Swing arm gear oil

123.okalani · Feb 20, 2009

I am restoring a 75 commando and my shop manual says to use SAE 140 gear oil in swing arm but I am having a hard time finding it . Can I use 80w-140 gear oil?

maylar · Feb 20, 2009

Ron L · Feb 20, 2009

140 wt gear lube is available from most industrial supply houses such as Grainger.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4ZF30

BrianK · Feb 20, 2009

Gotta find GL-4, I would think, given the swingarm bushings are yellow metal.

I'd love someone to convince me this isn't necessary, BTW. I'd use Redline Shockproof Heavy (GL-5) in the gearbox and swingarm if I dared.

kommando · Feb 21, 2009

This Gl-4 and 5 business is un-necessary, its only a factor at high temps above 100C, this rules out separate gearboxes and unheated applications such as swingarms.

mikie3117 · Feb 21, 2009

Hi everyone. I have recently found that using the x type o-rings helps keep whatever you use, in where it works best. I also use a squirt can to pump in STP in my swingarm.
Mike

debby · Feb 21, 2009

I bought some of that synthetic 140 wt from Graingers, but it's pretty runny stuff. It was all on the garage floor in a week. 90 wt hypoid gear oil seems a lot more viscous. I made a mix of 50 wt engine oil and STP for the 850's swingarm. It took several weeks to leak out.

kommando, where did you hear about the 100C temperature thing? I've been using Redline GL-4 rated oil in the gearbox mainly because of the GL-5 controversy, but it's hard to find locally. If GL-5 is really ok, I'd rather switch to it as it is much easier to obtain.

Debby

kommando · Feb 21, 2009

Its from an engineers design handbook on the GGB bearings website, its in the section on SY bushes which are high lead bronze bushes. I can never remember where I put the link butv I have posted it twice before. I've had my bike since 82, its never had anything but plain EP90 except for last 2 years where I now put fully synthetic in, other than the layshaft bearing going its never had any bearing/bush needing replacing in the gearbox.

BrianK · Feb 21, 2009

Thanks Kommando. I may try the Shockproof in the Norton's gearbox then. I've certainly had great results with it in other bikes.

Swing arm gear oil

Similar threads