shock proof gear oil

[Triton Thrasher]

The old tractor exhibitionists replicate tractor vaporising oil by mixing about 25% petrol into domestic heating oil (number 2 kerosene, not gas oil).

Even at only 25% road fuel, a Fordson will be expensive to run!

 

[mdt-son]

The majority of teams campaigning HD XRs (same 4-speed gearbox used in Sportster since 1957, but with 90+ HP) in flat track racing also employed ATF in the gear boxes and tranny with no wear concerns (admittedly this is not a high mileage use, but is nevertheless a brutal short-term use). And by the way, for many decades Sportsters never had any form of cush-drive or compensator sprocket, yet the gears held up fine. My $0.02.

Even the initial HD Sportster (the "ironhead" engine) had a comparator (a cam/cam/spring device as fitted to british bikes of the 40's and 50's, which is a kind of torsion damper), so I guess the XR-750 had it as well. The torsion damper was refined for the EVO engine 1986. To claim transmissions of engines not having a comparator held up fine means harking back 80 or 100 years - I don't think you want to go down that road.

I am sure Andrews make fine products. However, they do rely on a working torsion damper at the crankshaft. As you say, there is no general complaint about factory gears showing signs of spalling, which indicates the HD design works well.
By the way, the V-twin has a 315/405 degree firing interval. Not that much different to a parallel twin. The big difference is the crankshaft design.

(This reply is copied into the other tread on torsion damper as well.)

-Knut

 

[WZ507]

As long as I brought Harleys into the conversation I might as well keep going with more tractor discussion. Below are some bold claims regarding early tractor fuel, and lastly a link to pulling full load (8 bottom plow) on any grade of kerosene.

 

[Triton Thrasher]

As long as I brought Harleys into the conversation I might as well keep going with more tractor discussion. Below are some bold claims regarding early tractor fuel, and lastly a link to pulling full load (8 bottom plow) on any grade of kerosene.

Odd that they call it a steam tractor.

 

[Kvinnhering]

I am disappointed that members of this excellent website are littering threads with tractors and other non-relevant matters. If one is not interested in what is being discussed in the thread, do not read it. There is a reason why a pub forum was created.
This is my personal opinion.

 

[WZ507]

Even the initial HD Sportster (the "ironhead" engine) had a comparator (a cam/cam/spring device as fitted to british bikes of the 40's and 50's, which is a kind of torsion damper), so I guess the XR-750 had it as well.
-Knut

Your assumption about the Harley XR having a compensator sprocket is incorrect as they never employed such a device – it was always a plain sprocket on the engine shaft (item 27 in the parts book illustration from the ’57-67 Harley parts manual). Regarding the kick-start XLCH model iron head Sportsters, from their introduction in 1958 for at least 20+ years they likewise employed no compensator sprocket. The compensator sprocket (item 26 in the illustration) was employed only on the XL and XLH models. With the passage of time and elimination of kick-start models from the Sportster offering, all Sportsters ultimately employed primary drive compensators.

This response has also been copied into the "Torsion damper in the drive train" thread.

 

[alan hodge]

 

[Bernhard]

That last picture probably shows off why you need 10 gallons of gear oil!

In Europe at least that rear axle arrangement is know as a Portal Axle, and certain 4x4s used in rocky and mountainous country have them for huge ground clearance, but it gives you a gear box, differential and two wheel gearboxes to lubricate!

I think the belt drive was fairly common on tractors of this age and through the '50s. certainly when I was a boy on the farm in England most of the older tractors had it as well as the rear PTO.

The Kerosene was known in England as TVO, Tractor Vapour Oil.

Back in the military in the '70s I knew a guy who grew up in rural Northern Ireland. In his teenage years he came by a Jaguar SS100 that had twin fuel tanks, to run it he bought a small can of petrol (gas) and put it in one tank and 'liberated' low taxed TVO from the farm to put into the other tank!

(surely this is much more interesting than another oil thread?)

And an almighty big fine from the Revenues and Customs if you get caught?

 

[SteveA]

I am disappointed that members of this excellent website are littering threads with tractors and other non-relevant matters. If one is not interested in what is being discussed in the thread, do not read it. There is a reason why a pub forum was created.
This is my personal opinion.

I'm really sorry to hear about your gearbox! Maybe you could start a thread on that subject?

But I doubt it is an issue with using the wrong oil.

My personal beef would be the constant reference to the HD world when looking for a solution to Norton problems? But hey, we can learn something?

 

[Tornado]

We need to be weary of anecdotal reports of something failing due to a specific product. It is hard to know the true cause of the gear wear in the reported case in the this thread. If the Shockproof was indeed the cause, we'd be hearing many more cases from other users of the product.

Let's petition Comnoz to make a GB Oil performance test rig and get some actual data points ;-)

 

[Kvinnhering]

My personal beef would be the constant reference to the HD world when looking for a solution to Norton problems? But hey, we can learn something?

I agree that there is a lot to learn from other motorcycle brands. It's not what I mean, but other features such as how to start a tractor in a motorcycle gear oil thread ??

When it came to my gearbox, my question was whether the oil could have a cause. It is now confirmed that it is not. There are probably such answers we can get in this forum, among many other questions about our commandos.

 

[alan hodge]

sorry to have offended anyone! I only replied to folk's interest in my tractor as a result of my remarks concerning the possible use of redline in its capacious gearbox sheesh

 

[Torontonian]

In my view there are 2 big dangers involved with starting up an old Norton Commando . Possible kickback , and driving away with the prop stand extended. The similarities with starting up and using the Farmall are there. Setting prime , richness . tapping stuck carb bowl ,hand cranking. The spinning belt wheel could pass for the prop stand. Many a farmer has lost an
arm from the long spinning exposed belt drive to power other contraptions involved in early farming. Another is roll overs from going sideways on a slope incline. I've dropped my Norton doing this on a grassy knol at a rally. Stay flat and safe. Stay indoors too.

 

[alan hodge]

at the risk of hurting anyone's feelings by continuing this line of old tractor/machines thought/commenting…...the little lever beside the steering wheel you see me fiddling with adjusts ignition timing the thing is do NOT over advance it on starting and risk of kickback is low the belt drive wheel is another matter no safety switch/guard on that bad boy! also perched on seat with those big tires inches away is hairy no OSHA in '39 if someone would like to shift this antique machines/tractors subject over to another part of the forum where we can share freely and in friendly banter without creating rancor I would not mind...
PS that's my red headed cousin from Georgia getting the ride in the video her mom and my mom were sisters and grew up on the farm

 

[jseng1]

.... The majority of teams campaigning HD XRs (same 4-speed gearbox used in Sportster since 1957, but with 90+ HP) in flat track racing also employed ATF in the gear boxes and tranny with no wear concerns (admittedly this is not a high mileage use, but is nevertheless a brutal short-term use). And by the way, for many decades Sportsters never had any form of cush-drive or compensator sprocket, yet the gears held up fine. My $0.02.

Dirt track bikes accelerate to top gear, slide around the track and never shift again until the race is over. So I don't think they are a good example as a test for ATF in a constantly shifting street bike or road racer because once you reach top gear the gears are freewheeling and the only stress is on the shafts and bearings.

I remember rebuilding a sportster gearbox and the customer was very nervous about blowing it up again. The word was that they were "fragile" when subjected to a tuned motor.

 

[Niagara850]

For what its worth I ran Redline Lightweight (blue) for a number of years changing every season. Last July my sleeve gear gear failed. Not sure if it was the cause. Rebuilt the gear box and am using an ordinary 75w-90 synthetic gear oil.

 

[Torontonian]

For what its worth I ran Redline Lightweight (blue) for a number of years changing every season. Last July my sleeve gear gear failed. Not sure if it was the cause. Rebuilt the gear box and am using an ordinary 75w-90 synthetic gear oil.

Nothing wrong with that decision. Always refit with 850 style sleeve gear bushes.

 

[oldmikew]

sorry to have offended anyone! I only replied to folk's interest in my tractor as a result of my remarks concerning the possible use of redline in its capacious gearbox sheesh

Correct and you gave a lot of people a lot ofpleasure

 

[jseng1]

For what its worth I ran Redline Lightweight (blue) for a number of years changing every season. Last July my sleeve gear gear failed. Not sure if it was the cause. Rebuilt the gear box and am using an ordinary 75w-90 synthetic gear oil.

Strangest things I've had happen is an abused sleeve bushing not only wear out but disappear completely - probably eaten away by the circlip. After that I always sleeved it the full length with 3 bushings. Also had a main shaft snap in 1/2.

 

[BrianK]

I love it.

HEAVY SHOCKPROOF®

• Film thickness greater than an SAE 75W250, yet low fluid friction like 75W90