Formula Plus in primany
Grand HDF Member
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From: SW Washington State
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.
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From: Bay Area
I liked your post and wanted to add some things about big rigs as you mentioned them. A Heavy Haul Truck may gross out at 240,000 lbs, they run 50 wt in the trans and can use 75/90 in the Differentials. most all gear manufactures are going to lighter oils, it gets where it needs to be quicker and provides the same lubrication as the heavy stuff.
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From: Edmond Oklahoma
Beary
Tourer
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From: Ontario, Canada
Very Interesting Read
Keep in mind it was published by AMSOIL but it compares many different 40 and 50 weight motorcycle oils. Note that HD SYN 3 and HD 360 plus Amsoil and Mobil1 are located on all the 50 weight charts:
http://wpc.1c96.edgecastcdn.net/001C...ved/index.html
http://wpc.1c96.edgecastcdn.net/001C...ved/index.html
Last edited by 03snake; Jul 25, 2014 at 12:12 PM.
Grand HDF Member
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From: SW Washington State
UHHH! What country are you from where a truck can gross out at 120tons? In US its generally 80k and some states allow 100 or 110k. Mfg's may be going to lighter oils but the priority in a gear lube is shear factor under stress then lubrication, any fluid will act like a lubricant up to a point.
Grand HDF Member
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From: Bay Area
No I do know a lot but what you mention is not the norm and thats probably 1 in 50k trucks that haul that big of a load. you gave the perception thats all trucks haul at that limit.
Confused I think!
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: SW Washington State
Not sure why you picked out my post to pick on, but if you read it again, I did say " Heavy Haul " trucks. Nothing more to see here folks lets move on.
Advanced
Joined: May 2008
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From: Middle TN
Well I'm a total heathen - Mobil 1 15-50 in the crank, RedLine Hvy Shockproof in the trans, and Dexron ATF in the primary......it's a miracle my '05 will even start after that kind of abuse! ;-)
Last edited by Mr. Pick; Jul 25, 2014 at 03:19 PM.