Red Line gear oil

[DeeG]

I have decided that since the engine oil is nice and clean and the brake fluid is going to be swapped in the next two weeks, I'll  change the rest of the  fluids on the R45. So now I contemplate the tranny and final drive.  And of course, when that is done, the muffler bearing lube and blinker oil will also be changed.  

When i swapped the gear oil on my Guzzi Breva, I used Red Line Heavy Duty shockproof gear oil.  

http://www.redlineoil.com/products_gearlubricants.asp?productID=44&subCategoryID=16&categoryID=6

A bit spendy, but highly recommended by a mechanic I trust my life with.  

Has anyone ever used this on the airheads?  I have been told that in a bike this old, that you shouldn't switch to synthetic fluids, as the seals will start leaking.  Since I already have a case of this stuff sitting on the shelf, and for ease of remembering what brands of lube goes in what bike, I'd really like to just use this.

Does anyone see a disaster waiting to happen with this?  

Thanks,
Dee

[Justin B.]

Dee,

I've never used Red Line gear lube but I have used/use Mobil 1, Royal Purple, and Valvoline synthetic gear lubes without any problems.  The synthetic stuff will usually make your transmission shift noticeably smoother as well.  I use the 80x140 stuff in the tranny and 75w90 for the rest.  My transmissions just seem to shift better with the thick stuff when the weather gets hot.

[nhmaf]

If it is good enough for the italian bike, the german bike will probably accept it too!

I stick with the 80W90 stuff in my bikes - it is too cool up here most of the riding season to go to the high viscosity stuff, IMO.

The main thing about leaks - if you have seals that are close to leaking, but aren't at the moment - perhaps because of accumulation of "crud" around them that helps with keeping all the oil inside that the regular dino-juice doesn't penetrate/dissolve, sometimes the synthetic stuff WILL get through these barriers.  That's the theory anyway..

[Bob_Roller]

I've used Red Line gear oil in the R1150R since 2003, and it made a difference in shifting, no leakage issues .

I've also used Red Line MTL in the Honda CRX transaxle, improved shifting, and no leakage issues either .

Only one way to find out, and that's put it in the transmission, and see what happens .

[DeeG]

Only one way to find out, and that's put it in the transmission, and see what happens .

HAHAHAHA

True.  Just didn't want it to start leaking.......  

Well, Red Line it is, then.  If it leaks, I guess I get to learn how to fix it....  yipee!!!!  

[Bob_Roller]

My only experience with synthetic oils in the R65, was with Mobil 1 motorcycle oil, the rear main seal started leaking after a few months .

Drained the Mobil 1, refilled with Spectro Golden oil again, and the leak went away in 75 miles .

So there's a good chance that if the transmission leaks, changing back to whatever oil you were using before will most likely cure the leak .

[MrRiden]

The issue as I understand it or misunderstand it has something to do with Dino oil causing seals to swell in a certain way because of its makeup or additives. Syn oil allegedly does not have this quality and in the absence of said mysterious molecules the seals shrink somewhat. Urban myth? Deep science? Dunno. I've always used syn in the cars but the  bikes always get Dino just because.
rich

[DeeG]

Well, I replaced all the gear fluids with Red Line.  So far, so good.  No leakage and the bike seems to shift and run better.  hehe     Oil that was in there looked fairly clean, but since it never really got ridden I had no clue how long it'd been in there.  PO said the engine oil was fresh....... ummmm...NOT.  black as tar......ech!