View Poll Results: A poll

HD primary oil #99887-84 (old style)

617

12.18%

Syn 3

710

14.02%

Amsoil

1,106

21.83%

Bel ray

127

2.51%

Rev tech

1.01%

Dyna cycle

0.22%

Redline

611

12.06%

Mobil 1

1,088

21.48%

Doesn't matter

156

3.08%

other

589

11.63%

Voters: 5066. You may not vote on this poll

What Primary Oil is your Choice

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Nov 30, 2008 | 08:49 PM

#101

Pythagrean

Cruiser

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 170

Likes: 0

From: Dallas, Texas

I use Redline in all three holes.

Nov 30, 2008 | 08:52 PM

#102

Bluesssman

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 4,196

Likes: 1

From: Reno, Nevada

I use Lucas products.

Dec 6, 2008 | 10:57 PM

#103

84FXST

Cruiser

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 101

Likes: 0

From: Jaffrey, NH

I have 84 Evo Softail and I'm not sure which lubes I want. I have a quart of Formula+ on the shelf and 1-2 quarts of Trick Shift, not synthetic from my grand national. I may try that in there and see how things go. What do you guys think is best for my bike?

Dec 6, 2008 | 11:00 PM

#104

PeeTuneYa

Banned

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 87

Likes: 0

Other = ATF in primary and gear box. Transmissions have tons of clutch fiber plates. Gears mesh with ATF is 2-Stroke transmissions were always filled with ATF is you in a pinch? ATF then....

Dec 11, 2008 | 06:39 PM

#105

garyhendley

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 2,706

Likes: 1

From: Sunland, CA

AMSOIL 20/50 only the best in my bike-ride safe

Dec 13, 2008 | 11:46 PM

#106

Gary7

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 1,530

Likes: 1

From: Upstate, SC

Quote:

Originally Posted by sargek

You wouldn't happen to know what F+ actually is, do you? Someone told me it's synthetic, but I don't believe that. It pours like about 50 weight, but there is no viscosity on the bottle and I can't find any tech data on it. Just curious.

With a VI of 139, a vis at 100C of 20.0 cSt, and a pour point of -60F, this is a synthetic fluid, I don't care what Harley says. There is no way you can make an oil with those specs from even the best Group II hydrocracked base oils. It has to have PAO in it.

Edit: The specs I listed above have circulated on the Net for quite some time as being the "official" specs for Formula+ as published by the MoCo. This past weekend I conducted a freezer test on Formula+ and several other fluids, including motor oils, gear lubes and ATFs. After 12 hours at 0F Formula+ was opaque and would just barely pour. This tells me that pour point of -60F is total baloney, which may mean the rest of those specs don't apply, either. The fact that Formula+ turned opaque and almost solidified at a measely 0F tells me this is a conventional fluid made from Group I base oil. The PAO based 75w140 gear oil was still crystal clear after 12 hours at 0F and would pour easily. (And that's what's in my transmission now.)

It's no wonder the clutch is so grabby with Formula+ at cooler temps. I'm dumping it out of my primary next chance I get.

Last edited by Gary7; Feb 24, 2009 at 03:52 PM. Reason: Update info.

Dec 14, 2008 | 10:52 AM

#107

rocketmangb

Tourer

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 365

Likes: 6

From: California

HMM,20 ?
more like 60 wt

Dec 14, 2008 | 12:01 PM

#108

sargek

Road Warrior

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 1,916

Likes: 0

From: San Antonio, Texas

Thanks for the info Gary - I started using diesel engine oil (15-40) as some folks do and I have been very happy with it. F+ seemed to do a good job too though, but clutch engagement is smoother with the diesel oil. I shorten the change interval though and do it when I change the engine oil - guess the fact it IS engine oil makes me want to do that...no other reason really.

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Dec 14, 2008 | 03:16 PM

#109

Gary7

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 1,530

Likes: 1

From: Upstate, SC

Quote:

Originally Posted by sargek

Formula+ has done fine in my 07 Sportster. At one time I considered putting something else in, and then realized I have absolutely no complaints with the shift quality, clutch engagement, or finding neutral. Why mess with something that works? I mean, we're not talking about a major expense, and from what I understand, Harley specifically designed Formula+ to work with the helical cut gears used in the Cruise Drive and the later Sportster transmissions.