Oil Archive (no new posts) An archive of oil related questions and comments.
View Poll Results: A poll
HD primary oil #99887-84 (old style)
12.18%
Syn 3
14.02%
Amsoil
21.83%
Bel ray
2.51%
Rev tech
1.01%
Dyna cycle
0.22%
Redline
12.06%
Mobil 1
21.48%
Doesn't matter
3.08%
other
11.63%
Voters: 5066. You may not vote on this poll

What Primary Oil is your Choice

 
Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 17, 2017 | 09:25 AM
  #511  
Tucker99's Avatar
Tucker99
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 894
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by Jcook77
Well id like to get the trans to shift a little more smooth. I also thought about trying there sever gear 75 110
Hi Cook,
i have the same basic bike. I run Red Line Shock Proof gear oil in the tranny and Shell Rotella-T 15W-40 in the primary and that really smoothed things out. I change the gear oil every 2-years and the primary fluid every year regardless of miles. I think the clutch contaminates primary oil quickly. I think the biggest improvement came with replacing the stock primary chain tensioner with the HB-125 hydraulic tensioner. The Harley shifts like my dirt bike and I never have a problem finding neutral like a lot of guys with new bikes do. Clunking is also reduced.
 
Old Jan 23, 2017 | 07:24 PM
  #512  
Jcook77's Avatar
Jcook77
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Bowling green ohio
Default

Just a update on what i did. I put 20w50 in the motor and primary. In the trans i put amsoil severe gear 75-110. It did quiet 5th gear whine a bit and it doesnt clunk as hard shifting into first. As well as neutral is easer to find
 
Old Jan 23, 2017 | 07:39 PM
  #513  
xcbullet's Avatar
xcbullet
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 304
From: mid Michigan
Default

I put red line shock proof in my snowmobile chain case today, because of being happy with the results in the Harley transmission. Primary on HD waiting for spring to get the redline primary that's setting on the shelf.
 
Old Jan 23, 2017 | 08:38 PM
  #514  
rocket23's Avatar
rocket23
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 33,714
Likes: 3,723
From: Connecticut.
Default

yeah, m1 20w-50 in the engine and tranny....redline for the chain......
 
Old Jul 17, 2017 | 11:52 AM
  #515  
wieacrsr's Avatar
wieacrsr
Stage IV
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Centerville, UT
Default

Since the primary has clutch friction disks the fluid should meet the newer JASO MA standard. I have found few motor oils meet this standard. I like the Amsoil 10W-40 motorcycle oil, and Mobil 1 10W-40 motorcycle oil which meets this standard. As long as it meets this JASO MA standard it will work.
 
Old Jul 18, 2017 | 05:56 PM
  #516  
rocket23's Avatar
rocket23
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 33,714
Likes: 3,723
From: Connecticut.
Default

Originally Posted by wieacrsr
Since the primary has clutch friction disks the fluid should meet the newer JASO MA standard. I have found few motor oils meet this standard. I like the Amsoil 10W-40 motorcycle oil, and Mobil 1 10W-40 motorcycle oil which meets this standard. As long as it meets this JASO MA standard it will work.
mechanic once said, primary oil is a bathe oil....you could **** in the primary and get the same results......I'm experiencing smooth shifts with the redline.
 
Old Jul 18, 2017 | 06:02 PM
  #517  
Erik Lundberg's Avatar
Erik Lundberg
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 99
Likes: 16
From: Sweden
Default

Originally Posted by rocket23
mechanic once said, primary oil is a bathe oil....you could **** in the primary and get the same results......I'm experiencing smooth shifts with the redline.
Same here. I use Red Line MTL, also named V-Twin Primary Case Oil. Works great.
 
Old Jul 18, 2017 | 06:12 PM
  #518  
rocket23's Avatar
rocket23
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 33,714
Likes: 3,723
From: Connecticut.
Default

Originally Posted by rocket23
mechanic once said, primary oil is a bathe oil....you could **** in the primary and get the same results......I'm experiencing smooth shifts with the redline.
Originally Posted by Erik Lundberg
Same here. I use Red Line MTL, also named V-Twin Primary Case Oil. Works great.
My oil wasn't changed in a long time,(previous owner)......but the primary oil and transmission oil change greatly improved the shifting and running in general of said cycle. Never could wrap my head around why someone would neglect a bike like that.
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 22, 2017 | 08:04 AM
  #519  
mattcran's Avatar
mattcran
Novice
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Default

I just did the Mobil 1 V-Twin "in all 3 holes" scenario on my 2013 Wide Glide 103. I think it might shift slightly smoother, but overall no major differences. Finding neutral seems to be a little better now too, but it may be in my head. Absolutely no adverse reactions as of yet. Full synthetic gives me piece of mind and DIY is pretty cheap when buying it from Walmart.
 
Old Aug 22, 2017 | 08:16 AM
  #520  
Goose_NC's Avatar
Goose_NC
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
10 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 7,987
Likes: 6,884
From: NC
Default

I run 30wt non detergent store brand as long as it still has API label on it. The purpose is to lube the chain, sprockets and clutch. Anything else is over kill.
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:01 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE