Formula Plus in primany
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
There was a thread a few weeks ago about slipping clutches with synthetic and a general concensus of folks who switched back to Formula+ from synthetic said it did fix their slipping clutch problem. That is different subject than this one, which is asking what oil would be better for the compensator? After replacing two compensators in the last three years (two different bikes) I'm curious to learn that answer. I also didn't like synthetic in the primary, so this would be a delima if synthetic was better for the comp.
Beary
Beary
Last edited by beary; Jul 25, 2014 at 09:44 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,644
Likes: 1,385
From: North Central WV
Mobil1 V Twin 20w-50 for me.
I've noticed no notable change except I am not confident in HD Syn3, as I am pretty sure HD doesn't have it's own refinery somewhere. I prefer to use lubricants that I researched and KNOW are of a better quality.
But whatever works and whatever gets you there is all that matters.
I've noticed no notable change except I am not confident in HD Syn3, as I am pretty sure HD doesn't have it's own refinery somewhere. I prefer to use lubricants that I researched and KNOW are of a better quality.
But whatever works and whatever gets you there is all that matters.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 1,488
From: SW Washington State
Mobil1 V Twin 20w-50 for me.
I've noticed no notable change except I am not confident in HD Syn3, as I am pretty sure HD doesn't have it's own refinery somewhere. I prefer to use lubricants that I researched and KNOW are of a better quality.
But whatever works and whatever gets you there is all that matters.
I've noticed no notable change except I am not confident in HD Syn3, as I am pretty sure HD doesn't have it's own refinery somewhere. I prefer to use lubricants that I researched and KNOW are of a better quality.
But whatever works and whatever gets you there is all that matters.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 16
From: Texas
I had redline in the primary and my tuner suggested going back to formula Plus as it not only coats the clutch well but also lubricates the primary chain better.
I too have a noisy primary. It seems a heck of alot noisier ever since the dealer went in and replaced the clutch hub under warranty. I think Im going to have a local indy give it an ear and see what he comes up with.
I too have a noisy primary. It seems a heck of alot noisier ever since the dealer went in and replaced the clutch hub under warranty. I think Im going to have a local indy give it an ear and see what he comes up with.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,644
Likes: 1,385
From: North Central WV
Because of the standards listed on the bottles.
I do!
It's whoever can meet their minimum standards the cheapest... the lowest bidder to put the HD label on a bottle.
Will HD products work? Absolutely.
I ran F+ starting about 20 or 25 thousand miles ago, when Drag Specialties Primary Fluid became hard for me to find. I was VERY pleased with F+, and never had an issue.
I don't "know" what came from the factory in my 2014, but at the 1k I put F+ back in it, and ran it until the 5k.
Have always been a fan of synthetic lubricants, so I decided to try Red Line, and so far, am very happy.
It's whoever can meet their minimum standards the cheapest... the lowest bidder to put the HD label on a bottle.
Will HD products work? Absolutely.
I ran F+ starting about 20 or 25 thousand miles ago, when Drag Specialties Primary Fluid became hard for me to find. I was VERY pleased with F+, and never had an issue.
I don't "know" what came from the factory in my 2014, but at the 1k I put F+ back in it, and ran it until the 5k.
Have always been a fan of synthetic lubricants, so I decided to try Red Line, and so far, am very happy.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 39
From: Everywhere
F+ since day 1. 45,000 w/ stock comp. have replaced the spring pack once at 40,000 as it was worn out of spec.
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I am not an engineer so this is pure speculation on my part, gleaned from decades of experience. There are a number of things going on in the primary case of a Harley. Probably the thing that gives more owners trouble over the last 10 years is the damn compensator assembly. It has been redesigned by the MOCO at least 3 or 4 different times in the last 10 years that I know of. The latest design being for the 2014 model touring bikes. I still hear from owners who continue to have problems with their new compensators. At this point it is probably too much to hope for that the crack engineering team at the MOCO would just throw out the compensator assembly and come up with something like everyone else uses and has relatively few problems with.
The problem for the most part continues to be that fact that lubricating oil has a very difficult time of lubricating all the compensator parts that need lubrication.
The last thing I would want to do is put a heavy oil in the primary. In this case I think it would be prudent to run a light oil in there which is exactly what the Formula Plus is.
Same goes for the gear box. Heavy oil is not always the thing you want.
Harleys aren't 80,000 lb vehicles cruising at 70 mph all day and night long, racking up a million miles. Those kind of applications can benefit from a 140 weight oil, but certainly not our little 1000 pound motorcycles.
The problem for the most part continues to be that fact that lubricating oil has a very difficult time of lubricating all the compensator parts that need lubrication.
The last thing I would want to do is put a heavy oil in the primary. In this case I think it would be prudent to run a light oil in there which is exactly what the Formula Plus is.
Same goes for the gear box. Heavy oil is not always the thing you want.
Harleys aren't 80,000 lb vehicles cruising at 70 mph all day and night long, racking up a million miles. Those kind of applications can benefit from a 140 weight oil, but certainly not our little 1000 pound motorcycles.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,217
Likes: 3,046
From: St.Louis Mo.
I am not an engineer so this is pure speculation on my part, gleaned from decades of experience. There are a number of things going on in the primary case of a Harley. Probably the thing that gives more owners trouble over the last 10 years is the damn compensator assembly. It has been redesigned by the MOCO at least 3 or 4 different times in the last 10 years that I know of. The latest design being for the 2014 model touring bikes. I still hear from owners who continue to have problems with their new compensators. At this point it is probably too much to hope for that the crack engineering team at the MOCO would just throw out the compensator assembly and come up with something like everyone else uses and has relatively few problems with.
The problem for the most part continues to be that fact that lubricating oil has a very difficult time of lubricating all the compensator parts that need lubrication.
The last thing I would want to do is put a heavy oil in the primary. In this case I think it would be prudent to run a light oil in there which is exactly what the Formula Plus is.
Same goes for the gear box. Heavy oil is not always the thing you want.
Harleys aren't 80,000 lb vehicles cruising at 70 mph all day and night long, racking up a million miles. Those kind of applications can benefit from a 140 weight oil, but certainly not our little 1000 pound motorcycles.
The problem for the most part continues to be that fact that lubricating oil has a very difficult time of lubricating all the compensator parts that need lubrication.
The last thing I would want to do is put a heavy oil in the primary. In this case I think it would be prudent to run a light oil in there which is exactly what the Formula Plus is.
Same goes for the gear box. Heavy oil is not always the thing you want.
Harleys aren't 80,000 lb vehicles cruising at 70 mph all day and night long, racking up a million miles. Those kind of applications can benefit from a 140 weight oil, but certainly not our little 1000 pound motorcycles.