Redline Heavy Shockproof a clutch fix?

I have searched this forum for poster's experiences using Redline Heavy GL-5 Shockproof in their gearboxs, and quite a few are using it, and liking it.
Going to the Redline website, and reading the details of Heavy Shockproof I see that Redline claims a film thickness greater than SAE 75w250, yet low fluid friction like 75w90.
This got me thinking of the issue of gear oil leaking along the clutch shaft and contaminating the clutch plates. Since the Heavy Shockproof has such a significant film thickness, wouldn't the gearbox run cooler, and the lubricant remain "thick" thereby reducing any clutch rod leakage to the clutch?
Any Heavy Shockproof users out there who are getting better performance from their clutches since they converted?

It's easier to make sure of no gear oil contamination using Dave Comeau's clutch rod seal. It completely eliminated all clutch slip in my '72 750. After that go ahead with the Redline.

I'm a HUGE fan of Redline products, and use their Shockproof Heavy in a the gearboxes on a couple of my bikes but have been a bit leery about using it in the Commando, as it is a GL-5 lube and spec is GL-4. Supposedly, GL-5s are counterindicated for gearboxes with "yellow metal" bushings (like the Commando has).

Have had some people tell me that it's perfectly fine, but haven't heard anything I consider definitive yet. Would love to be convinced it's okay, because I think the stuff is the mutt's nuts....

Running Dave's seal and the red-nut-stuff. I'm not a chemist, physicist or a mechanic, but I do like it because I can differentiate the gearbox oil on the ground from the oil that is leaking from the primary, cases, porous head, cracked barrels, iffy gaskets, weeping banjo bolts, seeping forks and of course the tachdrive. :lol:

fastback said:

Running Dave's seal and the red-nut-stuff. I'm not a chemist, physicist or a mechanic, but I do like it because I can differentiate the gearbox oil on the ground from the oil that is leaking from the primary, cases, porous head, cracked barrels, iffy gaskets, weeping banjo bolts, seeping forks and of course the tachdrive. :lol:

Click to expand...

Not if you're running Redline 20W-50 in the crankcase, MT-90 in the primary, and Shockproof Heavy in the gearbox!

Actually, I lie. The crankcase oil will be brown in a few miles, and the MT-90 and Shockproof are readily differentiated.

I came out of work one day to find out someone had knocked over my HD while I was in there. There's an "overflow" tube from the gearbox, through which, on its side, the bike had leaked some Shockproof. Looked like a crime scene - bike down in a pool of blood!

I understand gl-5 would not be a problem with bronze bushings unless it encounters temps great than 100 deg C, which wouldn't happen in our gearboxes. I have put the Redline Heavy Shockproof in my gearbox, and the shifting is smoother, the clutch operation is fine, and all is working great. There is a mod to the gearbox that I am going to try to prevent gearoil from contaminating the clutch. based on the Old Britts mod to the inner gearbox cover. Instead of their permanent installation of the MK3 pressure relief valve on the inner gearbox cover, I am going to install that pressure relief valve on the the gearbox inspection cover, drilled then tapped, and JD Welded permanently on the inspection cover, then a 90 deg elbow and a tube extending from that elbow to vent up and the down behind the gearbox...that way no rain water can enter, and the pressure will be released. And if this doesn't work or if it's too ugly, I will replace the modded cover with a replacement stock cover,and no harm done....it's worth a go anyway...got the parts on order.

Brian,

Redline manufactures NO gear oil that corrodes copper-based metals under 150C. This topic was discussed fully in this forum a couple of months ago. The GL-4 requirement is simply out of date. The Redline Tech Rep unambigously recommended Shockproof for Nortons. Use it with confidence, along with Dave Comeau's clutch rod seal; it's cheap and easy to install, even with the small amount of grinding that it sometimes requires.

why is this better than just running mt90 in the gearbox which is the specified 90weight oil?

Errrr, make that 130C. Must be past my bedtime.

rick in seattle said:

Brian,

Redline manufactures NO gear oil that corrodes copper-based metals under 150C. This topic was discussed fully in this forum a couple of months ago. The GL-4 requirement is simply out of date. The Redline Tech Rep unambigously recommended Shockproof for Nortons. Use it with confidence, along with Dave Comeau's clutch rod seal; it's cheap and easy to install, even with the small amount of grinding that it sometimes requires.

Click to expand...

Rick, thanks. This is good news. I do have DynoDave's seal already. Can you direct me to the previous thread? I missed that one. Thanks! - BrianK

Brian,

Try

post37524.html#p37524

Lots of unclear posts at the beginning of the string, particularly mine, but it firms up nicely at the end. Cookie presents the Redline Tech Rep opinion near the end.

Thanks Rick. Good to hear. Shockproof Heavy it is!