Three Different Compartments
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 3
From: Hudson Valley- NY
Your car/truck has 3 different lubricants, no one questions that. Oil, Transmission fluid and rear differential grease all serve separate purposes and have to be formulated for the load they are subjected to. Motor oil is pretty light weight compared to the transmission lube most of us use. HD use to tell you to use Syn 3 in all 3 holes, some use Amsoil or another synthetic in all 3, it all depends on what you're comfortable with.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
Yea I agree with the practical theory... Also, sharing oil is not always a good thing. My dirt bike is "street legal" and the tranny shares the engine oil... Its not the best because the tranny really hammers the oil and its shot after 500 - 1000 miles.
On a cruiser having the ability to put 20w50 in the motor, 75W140 in the tranny and whatever else in the primary is best since not too many people leave their HD stock with the 88 or now with the 96 motors....
On a cruiser having the ability to put 20w50 in the motor, 75W140 in the tranny and whatever else in the primary is best since not too many people leave their HD stock with the 88 or now with the 96 motors....
I think H-D has a good idea to keep them all separate and you can tailor the oil to the more specific application for each component.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
Iclick's answer is the best so far. Metric bikes & the number of personal choices in lubrication show that as long as you use a reasonably decent lubricant these machines will perform well. There is no magic/perfect lubricant.
Multi-weight oil works well for easy starting & good viscosity when hot. Take a look at your 50W oil after an hour at 70/80 mph. on a 90+ degree day. It looks like water! So a good multi-grade for the motor is a good idea.
The gear box is where the power is forced to change direction & speed depending on what gear you're in. There's some pretty impressive shear factors involved, but it's pretty much a closed environment so filtering isn't a problem. Heavier weights handle the loads without having to be thinned for starting.
The primary is a totally enclosed environment with little heat or contaminant problem. You could probably use cooking oil in there. All you're doin' is lubricating a chain & givin' a wet clutch some slip when disengaged. I've always thrown a little over a quart of Castrol 20W50 in there. It's good oil & it doesn't cost much. It also works fine in the motor if you don't want to use synthetic.
Bottom line is that you don't *have* to use 3 different oils, but you can tailor your lubricants to best fit the job requirements while controlling your costs.
Multi-weight oil works well for easy starting & good viscosity when hot. Take a look at your 50W oil after an hour at 70/80 mph. on a 90+ degree day. It looks like water! So a good multi-grade for the motor is a good idea.
The gear box is where the power is forced to change direction & speed depending on what gear you're in. There's some pretty impressive shear factors involved, but it's pretty much a closed environment so filtering isn't a problem. Heavier weights handle the loads without having to be thinned for starting.
The primary is a totally enclosed environment with little heat or contaminant problem. You could probably use cooking oil in there. All you're doin' is lubricating a chain & givin' a wet clutch some slip when disengaged. I've always thrown a little over a quart of Castrol 20W50 in there. It's good oil & it doesn't cost much. It also works fine in the motor if you don't want to use synthetic.
Bottom line is that you don't *have* to use 3 different oils, but you can tailor your lubricants to best fit the job requirements while controlling your costs.
Your car/truck has 3 different lubricants, no one questions that. Oil, Transmission fluid and rear differential grease all serve separate purposes and have to be formulated for the load they are subjected to. Motor oil is pretty light weight compared to the transmission lube most of us use. HD use to tell you to use Syn 3 in all 3 holes, some use Amsoil or another synthetic in all 3, it all depends on what you're comfortable with.
The real basis behind me asking is the cost of a fluid change. When I would change fluids before on the schedule I was suppose to the fluids would cost about $30-$40 depending on brand and type (10w oil is usually a little cheaper than 20w). Now I know I bought a Harley and there are costs to owning one so that is not the issue. I just hate being taken advantage of
. Having to buy $60-$80 in fluids every 5k miles seems a bit much to me. From what I've seen already the MoCo already has other things in place that make you come to the dealer more often to begin with and this seems to be another one.Other companies don't require this and their bikes run for 100k's too.
I love my bike and am enjoying the Harley family (you guys really have blown my expectations out of the water). I just like to know the whys of everything. I was that guy in class that kept asking questions when we could have left if I would shut up, so sorry.
So to recap we have learned that the tranny has to be the strongest, then motor, then use the bacon grease for the primary. Do I have it about right. Can someone clue me in on how much of each. Don't have my manuals with me.
Last edited by iceman5218; Jul 6, 2009 at 01:48 PM. Reason: grammer
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
I would bet one of the reasons why those changes are not incorporated in all of the Harley's could be that it leaves Harley Davidson something else to do to future models to add improvements. I would bet that Harley will in the future, use the same technology as the liquid cooled V-Rod engine in other models. I would not have a problem with that.
Last edited by shortride; Jul 6, 2009 at 01:55 PM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,023
Likes: 989
From: Just Outside Chicago
I love my bike and am enjoying the Harley family (you guys really have blown my expectations out of the water). I just like to know the whys of everything. I was that guy in class that kept asking questions when we could have left if I would shut up, so sorry.
So to recap we have learned that the tranny has to be the strongest, then motor, then use the bacon grease for the primary. Do I have it about right. Can someone clue me in on how much of each. Don't have my manuals with me.
So to recap we have learned that the tranny has to be the strongest, then motor, then use the bacon grease for the primary. Do I have it about right. Can someone clue me in on how much of each. Don't have my manuals with me.
... Now what are we to believe.Next thing is you will tell us is your SEARCH Button wont work!!!!!
....Class is over LETS RIDE!!!!!
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Montgomery
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,423
Likes: 2
From: Ellenwood, GA - The Ghetto Part
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 676
Likes: 1
From: NOVA
Unome - my wife says the same thing all the time. Just before she says, "I want the bike to out last you so take good care of him". "Don't you mean her", I ask? To which she replies, with all the sincerity she can muster, "whatever...".
Ain't life grand...
Ain't life grand...