Transmission Fluid

[sandman3577]

thank you i will try the amsoil 20/50 does it cushion the 1st gear engage clunk?/i did the primary chain free play at 1/2 inch all the way around also.

 

[djs2k2]

Amsoil 20w50 full synthetic

 

[Cosworth]

1/2" primary free play is too much, free play should be 1/8"

 

[user_deleted]

thank you i will try the amsoil 20/50 does it cushion the 1st gear engage clunk?/

my pleasure. that clunk is the nature of the beast with any wet clutch application. the longer your bike sits unused and the colder the temps are the more pronounced the clunk will be upon initial start-up and engagement. IMO it's also not conducive to extended trans longevity but no facts to back up that belief....just a hunch. to minimize it do this with a cold-start unridden-for-awhile bike: start up....get your gear on... mount up...pull in clutch lever....paddle forward with both feet for a second or 2 and snick into 1st. it greatly reduces the clunk.

 

[reebis]

I've been using M1 20w50 in both holes since I've had the bike with no issues. And, IIRC, the chain free play should be measured/adjusted when the bike is up to operating temps....the spec is 1/8" to 1/4" of free play.

 

[go cytocis]

ATF

 

[canucklovingbrit]

Amsoil 20W-50 Synthetic, both holes, since 13,000kms. Now 54,000 kms, bike doesn't burn a drop of oil; oil always very clean, even when due for a change. And yes, it does reduce the "neutral to first" clunk somewhat.

 

[WiredForStereo]

Currently using Amsoil 10W-40 in both holes for winter. Will be switching to 5W-50 in the engine next change and 20W-50 in the transmission. Amsoil's motorcycle oils don't have friction modifiers, so I want to go with a standard engine oil next time in the engine because I want those friction modifiers.

 

[sandman3577]

ok thank you for all the good info/again alot of you guys are humble and know buells/well i went with the amsoil 20w50 i had a dealer 10 mins away so i put it in boths holes. i read alot of tests with amsoil it is by far the toughest syn. out there.it destroys that syn-3 think thats the harley oil. so amsoil is the best bet/anybody run there filter?seems they dont make one for the xb9s a motorcycle one.

 

[user_deleted]

anybody run there filter?seems they dont make one for the xb9s a motorcycle one.

here's what fits:
ACDelco # UPF1233
Amsoil SDF10, EA009, EA010 (1/2”longer=more oil)
Bosch # 3311
Car Quest 85394
Champion # C138
Fram # PH4967
HD # 63806-004 or 00y?
HiFloFiltro #HF177
K&N # hp-1003, KN-177
Mighty # m4477
Napa # 1394
Mobil 1 # M1-103
Motorcraft # FL836
Penzoil # pz39
Purolator # L14476
STP # S4967
Valvoline # vo40
Wal-Mart Super Tech # ST4967
Wix # 51394
Union Sangyo[OEM Toyota Mfg]#C-170

 

[WiredForStereo]

Sandman, I use Amsoil's automotive filter because it's very good and happens to be the same one I use on my Corolla, the EaO09. Good info though on the EaO10 though, lunaticfringe. Is there more filter media in there too? I'd be really interested in that for both the bike and the car.

 

[sandman3577]

ok thanks im going to hunt down a EA010 i hope its ok on a bike engine/ never had a issue with a bike filter vs a car the scary thing is nobody says the same thing if they are made differant/can stop the flow in a bike engine? K&N def. said donot run the car filter/on a buell. amsoil told me they dont make one that fit and i emailed PERF_FORM filters and the guy e-mails me and tells me they dont make one for a buell i do alittle research and there it is OB-101 they make this filter/what is the matter with todays companies? you cant even get a simple answer. well again thanks for the infomation/lunaticfringe you know your stuff i respect that its old school teaching

 

[user_deleted]

well again thanks for the infomation/lunaticfringe you know your stuff i respect that its old school teaching

thank you sir...appreciate the kind words as always. regarding your filter situation i have been using both wix and bosch filters on XB and V-rods for over 10 years now....well over 100,000 accrued miles...and never a problem. i would tend NOT to run a $4 "house-brand" style filter on these machines but that's just me.

 

[BuellxBandit]

Erik Buell swears by Amsoil so that's what I've always run. Do some research on their product and its easy to see why. They are truly focused on producing the highest QUALITY oil, rather than turning out the highest QUANTITY of product and profit.

Amsoil's motorcycle oils don't have friction modifiers, so I want to go with a standard engine oil next time in the engine because I want those friction modifiers.

This is true, to clarify (it sounds like this person understands but some others may not), friction modifiers can be good for an engine but are very BAD for use in transmissions with a wet clutch. These additives will essentially fill the surface defects (what is actually gripping) of your nice Kevlar friction plates and you run the risk of turning a perfectly good clutch into one that slips as if it's badly worn. Whatever brand you choose just be sure you don't run oil with these modifiers in your trans.

 

[djs2k2]

Amsoil 20w50 full synthetic.

 

[Dellinger]

I went with the redline recommendation of their 75w90 gear oil in my primary and I just started getting a slipping clutch. I'm going back to the 20w50 today. Stick with what works.

 

[user_deleted]

as i've mentioned many times....i've tried them all. mobil-1....silkolene...repsol....castrol act-evo...bel-ray....torco....redline....motul......IMO amsoil 20-50 cycle specific still provides the smoothest shifting and clutch actuation plus the price is competitive.

 

[Dellinger]

Lunatic, do you use amsoil in both holes?

 

[user_deleted]

Lunatic, do you use amsoil in both holes?

no and here's the reason: i have 5 Buells and put an average of 2K miles a year on each one. i change the primary/trans fluid every other year and the motor oil and filter on each bike around Christmas....regardless of accrued mileage. during the course of any year i'll typically stock-pile between 40-60 quarts of 15-40 and 20-50 cycle oil from any distributor that has the oil on sale. i'm not brand partial.......i'm price conscious. all the cycle oils these days are really wonderful.

 

[DSHUMAKER]

I've given up on what brand is better than others I used what i can find and don't have to drive 50 miles for. This is my first season with my ss and I've dumped more oil out of it than I would have liked to. I run lucas 20-50 w in both holes in both holes in the cooler months and HD 60w engine only in the heat of summer. I agree with lunatic I have 4 bikes that take different oils and sometimes cost is a big factor. Hey lunatic if you see this hit me up I want to pick your brain about a few things. I'd start a new post but it doesn't seem like the forum is hopping like it had.