Red Line Primary Lube
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
You may have simply mis-worded what you were thinking but just in case... I think Jamie was suggesting to change the oil in the primary case, not the trans.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 862
Likes: 1
From: Western PA
+1. I have the complete H-Q 107st package. 109 hp and 114 tq. Had the heavier hd clutch spring installed when motor was built. Run hd formula+, and no clutch slippage!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 48
From: WI
Bought a kit from Racers Warehouse. It included The Red Line 20W50 for the engine The transmission lube with shockproof for the trany and Red Line primary fluid for the primary. Ran it most of last year and the bike ran great shifted good and the clutch feel was better taking off with a full load of vacation gear and the wife on back. Now I had Fuel Moto add cams lifters and head pipe. Gained 30 hp or so and now the clutch slips under hard acceleration in fifth gear. Jamie suggested to switch back to regular 20W50 and try that as the synthetic just may be to slick. Only have a 100 easy miles but today it slipped aging when I romped on it on the highway. He said I might have to go to a stiffer clutch spring or that the synthetic may have slicked up the clutch for good. Might have to replace the plates. On the stock dyno run there was not a problem but after the cams and the increased power this showed up. Anyone else have a problem with the Red Line primary fluid? Per Jamie's suggestion I will drain the trany a time or two first and replace with regular 20W50 first to see if that helps. Just looking to see if anyone else ever run into this.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 511
Likes: 14
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 511
Likes: 14
One concern that I had was why just fifth gear slippage? Is this just the gear where you have the power but also meet up with wind resistance or is there another problem. I am guessing you would not have wind resistance showing up on a dyno run unless it is somehow programed in. Seems I remember a thread on here a while ago about the way fifth gear was cut. That with enough power and angle of the gears it pushed the shaft sideways. With a worn or bad bearing it pushed out on the clutch enough to show some slippage. Other gears were cut differently so that the trany shaft did not have the same sideways "push" hence no slippage. Not sure what year or millage bikes that problem showed up on, but Harley's fix was to replace the trany bearing. Any thoughts?
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 511
Likes: 14
Gearhead3,
So this is what I have now.
37871-04 yellow dot (135 KgF/ 298 lbs/ft) 2004-05 88" and 2010 Limited
This is what is recommended?
37871-98A (145 KgF/ 320 lbs/ft) 1998-2003 Most recommended on forum for touring
And this one is on the curent SE bikes?
37951-98 (175 KgF/ 386 lbs/ft) Current SE
Would it be safe to say then I could find a SE bike at my local dealer and try the clutch and my lever feel would be the same or less than the SE bike? Or is there some other differences that would change the feel?
So this is what I have now.
37871-04 yellow dot (135 KgF/ 298 lbs/ft) 2004-05 88" and 2010 Limited
This is what is recommended?
37871-98A (145 KgF/ 320 lbs/ft) 1998-2003 Most recommended on forum for touring
And this one is on the curent SE bikes?
37951-98 (175 KgF/ 386 lbs/ft) Current SE
Would it be safe to say then I could find a SE bike at my local dealer and try the clutch and my lever feel would be the same or less than the SE bike? Or is there some other differences that would change the feel?
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 531
Likes: 4
From: Chile Flats, AZ
Fine Line - Clutch Thread vs. Lube Thread
My 117" needed the Rivera Pro with which I ran Redline quite successfully with no slippage whatsoever.... worked so great that for me ---
I immediately changed out the Syn3 when I got the Ultra and put in the Redline... result was immediate clutch slippage when attempting to pass (accelerate) at freeway speeds... checked the comp and other elements in the primary, switched to HD Formula+ ... no more slippage.... go figger!
For a year, in the Ultra, Formula+ in the primary -- no problems at any speed / rpm.... YMMV...
I immediately changed out the Syn3 when I got the Ultra and put in the Redline... result was immediate clutch slippage when attempting to pass (accelerate) at freeway speeds... checked the comp and other elements in the primary, switched to HD Formula+ ... no more slippage.... go figger!
For a year, in the Ultra, Formula+ in the primary -- no problems at any speed / rpm.... YMMV...
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 511
Likes: 2
From: Russiaville, In
Gearhead3,
So this is what I have now.
37871-04 yellow dot (135 KgF/ 298 lbs/ft) 2004-05 88" and 2010 Limited
This is what is recommended?
37871-98A (145 KgF/ 320 lbs/ft) 1998-2003 Most recommended on forum for touring
And this one is on the curent SE bikes?
37951-98 (175 KgF/ 386 lbs/ft) Current SE
Would it be safe to say then I could find a SE bike at my local dealer and try the clutch and my lever feel would be the same or less than the SE bike? Or is there some other differences that would change the feel?
So this is what I have now.
37871-04 yellow dot (135 KgF/ 298 lbs/ft) 2004-05 88" and 2010 Limited
This is what is recommended?
37871-98A (145 KgF/ 320 lbs/ft) 1998-2003 Most recommended on forum for touring
And this one is on the curent SE bikes?
37951-98 (175 KgF/ 386 lbs/ft) Current SE
Would it be safe to say then I could find a SE bike at my local dealer and try the clutch and my lever feel would be the same or less than the SE bike? Or is there some other differences that would change the feel?
no becuase the se bikes are a hydro clutch to overcome that much stiffer spring.. see if you can find a police bike and feel that stiffer clutch..its very noticeable
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 6
From: Lapeer , Mich
read on here some place that the oil in the primary was mostly for cooling and that syn oils were to slick [ even though HD ships them with syn 3 ] any way said it was a waist of money , I went with the formula + and works great for me after a new clutch at 40000 miles and using mobile 1 20w50 in the primary?