KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: machine on March 19, 2005, 05:12:03 AM

Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: machine on March 19, 2005, 05:12:03 AM
What  crank oil are you guys using?

Synthetic, or petroleum??  
And what brand???

My Bro-in-law's trying to talk me into using "Red Line"

?????
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: Timbowe on March 19, 2005, 06:13:53 AM
I use full synthetic Ams 20 w 50. No worries at  all including clutch.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: KXcam22 on March 19, 2005, 07:04:55 AM
Machine,
  I run the Belray gear lube.  The amsoil 20w50 is also grea stuff, but I run that in my truck instead. I've heard redline is good oil but have not tried it. With Belray I still have the stock clutch in my '92. Cam.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: hughes on March 19, 2005, 07:28:54 AM
I use Bel-Ray 80w trans. oil. For about the last year.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: alan on March 19, 2005, 07:57:15 AM
Silkoline light gear oil!
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: James670X on March 19, 2005, 08:59:47 AM
Right now in my 2000 KX500 I'm running Redline Superlight Shockproof Gear Oil in the transmission and Bel-Ray H1R synthetic for mixing/engine oil (I may change to Redline this season though).
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: machine on March 20, 2005, 09:28:07 AM
Here's some info on the oils I was thiking of;

http://www.royalpurple.com/prodsa/cycle.html
http://www.redlineoil.com.au/product-information.asp#raceoils

But $10 per quart!!!!!!!!
Yikes!!
That hurts! :shock:
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: Rowdy-Yates on March 20, 2005, 11:08:28 AM
LOL I use Chevron 10w-30 motor oil. I get it at 10 bucks a case from Costco. Other than this I have learned that a clymer recommends 10w-40. And Rick Super Hunky sieman  recommends 20W-50.
http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/columns/dntask/archives.html
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: Rowdy-Yates on March 20, 2005, 11:14:40 AM
Hey I just learned something new today. The W stands for winter not weight.

SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Viscosity Grade
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's thickness, or resistance to flow. Lower numbers indicate thinner oil and higher numbers indicate thicker oil. There are two types of motor oils, single grade and multi-grade. Multigrade oil such as a 10W-30, are designed to have the viscosity of an SAE 10W oil at cold temperatures combined with the viscosity of an SAE 30 oil at engine operating temperatures. The "W" or "Winter" designation indicates that the oil meets viscosity requirements for low temperatures (below 30? F).
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: gowen on March 20, 2005, 03:08:43 PM
Quote from: KXcam22
Machine,
  I run the Belray gear lube.  The amsoil 20w50 is also grea stuff, but I run that in my truck instead. I've heard redline is good oil but have not tried it. With Belray I still have the stock clutch in my '92. Cam.


Cam, what is the weight of that oil? I have been using Castrol GTX 10x40 and would like to change to a stronger oil for my 500. I really like the Bel-Ray products. Thanks
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: TomL on March 20, 2005, 05:42:38 PM
I just use the cheapest full synthetic I can find.  Castrol Syntec 5W50 or rotella 10w40 in the gallon jug.  I use the same approach for the 2stroke oil.  Usually mobil mx2t.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: KXcam22 on March 21, 2005, 04:08:16 AM
Gowen,
  The Belray I run is the Gear Saver 85W.  They have 75W, 80W & 85W.  I can't say I'm using the correct one but it works well.  The weight is misleading though since gear oils don't use the same SAE scale as engine oils.  When compared on a chart it comes out about SAE 30W or 40 (I recall).  It has been good.  I've run 20W50 Castrol GTX oil a number of times (Costco) but then I changed it lots.  The belray I tend to leave in for a long time, maybe too long. Cam.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: John on March 21, 2005, 08:48:31 AM
A thing to consider when riding in cold climates is that high grade oil (i.e 80-90) makes gear shifting and clutch operation a bit clunky (noisy & hard) when the engine is cold. A good syntectic multi grade oil is probably be the best choise for all year use. Synthetic oils tend to have a higher boiling point than mineral oils and are generally better. The ONLY thing that really matters with gear box oil (any kind) is that they should not have any added silicon (or any similar 'magic' lubricants) in them - they ruin your wet clutch.

The newer syntetic oils can take more engine (metal & clutch) goo and still function where traditional mineral oils degrade (lubricant functions) under the same conditions. Synthetic oils lasts longer that is.

//John
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: hughes on March 21, 2005, 08:56:36 AM
Isn't their a differance between  10w40 auto oil than a 10w40 motrcycle oil. I was under the impression that auto oil's do not meet the demans of the wet clutch or gearbox. I have also read some where that 4-stroke bikes need to use motorcycle oils just because of the clutch and gearbox. I wonder what's diff. Bel-Ray(as other companies) offers motorcycle trans oil that 75,80,85w oil that is specificy designed for gearbox and wet clutches. So why use any thing else.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: NastyNick on March 21, 2005, 11:48:20 AM
Belray Gear Saver 85W here.  Never had a problem.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: hughes on March 21, 2005, 01:17:52 PM
I have heard of guy's using ATF. What's ya'll input.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: mikesmith on March 21, 2005, 08:09:22 PM
Bel-Ray gear saver,no problems in 10 years on the same KX.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: hughes on April 11, 2005, 01:57:37 PM
So what is the correct oil to use in your gear box :?:  So many people using auto oils(10w40) and other using motorcycle gear box oil(bel-ray gear saver) would auto trans fluid be a good choice :?:  Think about what goes inside your auto's trans.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: NastyNick on April 12, 2005, 04:41:03 AM
From the BelRay website

Quote

Gear Oil versus Motor Oil 10W-40

Q: Tech Dude,
My owners manual recommends 10W-40 motor oil for the gear box in my 1997 CR 125 but your Gear Saver is 80W. Isn?t that too thick?


A: I?m glad I?m not the only one who reads my owners manual! You are very observant, Grasshopper, although you must learn that there are two types of viscosity ratings. SAE 10W-40 refers to motor oil viscosities and SAE 80W AGMA refers to gear oil viscosities. By perusing my viscosity sliding rule chart a 80W gear oil translates into a 40W (10W-40 or 20W-40) motor oil. So you are right on by using Bel-Ray Gear Saver Motorcycle Transmission Oil 80W in your gear box. Say goodbye to ?Mr. Slippy the Clutch?. This exclusive formula will hold up to the nasty shredding effects of those tranny gears and keep your clutch action consistent even under the most nervous clutch finger.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: TomL on April 12, 2005, 02:05:12 PM
Does automotive gear lube have a different weight scale than bike gear lube???  75w90 automotive gear lube seems way thicker than 85w bike gear lube.  It's only a difference of 5, but seems massive.  I can't imagine 75w90 auto gear lube is the same viscosity as 10w40.  It's obviously much, much heavier.  What the heck is going on???
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: TomL on April 12, 2005, 02:08:01 PM
Has anyone tried automotive gear lubes in their k5 tranny???  Like 75w90???  or 75w140???  They have them in full synthetic about $6/quart for the 75w90 and $12/quart for the 75w140.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: mikesmith on April 13, 2005, 10:06:04 PM
I use 10/40 Castrol in my trials bike,but It doesnt work as well as the Bel-Ray gear oil I run in the KX's.
Title: What crank oil are you guys using?
Post by: hughes on April 14, 2005, 02:51:56 AM
I am not going to try to figure this out any more. I will just stick will my gear saver bel ray 80w.