Glad I changed my tranny fluid early.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 224
Likes: 6
From: Eastern Kansas
Glad I changed my tranny fluid early.
I bought my '07 Heritage last Sept. The previous owner had reciepts from Indianapolis HD. At about 12k miles, they put on a new rear tire and brake pads, and changed to HD 20-50 full Syn 3 in all three holes. I've put about 2500 miles on the bike since then and decided to get it ready for a big trip in August. I flushed out all the old brake fluid on both ends, replaced the front brake pads and decided to change the engine, & transmission oil. Today I pulled the tranny plug and let it drain for about four hours into a black plastic pan. On the stick, it looked like new oil. When I took the pan out in the sunlight, it looked like it had gold spray paint mixed in. I sloshed it around in the pan and it looked like flecks of gold on the bottom. A fine bronze powder. This is at 2500 miles, so no more HD Syn 3 in that hole at least. I went with Mobile 1 full syn 75-90. It can't be any worse. I do have HD Syn 3 oil for the engine, & will do a complete change with a new filter. Not wanting to leave that remaining quart of dirty oil in there. The hardest part of the tranny change was trying to get the plug threaded back in right. I used regular old white pipe dope, it always works. Never ever had good luck with teflon tape & oil.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 224
Likes: 6
From: Eastern Kansas
Forgot about that in the post. It had just a tiny bit of steel fuzz on it, probably normal....I hope. But I have a baseline now. Maybe in a couple of thousand miles, I'll pull the plug again & refill, just to see how it's doing, and how the color of the fluid compares to today. I can afford a quart once in a while to satisfy my curiosity.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 4
From: Sunny South Florida
Bronze would be bushings and bearing material. Steel would be expected with the gears meshing. I hope you don't have bearing issues in the future.
Why would you waste the pipe dope on the plug, that is what the O-ring is for.
Why would you waste the pipe dope on the plug, that is what the O-ring is for.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 224
Likes: 6
From: Eastern Kansas
Because I simply don't trust a single thin o-ring, and it had teflon tape on it when I took it out. The teflon made me wonder if it might have been leaking before I got it. A penny's worth of pipe compound is just insurance.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,109
Likes: 9
From: Connecticut
Mine has just an oring and never leaks. I never use pipe dope or teflon tape unless there is a problem sealing the threads and thats on plugs without any other sealing devise
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 1
From: 415/707
just put on a new O ring & replace plug
if yore putting on pipe dope/teflon tape, you're just packing the threads with unnecessary crap imo
besides, wouldn't the pd/tt change the torque ? ( i do believe so )
if yore putting on pipe dope/teflon tape, you're just packing the threads with unnecessary crap imo
besides, wouldn't the pd/tt change the torque ? ( i do believe so )
Banned
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 429
Likes: 3
From: Shitty City, Chicago
i actually hated syn oil in my primary and trans...it always felt like it didnt have enough...felt every tooth of gears in my toe...clutch felt weird
went to regular 80/90 in trans and 20/50 primaryand no more drop in first clunk and feels better..i guess i lost .5 HP though..
i kept the mobile 1 vtwin syn 10.00 per qt in the motor....but primary and trans went back to standard oil quickly...
went to regular 80/90 in trans and 20/50 primaryand no more drop in first clunk and feels better..i guess i lost .5 HP though..
i kept the mobile 1 vtwin syn 10.00 per qt in the motor....but primary and trans went back to standard oil quickly...