Transmission Oil
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
That's what I have learned to do. I get a little forward lunge but that's the clutch plates disengaging.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
so to throw a wrench into the works, mobil1 says not to use gl5 gear oil in a tranny that has 'yellow metal' ie. brass, etc. our tranny fits right in there. not a lot, but some.
mobil1 is gl5, amsoil is gl5, just about every gear oil i've looked at is gl5. so what to do?
mobil1 vtwin 20/50 is not gl5 (since it isn't gear oil...) but is rated for our trannies and is close in viscosity. i think i will use that.
i don't know how quickly (or long) it will take for the gl5 to do any damage, but i'd rather not chance it.
mobil1 is gl5, amsoil is gl5, just about every gear oil i've looked at is gl5. so what to do?
mobil1 vtwin 20/50 is not gl5 (since it isn't gear oil...) but is rated for our trannies and is close in viscosity. i think i will use that.
i don't know how quickly (or long) it will take for the gl5 to do any damage, but i'd rather not chance it.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
so to throw a wrench into the works, mobil1 says not to use gl5 gear oil in a tranny that has 'yellow metal' ie. brass, etc. our tranny fits right in there. not a lot, but some.
mobil1 is gl5, amsoil is gl5, just about every gear oil i've looked at is gl5. so what to do?
mobil1 vtwin 20/50 is not gl5 (since it isn't gear oil...) but is rated for our trannies and is close in viscosity. i think i will use that.
i don't know how quickly (or long) it will take for the gl5 to do any damage, but i'd rather not chance it.
mobil1 is gl5, amsoil is gl5, just about every gear oil i've looked at is gl5. so what to do?
mobil1 vtwin 20/50 is not gl5 (since it isn't gear oil...) but is rated for our trannies and is close in viscosity. i think i will use that.
i don't know how quickly (or long) it will take for the gl5 to do any damage, but i'd rather not chance it.
I'm curious about that. Where did that "yellow metal" info come from? I'd be very interested to read it since I've been using GL5 not only in my bikes but most of my heavy equipment. All of them have "yellow metal" and none of them have had any issues or problems.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 6
From: Kingman, AZ
Local Indy carries the Redline but swears by Bel-Ray syn gear lube so I bought and installed that. Maybe he just needed to "move" it but works great. Still have clunk but not as loud, both bikes shift super smooth and it nearly eliminated her 07 RKC 5th gear whine.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 33
From: Acworth
The clunk is caused by the input shaft is spinning when the gear is selected- clutch is not fully disengaged.
If your primary oil level is too high it can/ will cause the clutch to drag causing the clunk. Improperly adjusted clutch will can cause the clunk. Heres another thing you can try, especially when cold, after the engine is started and the clutch lever is in, wait a couple of seconds before you drop the shifter, give the clutch plates a moment to seperate. It works if everthing else is correct.
Note: Starting the bike in gear with the cluch in works but adds load the the starter motor.
If your primary oil level is too high it can/ will cause the clutch to drag causing the clunk. Improperly adjusted clutch will can cause the clunk. Heres another thing you can try, especially when cold, after the engine is started and the clutch lever is in, wait a couple of seconds before you drop the shifter, give the clutch plates a moment to seperate. It works if everthing else is correct.
Note: Starting the bike in gear with the cluch in works but adds load the the starter motor.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 434
Likes: 1
From: Port St Lucie, FL
I just switched from Amsoil to Redline today. Wow, what a big difference. I have been using Amsoil in all my things for 20+ years, and you never could have told me that there was something better - I was proved wrong in this application.
I put Redline V-Twin Primary Chaincase Oil in the Primary, and Redline ShockProof Heavy in the Transmission. The bike shifts smoother (like butter), can find Neutral every time.
There is still the clunk going from Neutral to 1st, if you don't wait about 5-10 seconds after pulling in the clutch lever. But if you do wait, there is no clunk at all - I wasn't even sure I had it in 1st gear the first time I did this!
I put Redline V-Twin Primary Chaincase Oil in the Primary, and Redline ShockProof Heavy in the Transmission. The bike shifts smoother (like butter), can find Neutral every time.
There is still the clunk going from Neutral to 1st, if you don't wait about 5-10 seconds after pulling in the clutch lever. But if you do wait, there is no clunk at all - I wasn't even sure I had it in 1st gear the first time I did this!