Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Miss_Piggy]

As mentioned earlier, my tranny burned out coming back across the Mojave (103 air temp) after last year's Laughlin run.  I'd just switched to HD Syn 3.  The scoot had some 3.5K miles on it(!)  And lately I've been having difficulty finding neutral + numerous phantom neutrals in my SE Road Glide (2000).  All after switching to Syn3 everywhere in these machines.  Coincidence?   Maybe.

Talked to my Buell buddy (mechanic, mech. engineer & local San Diego Buell rider/group leader) about using Syn3 motor oil in HD trannies vis a vis Redline Heavy Shockproof gear oil.  Summary of the discussion:

He points out that in addition to the obvious (gear oil is made for gears vis a vis the crankcase which produces different combustion byproducts), the red color makes leaks EZ to identify.  Use HD Syn3 in three places & get a leak blowing back on the motor, out in the middle of nowhere?  No EZ way to tell what's leaking.

In his experience, the above synthetic choices (Redline, Valvoline or Mobile 1) are better at handling the by-products of a tranny environment than motor oil: synthetic or otherwise.  This may explain the results posted at: http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=cvo_gen;action=display;num=1090596538;start=

Anyways (hope it's OK to post..someone aXed for a source earlier in the thread), Redline oil dealers can be located here: http://www.redlineoil.com/dealers.asp

[hd-dude]

Talked to my Buell buddy (mechanic, mech. engineer & local San Diego Buell rider/group leader) about using Syn3 motor oil in HD trannies vis a vis Redline Heavy Shockproof gear oil.  Summary of the discussion:

For HD strokers & big bores (esp.), he recommends Redline _light_ shockproof gear oil (75W140).  He said the heavy shockproof is too thick (pours in red, turns to yellow snot in the clutch). Too sticky.  He also uses Valvoline or Mobile 1 75/90 (synthetic gear oils) in his Buells.

Miss Piggy; The Big twin bikes do not share the tranny oil and primary oil like the Buells or Sporties do. Using the Heavy Redline oil in the tranny will not affect the clutch in any way. Using the syn 3 in the primary is OK, just not in the tranny. It needs the Heavy Stuff

[Miss_Piggy]

<snip> Using the Heavy Redline oil in the tranny will not affect the clutch in any way. Using the syn 3 in the primary is OK, just not in the tranny. It needs the Heavy Stuff

Thx for your guidance.  Most testimonials I've read are positive for the Heavy Redline oil in the tranny.  There are some that aren't.

Excerpt: "He initially ran Harley SynTec 3 in his crankcase, Redline Heavy Shock in his transmission and Redline 75W-140 in his primary chain. "Well, the Redline didn't work any better than the Syn3," Campbell said. "In fact, my transmission shifted worse. The Harley Syntec ran too hot, and the Redline was sticky."

http://www.smartsynthetics.com/amsoil-testimonies/harley-motorcycle-satisfied-customers-amsoil.htm   Admittedly a hand-picked testimony from a site that sells Amsoil.  I wonder if his "too sticky" experience was from riding his V-Twin 88 in the Sierra Mountains...  A lower temperature environment wouldn't map over to my 95 cu. in... or Gr8Escape's 103, since we ride mainly in coastal SoCal & the desert.  I'm gonna try the Redline HD in my tranny, see what happens.  Thx to all for guidance.

[JCZ]

O.K. you guys are scareing me [smiley=confused5.gif] I've got Syn3 in all three and have 8k miles on it.  I guess my consolation is that I have the seven year warranty and it's the OEM product so that shouldn't be an issue for me should something go bad. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

[HARLEYBILL]

Do yourself a favor and change to Redline Shockproof Gear Oil.
I also had approx 3000 miles on FLHTSE when I switched to the Redline.
The difference was instantaneous.
You'll get more positive shifts,easier to find neutral and much  less gear noise.
This stuff is really incredible. Used in many race car transmission and rear differentials.
It scares the hell out of you when you pour the thick goo in until you ride a couple of miles and you'll be a believer.
I still use the SYN 3 in crankcase for now but will put in Redline 20/50 synthetic in another 1000 miles.
Personally I don't feel the Syn 3 is beneficial in the trans or primary. Seems to generate a lot of gear and chain noise.
The only possible hassel you could get is if you had a warranty claim on the trans. Once that red stuff goes in it leaves traces forever.

[Willie D]

I don't mean to put a 'Stick in your Spokes' but I have used the stock HD stuff for over 100,000+ miles, in 3 different bikes, and have 'Never' had any problem. Been coast to coast, in all kinds of temps & conditions. Longest trip was 6000+ in 17 days, and changed it when I got home, motor oil was still a nice color brown, and the Trans looked as tho I had just changed it.
Here in the Great Lake State, we never see temps much over 85-90 in the heat of summer, but it is still plenty cold here in the morning.
I know & understand all of the reasons to use the $ynthetic, but for my $$ the regular stuff works, and still having to change it at regular intervals, well nuff said.

WD

[SCRM-R]

O.K....I changed to the Redline Heavy Shockproof stuff in the tranny.  It fixed the weeping that I was getting around the filler hole.  Other than that , I can't detect any noticeable difference in the way that the transmission operates.  Maybe in the long run it will be better though.  The good news is that there were only a very few, very small amount of filings on the magnetic drain plug.  I do feel better, at least, about getting a gear oil into the gear box.

[kng103]

O.K. you guys are scareing me [smiley=confused5.gif] I've got Syn3 in all three and have 8k miles on it.  I guess my consolation is that I have the seven year warranty and it's the OEM product so that shouldn't be an issue for me should something go bad. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

i run syn 3 in all three holes as well.
7k no problems at all.

[don]

Orderd the redline shoock proof heavy trans oil from Jegs Performance at 7.85 a qt. Been using Syn. 3 for 16000 miles with no problem at all. Drain plug is very very clean when I change at 2500 mi. I know thats an over kill, but thats me. Just maybe good things may get better. I'll test and see.

[spydglide]

Well, I'm still using the Syn3 in all 3 holes as well.  26,000 miles so far and that includes the
scorching heat of Daytona and Myrtle Beach parade type traffic more than once.  But, I'm worried to death, and you guys don't help at all w/ all these doom and gloom testimonials.  What to do?  I'm like JCZ, got the warrenty and gonna ride 'er out.  For now.   [smiley=confused5.gif]    [smiley=nervous.gif]  spyder   [smiley=confused.gif]    [smiley=brood.gif]

[don]

Spyder & JCV I also got the 7 year ext. warranty. Drained the Syn. 3 out of the tranny last night, but didn't put the Redline in yet. Kinda worried about the red stain left in the gear box if a warranty issue comes up. I've got 24 hours to make up my mind before the sore but run Sat. I'm sure that the Redline is as good as the Syn.3, if not better in the gear box. So should I, or shouldn"t I?  [smiley=confused5.gif]  I need some Fatherley advice.   don

[spydglide]

Well Don, if you read all the posts of the people on this site that know much more than me, you'll at least be confused and worried as I am over this issue.  As I stated, I've had no problems in 26,000 miles with the Syn3 in all places and I've got the warrenty backing me up while using what came in the 3 holes, so no questions asked should I have a problem.  Believe me, I'm paranoid enough to change if I perceived ANY problem, but to this point I'm not quite convienced enough to do so............that's my take on it to this point, but the other side presents quite a good argument too.  I DO however believe that any synthetic oil is better than the fossil stuff in there......so whatever you do, stick w/ synthetic.  good luck, spyder [smiley=laugh.gif]

[WaSEEG]

Spyder & JCV I also got the 7 year ext. warranty. Drained the Syn. 3 out of the tranny last night, but didn't put the Redline in yet. Kinda worried about the red stain left in the gear box if a warranty issue comes up. I've got 24 hours to make up my mind before the sore but run Sat. I'm sure that the Redline is as good as the Syn.3, if not better in the gear box. So should I, or shouldn"t I?  [smiley=confused5.gif]  I need some Fatherley advice.   don

Don

Redline HD Shockproof is a gear oil.  Its use will not void your warranty even if it is pink.  Try it, you'll like it.

Dan

[HUBBARD]

Spyder & JCV I also got the 7 year ext. warranty. Drained the Syn. 3 out of the tranny last night, but didn't put the Redline in yet. Kinda worried about the red stain left in the gear box if a warranty issue comes up. I've got 24 hours to make up my mind before the sore but run Sat. I'm sure that the Redline is as good as the Syn.3, if not better in the gear box. So should I, or shouldn"t I?  [smiley=confused5.gif]  I need some Fatherley advice.   don

Yeah, 'er 'uh, don,
 On the advice of my Engine Builder, we put HD 50W in new six-speed for first 1500 miles, while it cut it's pattern.  During that period, it would hang in fourth, when I was banging thru the gears, and had a slight noise.  Put synthetic in, and shifts like a dream with no more noise.  Nuetral easy to find, also.  I doubt there are many Bikers that bang the gears as hard as I do.  Especially with a 120 cu.in. Motor barkin' at the tranny!  Like Spyder & JCZ, I'm stickin' with the synthetic.  Later--HUBBARD

[don]

Hey Hubbard is this synthetic the Syn. 3, Redline, or other brand of synthetic that ya use in your bike? Going to fill my tranny up in the morning with the redline shock proof heavy , and off we go on the sore butt run. Latter don