1. Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

Oil Weights

Discussion in 'Vintage/Left Kickers' started by Northern Husky, Apr 25, 2010.

  1. Northern Husky Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Canada
    Hello
    The manual says to use 20w oil in the gearbox. The only 20w i can get is suspention oil.
    What is a compariable weight thats readily available like a eg 10w-30?

    What weights do you run?

    Thanks
  2. Dirtdame Administrator

    Location:
    Rock Springs Wy
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    11 WR300,13 WR125,18 FE501
    Other Motorcycles:
    17 Beta Xtrainer
    You could run ATF, type F. I usually run a GL3 75 wt in my smaller engines gear boxes and 80 wt in the larger ones.
  3. highdez1981430cr Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Yucca Valley,Ca.
    In my two stroke gear box i run 30 WT. non-detergent motor oil with 20% marvel mystery oil.

    Both can be purchased at walmart.

    Change after each trip out after warm up, your clutch will be happy,
  4. Husq.fleet Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Pendleton Oregon
    I run either 30wt TO-4 Drivetrain fluid or Fuller spec. 50wt trans oil. I have changed all mine to to the 50wt. It has a friction modifier thats works great with the friction material in clutches. Engine oil also doesn't have the shock load "cushions" that a drivetrain oil has. I dont know why they ever recommended a engine oil in a gearbox?
    The local Husky shop here in the "day" put 80-90W in them from new, a little clutch drag when cold but it helped with gear spalling thru the hardness in the transmission, opinion of course. Scott
  5. Old Geezer Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    Washington state, central desert country
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1983 XC500, 1985 CR500
    Other Motorcycles:
    1973 Yamaha 360 MX, Harley FatBoy
    Well you learn something new every day. Jap bikes, all I've ever used is straight 30wt engine oil. Gonna have to shop around to find that stuff.
    30wt TO-4 Drivetrain fluid or Fuller spec. 50wt trans oil.
  6. Fritzcoinc Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Cypress, Texas
    Hummmm, the spec. sheet for my 86 400 XCE sez BelRay 70 wt.??
  7. Philbilly Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Mount Pleasant, NC
    Oil Options

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but the type of oil you use probably does not matter as much as you think. The only problems I've ever seen caused by oil is when you don't use ANY. As far as engine oil not having any shock qualities, what about the shock load a typical 4-stroke valve train endures with motor oil. There's a bunch of hype out there about labels and brands and that's what we usually pay for. Just something to think about...I like using a "no name" oil that is half the price of a "big label" (I don't like paying extra to sponsor those guys in NASCAR) and change it on a regular basis.
    Tinken and Rhodeislander like this.
  8. 1982 XC 430 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Seattle Wa
    Hello all I'm new to the Cafe. I have the same Question and there have been a couple of responces on Oils but nothing on 20wt. My two Huskys are both 1982' a 430 and a 250 Xc's. Yes the Manual sez 20wt Trans Oil either Husqvarna or Bel-Ray. As 20wt is not a common Gearbox Oil and I have never really even herd of such a thing. My 250 I just picked up and its sat for a Decade so I did the normal stuff before riding it and noticed how thin the Oil was in the Trans when I drained it. I even e-mailed Bel-Ray to see if they still had any but didn't get any responce that did any good. So why 20wt, there must of been a reason, sounds like the later Bikes called for more standard wt Oils with the same basic Trans. The Bike started on the 1st Kick, the Clutch was froze up till I rode it a bit (typical problem of running Automotive Oil in a wet Clutch) and its a bit hard to shift into 4th. I'm running modern Ber-Ray gear Oil.
  9. Northern Husky Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Canada
    ....................l took Dirt dames advice, i now run ATF type F, this is my 4th big bore 80s Husky, it now has the best engagement of all of them. lm a convert.
    Dirtdame likes this.
  10. oldhuskychuck Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    Denver Co
    Husqvarna,s are not made to use ATF.. a good wet clutch type oil is best...
    it will break down fast and tends to make the clutch swell...
    i use ATF in my modern trials bike, and its great,,and changed every other ride.
    for my enduro bikes, i use Castrol GTX 20-50 4T, and change it every other trial ride.
    with ATF in these bikes, you will notice the shifting getting notchy real soon.
    and above all avoid royal purple..worst thing i ever poured into a motorcycle.
  11. wrx Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    845 newyork
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1973 to 1986 husky's various models
    Other Motorcycles:
    RM -250 / Buell / Penton 400 mc5
    SPECTRO golden gear 80wt and nothing else. been using it for 20+years with NO problems.
  12. Northern Husky Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Canada
    Whatever!!lt wasnt an observation, its a declaration, my last comment on the subject, ive no interest in starting oil wars!!
  13. oldhuskychuck Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    Denver Co
    dont get your spokes in a knot....just think...the old books say to use 80-90 gear oil,
    i tried that once,,,what a mess...
    use what ever works for you....if you have a modern style clutch in your bike,,,ATF will be just fine.
  14. tommie d Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Kansas
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Twenty one and counting
    Other Motorcycles:
    Two Honda's
    FYI, you can still get Valvoline SAE 20W
  15. fran...k. Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    eastern ct
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    420ae 98wr125 2004wr250 others
    Other Motorcycles:
    electric freeride 1993 yam gts
    Myself I run tractor transmission and hydraulic fluid from five gallon pails. I used light 80 or so bel ray transmission fluid for years which is good but more money and not as handy as a pail. The light transmission fluid of 80 or so sure is a different product than hypoid gear lube with a similar number like you would put in the diffirential of a rear wheel drive automobile. I do not know if suspention fluid numbers equate to the same viscosity as motor oil numbers. At any rate think about what would keep those starting gears from wearing particularly the one on the back of the clutch. I never took an automatic transmission apart does it have clutch packs in it similar to a motorcycle clutch? I know some tractor transmissions have similar clutch packs for the pto and also some clutches run in the transmission oil but not ones I have manuals for.

    Oh the four stroke left kick one gets Mobil 1 with the red cap 15-? and the transmission and clutch are pretty much the same at the two stroke ones. That seems to work for me.

    Fran
  16. halffast Husqvarna
    B Class

    Location:
    East Sparta , Ohio
    I too run the tractor trans/hyd fluid . It works great in both my Mag and '84 500 . Goes for about $16 a gallon at NAPA stores . Never a slipping or dragging clutch and at that price you don't feel too bad about changing it often . It is probably even cheaper at a TSC or Farm and Fleet store in the 5 gallon buckets Fran mentioned .
  17. pcnsd Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    San Marcos, CA
    Asking what is the best oil provokes a profoundly political response in most people. It is like asking what attributes make up the best woman (or man for the ladies). Everyone has a favorite opinion, most not based on specific criteria as such, or a wide variation of criterion and there can be a lot of variation of valid logical output. Use what works best for you or is least expensive or most expensive or what have you. The best advise is to change whatever oil you use more often than not and keep shuffling oil types until you find what fills your criteria.

    Regards,
    PC
    Dirtdame likes this.
  18. 7point62 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Southwest England
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2004 TE450
    Other Motorcycles:
    2001 Kawasaki TR250
    Oil is like soap powder. Each year the advertisments make outlandish claims about how much better it's got since the last brand overhaul and repackaging exercise that it's a wonder that the stuff we all used ten years ago actually worked at all...

    Oh and the "Don't diss my oil" thing that is so common on all internal combustion engine related forums is just a demonstration of an interesting facet of human nature - the bit called faith.
    Everone who cares even a little about their engines will put at least some thought into choosing an oil. Then, when their engine doesn't immediately explode in a shower of sparks then they will likely stick with it. It becomes their oil. They have faith. Soon enough things like scientific evidence and whatnot become irrelevent and they will defend their oil to the death. It's a bit like discussing religion or politics in a bar - it will end up in a fight. :lol:

    Sorry for the hijack. As you were. :D
    Hurky and Tinken like this.
  19. Northern Husky Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Canada
    Stand to stand to.

    Very insightful, and as is half the problem with these forums, a tad of topic.
    To be expected from the 'Platoon philosopher', abet an old version as the beloved L1A1 was traded in about the same time as Husky stopped being Swedish!!:p

    Stand down
  20. tommie d Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Kansas
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Twenty one and counting
    Other Motorcycles:
    Two Honda's
    And all he wanted to know is "What weights do you run?"
    Rhodeislander likes this.