The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: chewy4x4 on March 31, 2010, 11:39:21 AM

Title: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: chewy4x4 on March 31, 2010, 11:39:21 AM
I want to change the transmission fluid but I dont know what to buy. I know I want a synthetic fluid but what weight? Also how much should I buy?
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: Bob_Roller on March 31, 2010, 11:42:53 AM
You need about .75 quart for the transmission .

I haven't used any synthetic oil in the transmission, so I can't give you a recommendation for brand, or weight .
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: chewy4x4 on March 31, 2010, 11:44:04 AM
What have you used and what weight did you use?
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: Bob_Roller on March 31, 2010, 11:55:18 AM
I've been using BMW branded gear oil by Spectro Oil, I think it's 85/90 wt .

I change the oil every year, and only put at best 3000 miles on the bike in a year, so I decided not to use a synthetic type oil .
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: Bengt_Phorqs on March 31, 2010, 12:17:51 PM
I've been using the BMW transmission oil in all of my bikes for years and never a tranny problem.  Of course they all still sound like a box of rocks when shifting.  

Just recently did a fluid change on the R100GS and Red Line HD Shockproof is what the local BMW mavens recommended so I thought I'd give it a try.  It looks like green Pepto but I don't have enough miles on it to comment.  I know that Red Line is very popular with the oilhead riders.
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: montmil on April 01, 2010, 05:10:33 AM
Chewy,  Keep in mind the comments from a few airheads that when switching to synthetic after a "lifetime" on dino, oil seals began to leak! Returning to the fossil oil stopped the drips. It happened to me, too. YMMV.

Monte

Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: marcmax on April 01, 2010, 06:56:12 AM
Chewy. The BMW guy I use for parts and help in central FL has been restoring BMW's for years and has a collection of BMW's going back to the 30's. When I asked him about it he insisted that under no condition would he ever put synthetic in an airhead. According to Tom even with a completely rebuilt bike and all new seals it will still leak. Now on my K bike he replaced all the fluids with synthetic and it is happy as can be. He can't explain the reasons behind it and it may just be a mechanics urban myth, but even if you are willing to pay for the service he will not do it on an airhead.
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: Yikes on April 01, 2010, 08:13:27 AM
A few month ago, I switched to synthetic tranny fluid and my occasional drip from the neutral switch turned into an out and out leak.  I'm going back to dino when I replace the switch - another of the many jobs I have the parts for but don't seem to have the time to get to.  
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: Bob_Roller on April 01, 2010, 09:04:39 AM
'Farm implements', don't need synthetic oil . [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: chewy4x4 on April 01, 2010, 09:33:24 AM
I went with a Valvoline sin blend 80w-140. Now everyone tell me I'm wrong so I can spend an other six bucks.  ::). Also it didn't help with the clunk I get in the tranny I think it might need to be reshimmed after reading through a bunch of different threads. On a scale from 0-10 10 being hard how hard is this to do?
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: Bob_Roller on April 01, 2010, 09:37:54 AM
You need to remove the back cover of the transmission, getting the drive flange off of the output shaft, can be an undertaking sometimes, install a special tool, or another cover with a hole bored into it, so you can measure the end-play of the bearing .
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: chewy4x4 on April 01, 2010, 09:50:32 AM
So hard. Does it even make sense that I would need to do this in on a bike that only has 6000 miles?
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: msbuck on April 01, 2010, 09:49:25 PM
Quote
According to Tom
That wouldn't be Tom High, would it?  
Title: Re: What fluids should I use in the Tranny?
Post by: marcmax on April 02, 2010, 05:11:15 AM
That is the Tom I speak of. If it wasn't for his willingness to pass on what he knows about BMW's, my bikes would spend a lot less time on the road and more in my garage.