Your thoughts on lubrication, fairly new Harley?

[Climb14er]

I picked up six weeks ago a barely used 2010 Fatboy from an Army Major who initially retired, started a company, then the Army 'made him an offer he couldn't refuse' so he sold his Harley to me with just 2975 miles. I'd been looking for the same exact model with accessories so the purchase worked out best for both of us.

He 'broke the bike in' around Colorado Springs, riding it easy at varying speeds then headed out to Los Angeles where he had the bike serviced at Bartels. They used 50 weight oil because of the very hot southern Califorina and desert/highway temperatures and when I got the bike here, took it to Rocky Mountain Harley to have them 'get me on the computer as the owner' and they used Syn 3 20W-50 in the engine and Formula + in the primary and transmission.

I've been riding it a lot lately, the bike runs strong and I picked up a six pack case of Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W50 oil for the next 'change' which I will do myself.

I'm thinking of using the Redline V-Twin Synthetic Primary oil for the primary and the Redline V-Twin Synthetic Shockproof for the transmission.

If all goes well, I could see myself transitioning to Redline 20W50 Synthetic for the engine too.

How does this all sound to you folks with the V-Twins and who have used either Mobil 1 V-Twin and/or Redline Synthetics for your bikes?

 

[heavyhitter]

Everything you mentioned would work fine.

Im not a fan of motor oil in the transmission sure it will work but gear oil would be better in there IMO. Most bike do not have a choice because they share the sump but in your case you have the option to use gear oil so I would recommend it.

Save some money and use a 10w40 or HDEO like Rotella T in your primary.

I like a 15w50 or 20w50 more than a straight 50w.

 

[Climb14er]

Just to clarify...

I won't be using the Mobil 1 20W-50 (or the Redline 20W-50) in the transmission or primary... just the engine.

Using the V-Twin Shockproof gear oil for the transmission and the V-Twin Primary for the primary.

The 50 weight is the oil that Bartels uses in Southern California for the heat. In Colorado, 20W-50 Synthetic V-Twin oil is what I'd prefer to use in the Harley's engine.

I've got 1.75 years of warranty remaining... just want to 'keep things simple'.

 

[cbear]

I've used the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w-50 for 40k miles on my Sportster. No issues, and I'm glad it's in there when I get stuck in a traffic jam in the summer time.

 

[kballowe]

What you described will be just fine.

Note that the Formula+ is nothing more than a (roughly) 50 weight mineral oil with little add pack.

That Redline shockproof is a favorite for HD transmissions but the truth is that folks use just about anything and get excellent service. We just had the lid off of an '03 xmsn that ran nothing but 20w-50 motor oil and it looked like new in there.

You certainly could use that Redline primary chaincase lube but don't really need a synthetic oil in your primary chaincase. There's a double-row chain and gears and a clutch pack. Certainly not a candidate for high tech lubrication. Many of us use Rotella or Delvac 15w40 in the primary 'cause we're cheap and it works.

Here's my '08 Fat Boy
.
.

 

[FLHRGator]

I use conventional oil in all 3 holes in AZ heat and it works fine so M1 or RL should work okay. A little overkill if you ask me, but your bike, your money, your decision.

 

[Climb14er]

Originally Posted By: FLHRGator
I use conventional oil in all 3 holes in AZ heat and it works fine so M1 or RL should work okay. A little overkill if you ask me, but your bike, your money, your decision.


Yeah, it's probably that... but if I spend the time and money to change out the three holes with my doing the labor, might as well put in the best lube for that application.

I went with the 20W-50 V-Twin Power pack, and a couple extra qts of V-Twin Primary and Transmission/Shockproof for use with the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 case that I have already on hand.

 

[flhray66]

hello to all i have own a harley repair and machine shop 32ys
i like belray 85-140 in the trans rotella-t 15-40 in the primary and syn oil in the moter after break in
i always add to engine, primary and trans a measured amount of
zmax oil additive, have been using zmax starting in 1968
ray

 

[BigCahuna]

zMAX was developed in 1947 by Joe Lencki as Speedway Cocktail. Sold to the racing industry and car dealerships since it development, it has been marketed as zMAX since1989. AVBLEND, the zMAX formula for aviation, is FAA approved for all piston driven aircraft and has been available since 1980. In addition to company efforts to market zMAX through infomercial, zMAX is available at better auto parts stores including Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Checker, Kargen, Murray's Auto Parts, O'Reilly Auto Parts, PepBoys, Schuck's, Strauss Discount Auto, VIP as well as Target stores and BJ's Wholesale nationwide. zMAX became a part of Speedway Motorsports Inc in 1987.
The above was taken from the zmax website. Are you sure you were using it in 1968? And if you were, are the vehicles still around you used it in?.,,

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Climb14er
Originally Posted By: FLHRGator
I use conventional oil in all 3 holes in AZ heat and it works fine so M1 or RL should work okay. A little overkill if you ask me, but your bike, your money, your decision.


Yeah, it's probably that... but if I spend the time and money to change out the three holes with my doing the labor, might as well put in the best lube for that application.

I went with the 20W-50 V-Twin Power pack, and a couple extra qts of V-Twin Primary and Transmission/Shockproof for use with the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 case that I have already on hand.



I use the same Redline 20W/50 Powerpacks as you got. (Nice hat they throw in too!). I've used everything and the Redline works best for me. The trans has never been smoother.

 

[Ken2]

In 2001 the Federal Trade Commission sued zMax, 'cuz the stuff was a scam. Is the product the same, just the promises changed?
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/02/zmax1.shtm

In any case, I'd never use it in anything. I'd rather put the money into buying better oil.