Ironhead gearbox oil ?

[panheadpete]

So, Chilly, you didn't want an oil debate eh? HeeHee

Cheers,
Pete

[chilly]

Good innit

[bazereid]

There is nothing to debate. The Sporty gearbox needs to be run with the right oil as I stated, anything else would be a very expensive mistake probably sooner than later. The ONLY reason that ATF is used in primary cases is that the primary chain will be more effectively lubricated by a thin lubricant that gets whipped into a fine penetrating spray as the chain runs through it. Essential on highly stressed single row chains on older Brit bikes which otherwise would tend to carve a channel through thicker oil and simply throw it outwards. Harleys off course are a brick s**t house design which dont have that problem.

[chilly]

The only reason i use ATF on my Brit stuff is that makes the clutch so much nicer to use.

[panheadpete]

Seriously though, Chilly, what the good people here say makes sense; ATF is great for clutches and primary chains but only works in gearboxes designed for it.
My Clymer manual recommends HD Power Blend Super Premium Oil, whatever that is, it doesn't sound like ATF; why they made the chaincase and gearbox oil common is beyond me, it makes as much sense as running the chaincase oil through the engine like they did on Shovels.
Although I use it in the forks, I can't find ATF recommended anywhere in the Clymer manual for anything?
Cheers,
Pete

[Gray]

Originally Posted by chilly

Good innit

And interesting. Nothing to add myself because it took me decades to be weaned off SAE 50 onto sport trans for the tranny.

[panheadpete]

AMSOIL recommend 20w/50, which is what the HD-fancy-name oil probably is. That's what I have always used, anyway, ie same as the engine.
Cheers,
Pete

[kevscrivener]

I'm with Gray on this one; I've never used owt but Sport-Trans in my Ironheads, and I've only once had any gearbox problems; even that was nowt to do with lubrication but was a failure of the worm gear on the speedo drive which took out a couple of teeth on 2nd gear.

In Patrick's defence I've not known his boxes to suffer either, despite the grief he gives them ...... however I can't ever remember seeing him riding a post-71 Ironhead (ie wet clutch ) either!

[chilly]

Thanks for all the input folks,i'm not going down the ATF route,just doesn't feel right to me.
So i think i'll be putting i some sigma Rock oil or similar

Panhead pete
My Clymer definiteley says after 71 ATF

[Panhead Boris]

I used to run mine on strainght 50w back in the day. Not sure that I would now though

I don't think I'd use ATF. Where it's used in transmissions it's pumped under pressure I think, rather than splashed around.