Yellow/Orange Transmission fluid

[chaos901]

Motor oil is much more prone to condensation.

H-D seems to want the same fluid in all three holes.  Not in mine (now), but lots of folks do it that way.

[Hossamania]

Motor oil is much more prone to condensation.

H-D seems to want the same fluid in all three holes.  Not in mine (now), but lots of folks do it that way.

I should have said, oil in the motor is more prone to condensation, as opposed to the oil in the trans or primary.

[SmokyOwl]

I'd like to mix some oil with water this weekend and experiment but I'm working    I'd also like to dump a little oil out and post a picture here of the stuff, see how it's doing after 1,000 more miles.

Could it have been something from the factory- like a lime packet that wasn't spotted during installation or something that was crammed in a corner eventually dropped and exploded inside the case?  I'm just trying to think of stuff it could be other than the condensation theory.

[koko3052]

I think that you should keep riding it & changing the trans. oil until it cleans up & then just monitor.

[PoorUB]

I agree, stop worrying about it, change it a couple times and ride it. I doubt there is anything in the tranny that will hurt any thing, certainly after a couple lube changes. It is a pretty simple gear box, as long as it has lube it will be happy. It worked well after a lube change.

We know a tech dumped dye into it, I still believe that is what it is, maybe the tech over did the dye shot. If one ounce is good, ten is better!

[smoserx1]

Remember oil and water don't really mix.  If you do manage to get it dispersed you really end up with hundreds of tiny drops of water in the oil, but still not really mixed.  A milky appearance usually results.  Just change it and ride.

[SmokyOwl]

So here I am again, 9 months later- with discolored transmission fluid.  I'm convinced it's water mixing in.  I've also just heard it might be from sitting over the winter, and that having it changing colors is a regular occurrence.  To back up that claim, a friend's '15 slim is also a dark green after 3 years.  Perhaps it is a winter storage thing, as this is not happening with everybody, but I'll be changing fluid out either before or after winter storage from here on out. 

[PoorUB]

What are you running for transmission lube?

[Hossamania]

Send a sample off to Blackstone for examination.

[SmokyOwl]

Send a sample off to Blackstone for examination.

That is an excellent idea Hoss- I have a kit already too. 

What are you running for transmission lube?

I'm using that new oil that Harley came out with, Heavy Synthetic Gear Oil 80W-140 [62600091] At $20 a quart I'm glad it takes just under a quart to fill it.

[PoorUB]

Were both times with HD lube? Then try something else. It may be just HD's oil. You can buy 75w140 syn at any auto parts store and it might be less money.

[Hossamania]

Bel Ray 75/140 was $19 a quart at the bike show last year, I held off thinking I could get it for much less at the store. Yep, less, $18.99. So $20 isn't out of line.
I agree with PoorUB, try a different brand, I'm partial to Bel Ray and and Spectro. But I've run almost everything. Just put Drag Specialty tranny gear lube in my  brother's.

[SmokyOwl]

I guess we'll find out in another 6 months, I mean whatever is going on is a recurring thing.  I have a feeling the only thing that'll change by changing brands will be what color it ends up being.  The first time it happened, I don't know what fluid was in it, but the HD gear oil had just come out for sale so the oil was different now than last time.  However that time it was an orange/yellow, and now it's an olive green, which makes me think that different gear oil will produce a different color but the same milky result.

I look forward to another 6+ months to check my friend's slim as well, as we changed the trans fluids at the same time with the same HD gear oil.  Do some comparisons.

[smoserx1]

In your OP last august you said the tranny wasn't shifting well.  How is it shifting now?  If it is just a color change that might not be too bad.  I have never really had it happen with a lubricant, but I use DOT 5 brake fluid, which is silicone oil based.  It is dyed a light purple new but in just a few months in my bike will change to a yellowish green, about the color of a tennis ball.  Doesn't seem to affect its functionality though.

[SmokyOwl]

In your OP last august you said the tranny wasn't shifting well.  How is it shifting now?  If it is just a color change that might not be too bad.  I have never really had it happen with a lubricant, but I use DOT 5 brake fluid, which is silicone oil based.  It is dyed a light purple new but in just a few months in my bike will change to a yellowish green, about the color of a tennis ball.  Doesn't seem to affect its functionality though.

It's shifting fine, but the consistency was much thicker the first time than it is now- pretty sure that was the main reason for the difficult shifts, the oil was like paint.  I installed a little clutch lever extension and needed to drain the transmission and when I did it was  "not again".  However I suppose it's better to know now than later when it'd become an issue. 

You use brake fluid in your transmission?  Never heard of that one, I'd think that'd be too thin.

[smoserx1]

You use brake fluid in your transmission?  Never heard of that one, I'd think that'd be too thin.

No! (LOL) I didn't mean that!  Changes color in the master cylinder reservoirs.

[Hossamania]

You use brake fluid in your transmission?  Never heard of that one, I'd think that'd be too thin.

No! (LOL) I didn't mean that!  Changes color in the master cylinder reservoirs.

[SmokyOwl]

You use brake fluid in your transmission?  Never heard of that one, I'd think that'd be too thin.

No! (LOL) I didn't mean that!  Changes color in the master cylinder reservoirs.

OK, you had me concerned there 

I just re-read chaos' post...

H-D seems to want the same fluid in all three holes.  Not in mine (now), but lots of folks do it that way.

  Oh I needed that laugh!

[smoserx1]

Yea that is pretty funny but after I re-read my own post I can see how it could be interpreted I was using DOT 5 in the tranny.