Hondamatic oil?

[Mudd]

I picked up a CB750A for a winter project and am curious which engine oil to use. It's a hondamatic so you don't have a clutch, but the concern leans toward the automatic transmission. I'm open for traditional lubrication or synthetic as long as it is a good choice.
I tried the BITOG search, and Google, and I have no manual.
TIA,

 

[tom slick]

any motorcycle or diesel oil should work fine. Hondamatic is a centrifugal clutch system that works similarly to a brake drum and shoes.

 

[XS650]

A little pricey, but prolly worth it.

http://www.repairmanual.com/motorcycles/1976/27/0/40/11183

Try contacting Honda directly and ask them for fluid recommendations.

It isn't really an automatic. It has a torque converter and a manually shifted 2 speed transmission.

I'm guessing, but the 2 speed transmission probably shares the engine oil, and the torque converter probably isn;t real particular what fluid it gets. Honda should be able to help you out. An old Honda MC dealer might even know what it takes.

I rode a neighbors when they were new. I wouldn't have considered one then, but as a novel nostalga bike, it sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
any motorcycle or diesel oil should work fine. Hondamatic is a centrifugal clutch system that works similarly to a brake drum and shoes.


Nope, it's a genuine torque converter, like a car uses only smaller.

 

[tom slick]

Hmm, I wonder what Honda called the system I'm thinking of? I know there was an auto-clutch used on smaller bikes.

 

[wileyE]

They just worked off the engine oil, nothing special. Honda usually had the grade on the fill cap or near it on the case.

Kind of a mini powerglide, performed about the same.

 

[LC]

5.8 quarts with the filter. Reg 15w40 works the best in these.
If you get a lot of chatter from the converter try a little thicker oil but it won't respond as quick.

 

[LC]

You can make these bikes run

This is a picture of Dale Walker. He would run 12.3 all day. Nothing compared to the new bikes out now. But back in 78 that was pretty good for Hondamatic. You can read more @ holeshot.com
Look on the left side of the page.

 

[RWEST]

Quote:
This is a picture of Dale Walker. He would run 12.3 all day.

Is there ANYTHING he couldn't make run well?

 

[Mudd]

Thanks guys, I have a barrel of Rotella T right here in the shop.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: RWEST
Quote:
This is a picture of Dale Walker. He would run 12.3 all day.

Is there ANYTHING he couldn't make run well?

Not that I'm aware of. He was also very generous with his time. I was at his facility in La Selva CA several times when I had my Suzuki Bandit. It was a nice ride down there from San Jose to pick up parts instead of waiting on UPS. He was invariably on the phone helping someone out when I got there.

You couldn't tell you were in a MC R&D center when you were there. His dyno facility was a sound proofed one car garage so he could do dyno runs without disturbing the neighbors.

 

[RWEST]

Originally Posted By: XS650
Originally Posted By: RWEST
Quote:
This is a picture of Dale Walker. He would run 12.3 all day.

Is there ANYTHING he couldn't make run well?

Not that I'm aware of. He was also very generous with his time. I was at his facility in La Selva CA several times when I had my Suzuki Bandit. It was a nice ride down there from San Jose to pick up parts instead of waiting on UPS. He was invariably on the phone helping someone out when I got there.

You couldn't tell you were in a MC R&D center when you were there. His dyno facility was a sound proofed one car garage so he could do dyno runs without disturbing the neighbors.


Yep. I don't know how he finds time to do any R&D at all!! I know he spent a lot of time talking to me about parts for my Bandit, as well. Now I have a V-Strom, so I'll be bugging him for stuff for that one too. He really is a good guy.