Transmission Oil

miatamarty · Sep 13, 2023

New to Buell XB9S. What are your recommendations for engine and trans oil. Over the years with other vehicles I've used Redline oil. I have some 20w-50 Redline motorcycle oil. I know how much oil but what kind has been kinda vague when looking at shop manual on BuellMods website. Does the trans share oil with the engine? I see that the primary chain has its own drain and refill procedure. Oil for primary chain different from engine oil?

c3powil · Sep 13, 2023

The primary and engine oil are separate. I know there are a bunch of people who use the same thing in both. I like to use the factory recommended Formula + in the primary, and any old 20-50 JASO MA rated Oil in the swingarm.

Barrett · Sep 13, 2023

miatamarty said:
New to Buell XB9S. What are your recommendations for engine and trans oil. Over the years with other vehicles I've used Redline oil. I have some 20w-50 Redline motorcycle oil. I know how much oil but what kind has been kinda vague when looking at shop manual on BuellMods website. Does the trans share oil with the engine? I see that the primary chain has its own drain and refill procedure. Oil for primary chain different from engine oil?

Does the trans share oil with the engine?

NO

ENGINE OIL: 2.5 quarts with hour long drain and filter change---20W50 for most all temps--does not need to be JASO-MA rated---any quality brand will do
TRANS/PRIMARY OIL: 1 quart with hour long drain---20W50 for all temps---should be JASO-MA or JASO-MA2 rated---I use Mobil-1 or Amsoil---both make for smooth shifting and consistent pleasant clutch engagement
ENGINE OIL is NOT shared....PRIMARY and TRANS oil IS shared
2007-2018 Toyota Yaris 1.5L oil filter most common direct cross-over for all XB filters-Shop accordingly

miatamarty · Sep 13, 2023

Thanks!!!

Barrett · Sep 13, 2023

My pleasure. Strongly suggest replacing the O-ring on both drain plugs first time around. They are the same. Put light film of oil on each O'ring before threading in drain plug as that keeps the O-ring from tearing during installation. NO thread tape or sealant should be used on either drain plug. And just snug them up with common sense.

IDIOT ALERT: There are several youtube vids in existence along with, I would assume, social media postings proclaiming the attributes of removing factory threaded and sealed plugs on bottom of Buell engine cases to drain out additional old oil. Whoever conjured this is an absolute buffoon. Do NOT ever remove those plugs.

Cooter · Sep 13, 2023

IMO, follow the procedure in the Buell service manual with one (well documented) change.

The torque spec for the drain plug is incorrectly written as 29-31 FT/lbs. Do NOT do that or you'll be searching for time-serts.

I copy the torque spec for the primary drain plug next to it. Same plug, same threads, same materials. 11-15Ft/lbs. I would recommend new o-rings, they're cheap and those plugs are over tightened to destroy them 98% of the time so have them on hand. Service manual says to use Loc-tite 565 as a thread sealant every time, both plugs.

Im my personal Buells I have found some 20w-50 oils to make the OE clutch grabby, so I also go with FORMULA + like c3powil does and it spotted out fine. Or use what the clutch MFG recommends if it has been changed. Use a V-Twin specific motorcycle oil synthetic, mix, dino, but otherwise whatever brand your dad sold you on is fine

c3powil · Sep 14, 2023

Barrett said:
ENGINE OIL: 2.5 quarts with hour long drain and filter change---20W50 for most all temps--does not need to be JASO-MA rated---any quality brand will do

I should have thought about that, but I'm just so used to buying JASO-MA rated oils for motorcycles. Barrett is right, if it isn't shared with the clutch, no need for that.

Cooter said:
Use a V-Twin specific motorcycle oil

Interesting. I'll have to look into what makes a "v-twin oil" specific to v-twin engines.

Barrett · Sep 14, 2023

Same here C3. Seems most all the motorcycle engine oils I keep here just happen to have the Japanese JASO ratings. Something in the additive package. I use it most everywhere. Have yet to use Harley Davidson Formula+ in primary/trans set-ups but hear it's very good, as you mentioned.
Been ages since we've had a quality "oil thread" rumble on here. Always thoroughly enjoyed them. Outlaw and Gloom Shadow loved them.

Cooter · Sep 14, 2023

Yes, since the base oil is all the same, it is the additive package that makes any oil 'specific' for a certain type of engine. API is for cars and JASO is for 'modern 4 cylinder motorcycles'. MA for a wet clutch type and MB for a slipping/auto type trans.

Specifically "V-twin oil" has a much higher shear strength additive to stop all that low-rpm, high cylinder pressure (torque) and heavy swinging metal from scraping the cylinder walls.

Interesting subject TBH, it will have you re-thinking some my-daddy-always-told-me things about oil. Oil has changed, they are all very good now, do what the service manual says.

Transmission Oil

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