ATF in primary...WOW!
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
I totally agree. But with the ATF that first morning clunk was gone without a morning ritual. And believe me, its not the reason I used the ATF, it was just an unexpected result when I pulled in the clutch and that first morning clunk wasn't there.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 167
Likes: 12
From: florida
atf
After reading a number of threads about ATF in the primary, I gave it a shot. I have run Harley's primary / transmission fluid in the primary since I bought the bike, and to be honest, the bike has run just fine. But I can honestly say this is the first fluid change I have ever done to a motorcycle where I could say.....DANG, that actually made a HUGE difference. The difference in finding neutral is truly like night and day. And the bike shifts threw the gears noticeably smoother. Don't know why, but this ATF trick is a huge improvement over the Harley primary fluid I have been using. The other very noticeable attribute is the bang my bike always had on that very first drop into gear if the bike sits overnight or longer. That pretty much vanished. Now, for people not running Harley's primary fluid, you may already have a great fluid and ATF might not do a thing, I am only saying that the improvement over the Harley fluid was huge. And I for one would NEVER have believed a different oil in a single hole on a motorcycle would have made a truly noticeable difference, but I swear to God, it made a huge difference. And all for $2.69 since I bought the cheap generic Auto Zone Ford ATF just in case this ATF trick turned out to be bunk, and I wanted to dump it out right away without being out any real cash. Just wanted to share my experiences.
Just a funny side note: I happen to have a see-threw porthole in my primary cover, and bright red primary fluid sloshing around is a funny sight, to say the least.
Just a funny side note: I happen to have a see-threw porthole in my primary cover, and bright red primary fluid sloshing around is a funny sight, to say the least.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 931
Likes: 76
From: Buford, GA
Funny, i never ran it in my MX bikes. I always just used GTX. I never had an issue, but I changed it every other weekend.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Holy Zombie Thread 
I experimented with ATF; Mobil 1 ATF Synthetic and Ford Type F ATF. You couldn't pay me money to run that garbage in my primary. The ATF's are the worst, there's basically no friction zone, notchy clunking shifting, and a big noise increase from the primary not to mention the case was much hotter after a ride. And that nasty clunk on shutdown? No thanks.
I experimented with near everything in the primary, 13 different fluids all total; Mobil 1 10W-40 Racing 4T is the only thing I'll ever use in my primary
I experimented with ATF; Mobil 1 ATF Synthetic and Ford Type F ATF. You couldn't pay me money to run that garbage in my primary. The ATF's are the worst, there's basically no friction zone, notchy clunking shifting, and a big noise increase from the primary not to mention the case was much hotter after a ride. And that nasty clunk on shutdown? No thanks.
I experimented with near everything in the primary, 13 different fluids all total; Mobil 1 10W-40 Racing 4T is the only thing I'll ever use in my primary
Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 8,538
Likes: 1,646
From: SF Bay area
Holy Zombie Thread
I experimented with ATF; Mobil 1 ATF Synthetic and Ford Type F ATF. You couldn't pay me money to run that garbage in my primary. The ATF's are the worst, there's basically no friction zone, notchy clunking shifting, and a big noise increase from the primary not to mention the case was much hotter after a ride. And that nasty clunk on shutdown? No thanks.
I experimented with near everything in the primary, 13 different fluids all total; Mobil 1 10W-40 Racing 4T is the only thing I'll ever use in my primary
I experimented with ATF; Mobil 1 ATF Synthetic and Ford Type F ATF. You couldn't pay me money to run that garbage in my primary. The ATF's are the worst, there's basically no friction zone, notchy clunking shifting, and a big noise increase from the primary not to mention the case was much hotter after a ride. And that nasty clunk on shutdown? No thanks.
I experimented with near everything in the primary, 13 different fluids all total; Mobil 1 10W-40 Racing 4T is the only thing I'll ever use in my primary
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
Holy Zombie Thread
I experimented with ATF; Mobil 1 ATF Synthetic and Ford Type F ATF. You couldn't pay me money to run that garbage in my primary. The ATF's are the worst, there's basically no friction zone, notchy clunking shifting, and a big noise increase from the primary not to mention the case was much hotter after a ride. And that nasty clunk on shutdown? No thanks.
I experimented with near everything in the primary, 13 different fluids all total; Mobil 1 10W-40 Racing 4T is the only thing I'll ever use in my primary
I experimented with ATF; Mobil 1 ATF Synthetic and Ford Type F ATF. You couldn't pay me money to run that garbage in my primary. The ATF's are the worst, there's basically no friction zone, notchy clunking shifting, and a big noise increase from the primary not to mention the case was much hotter after a ride. And that nasty clunk on shutdown? No thanks.
I experimented with near everything in the primary, 13 different fluids all total; Mobil 1 10W-40 Racing 4T is the only thing I'll ever use in my primary
I'm using Delvac 10-40 in mine right now and I'm fairly happy with it. The last 10% (90% engaged) of my friction zone is a bit grabby/notchy. It's plenty rideable, but I'll probably change it out to something else this fall.
Last edited by cggorman; Jun 30, 2016 at 01:38 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 13,528
Likes: 34,699
From: Pine Flat Dam/South Bay Area, CA
Last change I used Mobil1 15-50. Shifts good & easy to find neutral. No clutch slipping, either.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 836
Likes: 92
From: Sonoma Co - California Formaly East Bay
Of those thirteen different fluids you tried, was one of them Redline Primary Fluid? If so, thoughts?
Holy Zombie Thread
I experimented with ATF; Mobil 1 ATF Synthetic and Ford Type F ATF. You couldn't pay me money to run that garbage in my primary. The ATF's are the worst, there's basically no friction zone, notchy clunking shifting, and a big noise increase from the primary not to mention the case was much hotter after a ride. And that nasty clunk on shutdown? No thanks.
I experimented with near everything in the primary, 13 different fluids all total; Mobil 1 10W-40 Racing 4T is the only thing I'll ever use in my primary
I experimented with ATF; Mobil 1 ATF Synthetic and Ford Type F ATF. You couldn't pay me money to run that garbage in my primary. The ATF's are the worst, there's basically no friction zone, notchy clunking shifting, and a big noise increase from the primary not to mention the case was much hotter after a ride. And that nasty clunk on shutdown? No thanks.
I experimented with near everything in the primary, 13 different fluids all total; Mobil 1 10W-40 Racing 4T is the only thing I'll ever use in my primary
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Clunk on shutdown? Never heard of that. Hydraulic tensioner collapsing?
I'm using Delvac 10-40 in mine right now and I'm fairly happy with it. The last 10% (90% engaged) of my friction zone is a bit grabby/notchy. It's plenty rideable, but I'll probably change it out to something else this fall.
I'm using Delvac 10-40 in mine right now and I'm fairly happy with it. The last 10% (90% engaged) of my friction zone is a bit grabby/notchy. It's plenty rideable, but I'll probably change it out to something else this fall.
I posted the results HERE I've since tried LiquiMoly 10W-60 racing 4T but so far nothing touches the Mobil 1 racing 4T 10W-40 synthetic for smooth upshifts, accurate rev-matched downshifts and not any clanking or banging around with the poorly designed compensator...
Last edited by TinCupChalice; Jun 30, 2016 at 04:30 PM.
