Sorry.. another oil question
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,585
Likes: 673
From: Rolla
You can buy equal or better (depending on who's opinion you listen too) from other sources.
The big issue comes when you have the dealer actually do the fluid change for you.
You will have sticker shock then for sure.
What fluid to use will be a never ending debate, and you'll never get a solid answer. Too many "personal" preferences.
Just about any name brand oil meeting the required specs will be good.
Proper maintenance intervals is much more important than what brand of fluid your using.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 404
Likes: 3
From: St Louis, MO
As others have mentioned the service manual will save you lots of time, money and headaches. So I would suggest buying one either online or at the dealer. Either way you will not go wrong. I have used mine several times over the past couple of weeks for Oil change, wheel removal/reinstall and caliper rebuild. Just over the past few weeks I saved more than enough to cover full retail of the manual several times.
Phil
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 862
Likes: 3
From: Henderson, Nevada
Go to the Redline website and locate a source near you. No reason to pay shipping if you can pick it up locally. Redline shockproof transmission lube is worth the trouble you may have finding it.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 90
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From: MN
Thank you for all your replies. I went to the dealer today and bought the service manuel. It was 53 bucks. I figured it was a 1/2 hr of labor at the shop. Just looking through it I figured I would save TONS of money doing repairs and maintance doing it myself. Good idea on going online to redline products. What should I put in the primary? The guy at the dealership was telling me to use amsoil 20 50 in the transmission. He told be Redline was too heavy and would put to much pressure on the bearings.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
you didn't get a service manual with your new bike, you got an owners manual, and it doesn't have much information in it. for working on your bike, you really need to spend the money for a real harley service manual. the haynes and clymers just don't cut it. they're generic at best. get the one for your year of bike, you'll refer to it a lot when you need to swap parts or torque bolts. one thing to remember don't try to use a t-25 torx driver for your derby cover. it requires a t-27.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
LMAO! Is this your first Harley?
Remember the extra cash you used to have. It'll soon be a faint memory, but it's worth it.
Remember the extra cash you used to have. It'll soon be a faint memory, but it's worth it.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 434
Likes: 2
From: Wisconsin
Google "redline", search their site for "dealers", it will ask for zip code and miles willing to look from there. It will list distributors within a certain area around you, you will then be able to either look up their websites or call them on availablity. I was able to find a place that supplies products for racing cars and go-carts that I was unaware of less then 15mins drive of my house. This place will even get me redline that I can use in my engine and primary if I so choose. Your other choice may be to order on-line. Unless your riding in only cold weather, you could use the "lighter" redline, but for most of the summer season, the heavy shockproof will be fine. If your worried about it, don't use it. Do a search on oils and spend the next few days reading, as already stated, check out Bob the oil guy for even more reading. As for your Primary, most use HD Formula +, but like suggested do a search and begin reading and from there you will be able to make an educated decision based on what is easily available to you. Read that service manual and if you need a visual, look on you-tube, many a videos on many aspects of working on your bike or a model that is similar.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 404
Likes: 3
From: St Louis, MO
Thank you for all your replies. I went to the dealer today and bought the service manuel. It was 53 bucks. I figured it was a 1/2 hr of labor at the shop. Just looking through it I figured I would save TONS of money doing repairs and maintance doing it myself. Good idea on going online to redline products. What should I put in the primary? The guy at the dealership was telling me to use amsoil 20 50 in the transmission. He told be Redline was too heavy and would put to much pressure on the bearings.
For me personally I use Valvoline 20w50 motorcycle oil. It is non synthetic but I do not think that the primary needs to be. Just my opinion. If you want to go with a Syn lube there is nothing wrong with it. The other good things about the Valvoline motorcycle oil is that it is inexpensive $4. Right now all MC oil is on sale at Autozone for $2 off. I just went and picked up 3qt's yesterday for $2 each. Hard to beat that deal. If you wanted to go the Mobil 1 20w50 V-Twin route you can get it at Auto Zone for $8 a qt until April 4th.
I have never heard of any problems with people using Shockproof in the Trans. The gear oil viscosities confuse people sometimes. Here is a good break down on the difference between engine oil viscosities and gear lube viscosities. https://www.hdforums.com/forum/oil-a...-gear-oil.html
Not that you asked but here is what I use in my bike.
Mobil 1 15w50 in Engine
Mobil 1 75w90 gear oil in Trans
Valvoline 20w50 MC in Primary
My oil choices are just that, My Choices. Most oils out there today are good products so it is hard to go wrong... You can never go wrong sticking with factory oil, I just choose not to.
Just my opinions so take it for what it is worth. Again on oil subjects everyone says one thing is better than the other so you just have to kind of soak it all in and make your own decision.
Phil
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 90
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From: MN
you didn't get a service manual with your new bike, you got an owners manual, and it doesn't have much information in it. for working on your bike, you really need to spend the money for a real harley service manual. the haynes and clymers just don't cut it. they're generic at best. get the one for your year of bike, you'll refer to it a lot when you need to swap parts or torque bolts. one thing to remember don't try to use a t-25 torx driver for your derby cover. it requires a t-27.
Ya I know a got a owners manual with the bike when I bought it. Like I stated above I went to the dealership and bought the service manual yesterday. It is going to be pretty usefull as there is lots of info in there.