ATF in primary
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 3,438
From: SW WA.
I'm assuming Spanners did something like this with the Shovel mentioned as the dry clutch primary didn't have any oil in the case from the factory.
I had an early '84 Evo with this system but soon plugged off the chain oiler and return lines and swapped in Barnett wet or dry clutch plates then ran ATF.
The old system had clutch debris going back to the motor oil,not a good system even though it went to the oil filter first.
Last edited by Y2K; Jul 28, 2024 at 09:21 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Just to be clear some early Evos also had the dry clutch and were fitted from the factory with a chain oiler and oil return.
I'm assuming Spanners did something like this with the Shovel mentioned as the dry clutch primary didn't have any oil in the case from the factory.
I had an early '84 Evo with this system but soon plugged off the chain oiler and return lines and swapped in Barnett wet or dry clutch plates then ran ATF.
The old system had clutch debris going back to the motor oil,not a good system even though it went to the oil filter first.
I'm assuming Spanners did something like this with the Shovel mentioned as the dry clutch primary didn't have any oil in the case from the factory.
I had an early '84 Evo with this system but soon plugged off the chain oiler and return lines and swapped in Barnett wet or dry clutch plates then ran ATF.
The old system had clutch debris going back to the motor oil,not a good system even though it went to the oil filter first.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,095
Likes: 7,622
From: Poolville
I tried ATF once in my Evo and am not sure if it was a proper lubricant for the clutch plates.. My motor is built and is almost twice the power of stock.. After about 1500 miles on the ATF there was this god awe full smell similar to a burnt up automatic.. Took it out and went back to primary fluid.. In an automatic trans I believe the pump pressure is up around 400 psi so the clutch packs get a lot more fluid than that in our primary's.. I'm sure every one has a different experience with the use of ATF.. This was mine...
Quick note, in that video that was posted in which i didn't watch the hole thing but did that guy put it all back together with the rivets in the spring plate coming apart??? WOW....
Quick note, in that video that was posted in which i didn't watch the hole thing but did that guy put it all back together with the rivets in the spring plate coming apart??? WOW....
Last edited by 98hotrodfatboy; Jul 29, 2024 at 07:48 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,199
Likes: 3,087
From: NW AR
Yeah, and to stop it from grenading the rest of the motor, we'll put a fine mesh screen in the oil feed going to the lifters to catch the clutch plate material that misses the "sort of" filter in the oil tank.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,590
Likes: 3,361
From: Cental, MI
^^^ Yet those old Shovels went oodles of miles...Stock... More than Evo lifters go!!!!
If that crap is Not stopped by yer filter...something is Very Wrong...only the return side of the Pump suffers...and it keeps on tickin!!!
If that crap is Not stopped by yer filter...something is Very Wrong...only the return side of the Pump suffers...and it keeps on tickin!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Trouble is that the tappet screen gets blocked and then oil starvation issues. Best not spray ***** into a perfectly good motor.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,590
Likes: 3,361
From: Cental, MI
Tappet screen is not Fed dirty (return) oil...not on My Bike anyway...Nothing Used, is sent into Motor...Only oil from the Tank is fed.. Again...yer oil filter catches stuff in Return oil, and once in awhile we do douche out our oil tanks...Like the Book says...Right?? Just in case some crap gets thru the Filter!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,199
Likes: 3,087
From: NW AR
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,590
Likes: 3,361
From: Cental, MI
Yeah.... Having lived through the ShovelDaze, a top end only lasted about 25-30K miles. Then you needed to rebuild it, and do the bottom end about every other top end. How is this "oodles of miles"? So, stock Evo lifters are a 50K scheduled maintenance item, and the motors themselves are good for at least 100K without a new top end.
But..."My Dogs Better than Your Dog" But, My Evo got a bad Lifter at just over 30K, Tho, Factory Built.
Anyway...point really is...Don't hurt as much as we would Like to Believe to return that Primary Oil thru Filter...But, we all talked ourselves into feeling superior because we Isolated
Last edited by Racepres; Jul 30, 2024 at 08:50 AM.