Author Topic: Gear oil for my bike?  (Read 4897 times)

Joe7911

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Gear oil for my bike?
« on: April 28, 2013, 12:03:58 PM »
I have been searching all over for the correct type of oil for the transmission. I want a synthetic but many say not for wet clutch and I have a wet clutch according to the specs.
80w90 would be ideal if I can find one formulated for CVT transmissions.
I live in Miami so I need brands sold in USA and viscosity. The one I used for my Piaggio is run out and cant find it either. I figure it should be the same oil.
Anyone have suggestions, I really appreciate it.

de dee

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Re: Gear oil for my bike?
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2013, 02:09:47 PM »
if you have a cv belt on your scoot it is a dry tranny,.  the oil is for the gears after the variator,and clutch,.   #80 /90,   any kind if it is synthetic  and a name brand,. 

ophelia

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Re: Gear oil for my bike?
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2013, 05:50:56 PM »
Synthetic gear oil is pretty expensive. I can only find it in 75W90 where I live, and it is about $30-40 a litre. Conventional Castrol Hypoy C 80W90 is dirt cheap at ten bucks a litre, and a single litre bottle will last you many changes; the bottle says for motorcycle, ATV and scooter transmissions. I don't think there's much to gain from running synthetic, since conventional high pressure gear oil has lots of smelly but potent molybdenum disulfide added to prevent wear. Miami is also pretty warm, so I don't think you would need a thinner synthetic 75W90 too.

In Canada, it's Castrol Hypoy C. I also see it sold as Castrol Axle or Axle Limited Slip 80W90 in the US Catalog. They're rated API GL-5.

Joe, are you looking for engine oil or transmission/gear oil? The wet clutch concern comes from automotive engine oil in motorcycles with a wet clutch. Motorcycles often share engine oil with the transmission. I would definitely use synthetic engine oil in my Downtown though!
« Last Edit: April 28, 2013, 06:01:32 PM by thesurgeonistherobot »
2011 Kymco Downtown 300i

Joe7911

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Re: Gear oil for my bike?
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2013, 06:52:49 PM »
I really appreciate the info. On the online manual it says wet clutch but on the service manual I downloaded says dry so I get confused, every time I find a symthetic I read on and most say not on wet clutches. so that is why I posted the cry for help.
Since my last 3 bikes were Piaggio they only use synthetic everything engine, transmission even the brake fluid has to be synthetic. I have 5W40 AGIP left that I plan to use then I will get Motul Scooter Power 5W40 its very cheap in comparison around $11.00 to $12.00 a bottle. For what I read its specially formulated for scooters up to 650cc, they also have 10W40 but it's a blend. On my car after switching to 100% synthetic I did 2 more miles per Gallon. So since the hot weather and it towing my fat 240LB around I put synthetic for the small difference. The Bike really appreciated the change in the Iridium plug so I'm going to do it tomorrow when I get the filter for the oil.
I don't know why Kymco does not specify more clearly the recommended oils for the bike. That is one thing the Italians do they have a long list of specifications. It will affect warranty if you don't follow. One cylinder putting out 30HP has to work hard so I give it the best I can.

MotoRandy123

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Re: Gear oil for my bike?
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2013, 11:28:11 PM »
This is from the 200/300i owners manual. It seems you can use any old 90W oil;
2012 Yager GT 200I - Southern NH

Stig / Major Tom

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Re: Gear oil for my bike?
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2013, 01:08:06 AM »
My Kymco service guy says to use Pro Honda Hypoid Shaft Drive 80W90 Oil. $5 for 8oz. It is what Honda says to use in GoldWings - so figure it's OK for my Kymco Like 200i LX which is about 1/10th the price of that Honda!
! You should be able to find this oil at any Honda dealer.
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Vivo

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Re: Gear oil for my bike?
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2013, 02:41:01 AM »
Joe7911, your scoot, our scoots are dry clutch... wet clutches have no separate tranny oil... the engine oil is also the tranny oil.... most motorcycles are wet clutch...

Use any 80/90 or SAE90 tranny oil... no need for synthetics because there's less stress in our tranny compared to the engine...

Joe7911

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Re: Gear oil for my bike?
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2013, 12:20:10 PM »
Thanks to everyone for the help, Like I said I though it was a dry clutch but the specs on line and some places say wet clutch so it gets confusing, din't want to ruin the gears by using the wrong oil. The manual does state sae 90 that in the us is hard to get but does not give any specifics like APL4 or 5 or any other requirements so makes hard to choose.
There are many brands and they all toot their own horn for being the best. I use only top Motorcycle or Scooter oils and my bikes always run perfect and if a warranty issue arrises I don't want the dealer to say it was for not using the appropriate oil or parts. I finally found AGIP 75W90 gear oil that is what Aprilia, Vespa & Piaggio recommends. since the system is very similar I was ordering AGIP. The oil I used was XPS but it's really expensive after shipping would be over $30,00 a liter. I have about 8 OZ left after that I will order another synthetic.
I find that a good synthetic makes the gears quitter and shifting smoother plus the added protection for South Florida Hot Summer and my Fat 240 LB on its back.
Again thanks for all the assistance, its nice to consult  some one with knowledge like fellow users on Scooters.

ophelia

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Re: Gear oil for my bike?
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2013, 04:47:06 PM »
On Kymco scooters and most smaller scooters, the CVT assembly with the belt and rollers and pulleys and clutch is completely dry. No oil.

We do use gear oil somewhere on our bikes though! The oil goes into the very back of the transmission for the final drive gears in a separate chamber. These simply multiply torque by a fixed ratio before it goes to the rear wheel. There's no shifting or clutching back there.

My Kymco dealer friend used and sold Motul Scooter Gear SAE90 for a while at $5 for 100 mL, or a tenth of a litre. The stuff would be $50 for a whole litre! We switched to Castrol Hypoy C 80W90 instead.
2011 Kymco Downtown 300i

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