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What substitute for HD Formula+ for 2013 Sportster 1200

 
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Old 01-17-2019, 06:45 AM
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Default What substitute for HD Formula+ for 2013 Sportster 1200

Getting ready to change the wife's oil and just realized the clutch and primary share the same oil. I would like to just go down the street to Autozone and pick up the oil for the clutch/primary what should I be looking for or is there no substitute.
 
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Old 01-17-2019, 05:36 PM
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Look in the stickies in this oil forum above and you’ll get many opinions, then pick one. https://www.hdforums.com/forum/oil-a...ur-choice.html
 

Last edited by Coverdog; 01-17-2019 at 05:37 PM.
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Old 01-17-2019, 08:33 PM
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Looks like I will make a trip to H D for some Formula + for the Sportster.
 
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Old 01-19-2019, 02:53 PM
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You don't have to use Formula+. Any 20W50 motorcycle oil will work just fine. Amsoil specs their V-Twin 20W50. Mobil 1 also 20W50 VTwin. Motul, BelRay, Redline, take your pick. If you don't want synthetic, you're fine using any of the conventional 20W50 motorcycle oils. Not that there's anything wrong with Formula+.
 
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Old 01-19-2019, 05:55 PM
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I use Mobil 1 20w50 in the motor just wasn't sure if Formula 1 was a gear oil or a motor oil and the viscosity of it. Thanks
 
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Old 01-19-2019, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Wyo85
Looks like I will make a trip to H D for some Formula + for the Sportster.
That is the right choice. It is a non detergent single weight gear oil for a transmission. Designed for use in a non filtered system.
Nothing at AutoZone like it. They either have EP or detergents in all they sell for auto use.
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; 01-19-2019 at 06:01 PM.
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Old 01-22-2019, 05:41 AM
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Can we use an ordinary auto oil? Quite possibly! Is it a suitable alternative to Formula +? I doubt it. There are bound to be suitable alternatives and this forum is stuffed full of threads on the subject, just be wary of the 'wisdom' that gets put around in here. In some ways it is much easier to call by your local H-D dealer and avoid hours of 'research' around HDF or the internet! That's what I do for my Sporty and Buell - my Glide is far from stock and I use oils recommended by S&S and Baker.

There are recognisable industry standards for oil specifications and it would be helpful if H-D told us those for their recommended oils, but unfortunately they don't. The only clue is to use a diesel engine oil as an alternative if we get stuck.
 
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Old 01-26-2019, 06:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Wyo85
Getting ready to change the wife's oil and just realized the clutch and primary share the same oil. I would like to just go down the street to Autozone and pick up the oil for the clutch/primary what should I be looking for or is there no substitute.

This should help you find an oil at the Auto Parts store:

Sportster Primary oil
 
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Old 01-26-2019, 07:14 AM
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Originally Posted by shanneba
This should help you find an oil at the Auto Parts store:

Sportster Primary oil
There is no denying that link is fascinating and provides some commendably authoritative information, however I'm mystified by what it has to do with Harleys, as our bikes don't have hypoid gears. They are the strange skewed gears used in things like BMW and Gold Wing rear-wheel drive units, turning the drive through 90deg from shaft to wheel and in auto axle units/differentials. That is a very demanding environment to lubricate, but unrelated to bikes like ours.
 
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Old 01-27-2019, 09:07 AM
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If you do end up getting your oil from the Dealer at least you have a choice now.

They just came out with a synthetic primary fluid or you can stick with the conventional Forumla +
 
 
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