Amsoil recently from the Syn 3, I noticed a big improvement. As far as Mobile 1 vs Amsoil, I would say that they are pretty close. | ||
| Whodom |
Jhanz, Which Mobil 1 are you using? (75W-90 gear oil, V-Twin 20W-50, MTX 10W-40, auto 15W-50) | ||
| Cycleaddict |
i'ved used the repsol 10-40 in the primary -too thin- didn't shift good. used the syn-3 -better than the repsol, used valvoline m/c 20-50 about the same as syn-3 -just recentally changed the pri. to mobil-1 v-twin 20/50 -LOVE-it shifts better than ever! (i'm convinced that one should change your primary oil twice as often as your motor oil) | ||
| Jessicasdad |
well I would also like to join this list .. after my first . .and hopefully LAST stator failure I have switched to HF+.. also just wanted to say that replacing the stator was a NO issue .. mostly due to all of the incredible information here ... so thanks to all for the knowledge you have shared !!!! |
