Evil synthetic oils!!!

[bkrhoades]

Had a pretty good read at HarleyHelp.com. about using syn motor oils in harley's. Bearing skate IS a real problem when using syn oils in harley's. I did'nt believe this at first, so I did some checking around, and sure enough Harley itself does not recomend using syns in their bikes, when pressed for an anwser. Big Dog will void your warranty if you are found to be using syn oils in their bikes! I was told that conventional HD 20w50 is the recomended oil for all harley's to avoid bearing skate. Now I know this will stir up a s*%$# storm with a lot of you guys, so do as I did and check it out yourself. I for one, have always used dino oil in my bike ( 83000 miles ) from the day I bought it with no problems. Syn oils have their place, but I'm not so sure it's in my bike!

I should clairify that this is for twin cam and earlier motors with roller type bearings. Once again HD itself does not recomend using synthetic motor oil in these engines. S&S says you can use syn motor oil, once the warranty is up! When you go to HarleyHelp.com, go to the tech tips link, then to the oils link.

[Fred1369]

so why do new Harleys come with Syn from the factory in them? Why does Harley have it's own brand of Syn?
The only bearings you have to worry about are the ones in your muffler.

[Gulfstream]

I knew I shouldn't have taken the brown acid...I'm having a flashback to the 70's and 80's!

[LOHAWG]

"bearing skate" havent heard of this one anyone care to elaborate?

[dog155]

Actually years ago this was talked about.Then the issue was that synthetic oil was so slippery that the roller bearing tended to slide over the race rather than roll as they are designed to do.Problem with that is I have been using synthetics in everything I own,since the 70's,and have never had a single problem related to oil too slippery.What do I know,spent 7yrs in the 6th grade!

[OldMsocko]

Originally Posted by dog155

What do I know,spent 7yrs in the 6th grade!

Did you ever graduate??

[ViennaHog]

Originally Posted by bkrhoades

Had a pretty good read at HarleyHelp.com. about using syn motor oils in harley's. Bearing skate IS a real problem when using syn oils in harley's. I did'nt believe this at first, so I did some checking around, and sure enough Harley itself does not recomend using syns in their bikes, when pressed for an anwser. Big Dog will void your warranty if you are found to be using syn oils in their bikes! I was told that conventional HD 20w50 is the recomended oil for all harley's to avoid bearing skate. Now I know this will stir up a s*%$# storm with a lot of you guys, so do as I did and check it out yourself. I for one, have always used dino oil in my bike ( 83000 miles ) from the day I bought it with no problems. Syn oils have their place, but I'm not so sure it's in my bike!

I should clairify that this is for twin cam and earlier motors with roller type bearings. Once again HD itself does not recomend using synthetic motor oil in these engines. S&S says you can use syn motor oil, once the warranty is up! When you go to HarleyHelp.com, go to the tech tips link, then to the oils link.

Crawl back in your time capsule

[bkrhoades]

Originally Posted by Fred1369

so why do new Harleys come with Syn from the factory in them? Why does Harley have it's own brand of Syn?
The only bearings you have to worry about are the ones in your muffler.

Twin cam and older engines!

[bkrhoades]

Originally Posted by Fred1369

so why do new Harleys come with Syn from the factory in them? Why does Harley have it's own brand of Syn?
The only bearings you have to worry about are the ones in your muffler.

Originally Posted by ViennaHog

Crawl back in your time capsule

Hey Viennapig, I did'nt ask you to flame me. Like I said do some checking on your own. I'm not downing syns, but this could be an issue for some bikes.

[Z16Monte]

Originally Posted by bkrhoades

Twin cam and older engines!

Uhh, The Twinkie IS the latest version of Harley's 45deg twin. Oh and explain to me. If the stuff is so slippery that the rollers won't turn, whats wearing? Can't be the rollers or the races. they're slipping on the oil.
Ed

[pirate50]

S & S recommends a premium brand of 20W50 oil formulated specifically for motorcycle use for all Long Blocks. In Shovel-Style Long Blocks, 50 or even 60 wt oil is usually acceptable in hot areas where temperatures below 75� are seldom encountered. In S & S's experience it is best to break the engine in with petroleum-based oil and, if a synthetic oil is preferred, change to synthetic after break-in

Pirate

[Hawg Man]

I've used Synthetic oil in EVERYTHING I own for the last 25 years, including my lawn tractor AND my old Shovelhead.

I have to admit I've never heard the term before, but if my bearings are skating, they must be enjoying it, because I've NEVER experienced an oil-related failure in anything I own.

My daily driver cage has 166,000 mile on it and does NOT use a drop of oil.
It's been Synthetic all its life.

[ktwillys]

Oil To Slippery............:re drolf::redrolf ::red rolf:



Isnt that the whole idea behind oil..... To Be Slippery....

[plongson]

Actually, bearing skate is real, and it is a problem in roller and ball bearings that are not LOADED heavily enough. If the application of the bearing to the designed load is not matched, skate can occur, usually when the bearing is sized way too large for the load. The lubricant can have an effect on skate. It is highly unlikely that the bearings in our v-twins motors are so large vs. load they will skate with syn. lubes...

[springer-]

Originally Posted by bkrhoades

Hey Viennapig, ......

This is a warning in regard to what you call others.

Originally Posted by Forum Rules

2. Flaming or harassing other members will not be tolerated.