ATF as Gear Lube

[martinfan30]

Well my first real ride on the KX5 yesterday went very well. The 85w works wonderfully. Smooth shifting, and excellent clutch feel.

[Friar-Tuck]

   
   Tuck\o/

[Jopiz]

My clymer recommends 40w for my bike, can i use 75w or 80w oil without problems?
Any comments about castrol mtx gearoils?

-J

[martinfan30]

My clymer recommends 40w for my bike, can i use 75w or 80w oil without problems?
Any comments about castrol mtx gearoils?

-J

The BelRay Gear Saver 85weight I use is similar to standard 40w.

[Good]

I use type F, and I change every other ride, and my ATF comes out really dark...

[grumpy]

Good are you running Aluminum clutch plates? Switching to steel will help a lot.

I started using ATF a couple of years ago to clean out my trans/clutch. It smoothed out my shifting, and my clutch quit dragging, so I kept using it. I thought I was due for a new basket until I switched to ATF. I change more often (every other ride) than I was ?normal? oil because ATF is almost free. Not that I know a lot about automatic transmissions, but in my head they are very much like a dirt bikes.

[martinfan30]

i run only ..  30 wieght non synthtic moter oil  like,,valveoline  my trans looks perfect inside..  i have lots of these transmisions  apart  some of the gears in the k5 trans are not bushed like a car automatic there steel on steel .. i also use clutch kits that have steel plates,,,not aluimnium  like stock.. what does  factory kaw recomend 

Just plain old 10w-30? Should oils marked "energy conserving" be avoided?

[Good]

Steel plates with man-strength springs!

[BasketCase]

I just did my first oil change after switching to ATF and about 3 hours run time, it came out dark as well, but I am attributing that to how well ATF cleans.

[KX5]

I bought ATF type F but I haven't used it yet because my bike isn't back together, It seems kind of light to me but I was wondering about 5W30? has anyone tried it? It seems like it would shift like ATF but maybe provide a longer time of protection and not break down as easy? I almost bought the royal purple stuff to try it.  Also maybe if you added some Lucas trans slip it would make the ATF a little more sticky

[hughes]

My clymer recommends 40w for my bike, can i use 75w or 80w oil without problems?
Any comments about castrol mtx gearoils?

-J

You do not want to use 75/85w auto diff gear oils in the gear box. Motorcycle gear oils are rated diff, The 85w bel-ray gear saver pours like ATF out of the bottle. auto 75/85w oil will be like puring cold syurp. That bel ray gear saver is great stuff but it looks and smells just like ATF and it's even the same color. If ATF can protect a trucks tranny for 50,000 plus miles of hauling boats,trailers,bikes etc then it will have no issue protecting a simple motorcycle gear box. Been using it for a few years with great results.

[Motorrad]

I bought ATF type F but I haven't used it yet because my bike isn't back together, It seems kind of light to me but I was wondering about 5W30? has anyone tried it? It seems like it would shift like ATF but maybe provide a longer time of protection and not break down as easy? I almost bought the royal purple stuff to try it.  Also maybe if you added some Lucas trans slip it would make the ATF a little more sticky

Never use synthetic ATF in bikes it makes the clutch plates swell.  Absolutly no additives of any kind either.   Just dextron 3 according to Gas Gas.  I still don't run ATF in the I'd though tranny is not for it

[hughes]

Always use use atf type f but I have used d3 with no issues. Type f just doesn't have all those additives.

[Ahole500]

i may be a jackass but i've run automotive WYNNS 75-90 syn gear oil in mine for 1 yr now w/ no problem.i'm a GM tech and have a couple cases and some told me they run gear oil and never had any trouble so i did and i like it.but after all this ATF talk i dont know what i should put in it never oil change 

[SlideWays]

I made the switch to ATF type F a few months ago in my 98 KX 250, I had been running Royal Purple synthetic prior to switching. My clutch would stutter when cold at the beginning of the ride, since changing to ATF have not had the problem. Royal Purple cost $15.00 a quart vesus $1.98 for the ATF, I change mine at 10 hor intervals.

My 2000 KX 250 is starting to stutter now, so will make the change in it as well.

Slideways