Hey all,

Ive read that many larger bikes are running regular or treated ATF in the transmissions, seems kind of off beat to me but I'm in the sticks so what fluid do you use / recommend for the 1200 transmission?

883 can chime in too.

Cheers,

.

 

i run atf in the primary ,, gear oil in transmission

 

Attachment 291647

 

The big twins have three oil reservoirs, our Sporties have only two. ATF may be used by some (I wouldn't use it) in a big twin primary, but I use transmission oil in my - er - transmissions, big twin, Buell and Sporty.

 

I used aft in the primary on my RK but not in the trans. I'd just use a syn oil of the right specs in a Sporty not atf .

 

That's what I thought, HD is very explicit and I try to stick with what they say, when I read the forum below I wondered.
http://www.*****************/forums/...imary-oil.html

 

Don't get confused with some of the input with ATF here. Those that run ATF are riding different bikes (Big Twins with three holes), not a Sportster (two holes.)
A Sportster only has engine oil and oil for the tranny/primary (shared oil.)

If you're in the sticks as you say, just buy an extra bottle or two for changing.
Myself, I still run Sport-Trans oil in my Sportster. I got a deal from a dealer and now have 36 qts. on hand.
A bit much but it only cost me $28.

Harley now recommends their Formula+ as a replacement for Sport-Trans.

 

ATF is really not that big of a deal in the Sporty trans. Automatics have epicyclic gears and chains and clutches. Not that different from a Sportster primary/trans. I'd have no problem running it. I just think there are better options.

The main reason to run gear oil or HD's recommend fluid is that the primary purpose of the fluid is as a gear oil for the transmission. It's secondary purpose is to cool the clutch and lube the primary chain. It doesn't take a very fancy oil to do that.

The challenge is protecting the gears as they mesh, hence why I run the gear oil. There is a lot of contact stress at the faces of the gear teeth, and they need all the help they can get.