They told me "The same type of oil you use in the engine". WTF I thought ! Seriously ? Yes they said.

I called another Harley dealer (Harley City - Brunswick) to verify this and they said exactly the same thing.

So that's what I used in the primary and the gearbox for years afterwards.

The gearbox oil I didn't change often; it always looked so pristine.

The primary oil I would change every second or third engine oil change; it would look a bit contaminated but still looking pretty good.

Due to the problems I was having with my compensator a friend of mine suggested "Why don't you use Harley Primary Oil ? Maybe it has particular properties that might affect the compensator and clutch".

I thought I'd take up his suggestion recently when I did my last service. What the keck ? What have I got to lose.

It made no difference to the compensator nor did it improve clutch performance.

Recently I decided to install a BDL compensator so I had to drain the primary again. I had only done barley 700kms (437 miles) since trying Harley primary oil in the primary.

I could not believe the condition of the oil; it was so much blacker than ever before. Please see picture.

Also, there was a lot more black material stuck to the magnet on the primary plug.

The inside of the primary had a black residue on it like never before. See picture

WTF ! Is this oil designed to destroy your clutch as soon as possible ?

Has anybody else experienced anything like this ???

  My 2011 fxst, apart from a stage 1,  is all standard. A good friend of mine told me just use the same oil in all 3 holes.  He has over 50 years experience with Harleys.  Yes can use diff oils, but since all stock. No need to if i dont want to. 

Sportster's on the other hand motor is also Dry Sump, but gear box & primary use same oil .

I've been riding Harley's since late 1970's, with out a break, both Big twins & sportster's(5 speed only on the Sporty's, big twin's both 4 speed & 5 speed )  . I've seen that ,  ( can use same oil all hole's if you want ) But I have never done that myself . right or wrong, I've used Gear Box oil in gear box ( on big twins ) & I used Auto Tran's Fluid type F in primary, on big twins. but for a long long time, I road with open Three inch belt drive primary ( Old Shovel ) so no oil needed. But I'm telling you straight, the best oil in a big twin gear box bar none, is REDLINE HEAVY SHOCKPROOF!! & I never ever changed it. felt beautiful shifting like I had honey in the gear box!! ( I still wish my Sporty could use that too, but as it shares primary & gear box oil I can't use it ).

I'll tell you straight, if I had a Big Twin, it would have what ever you like in motor, it would have Redline Heavy Shockproof in gear box & It would have Valvoline Auto Trans Fluid Type F in primary. & about the drain plug having black goo stuck to it, don't panic. as since I can remember, every Harley I've owned, always has that stuck to the magnet on drain plug gear box or primary, it's normal.

side note , I personally would not ask a Harley Dealer what oil to use in what hole, as it won't matter to them what happen's will it?

good luck enjoy your bike!! 

Is their oil designed to wear out the clutch quicker than otherwise ?

It seems like it's dissolving the clutch.

 

How do you have your clutch cable adjustment?

the oil does not wear the clutch, your riding style can, or the way you have your clutch adjusted.

I guess what the fellas are saying in their own way is that there are so many variables.

The ratio of people using your previous method compared to those using recommended Harley Doctrine (not even saying that's the right way either) could be quite high.

What if for example, putting the Harley oil in, was dislodging and suspending all the accumulated dirt, metal and grime from between the plates.

I don't know, but 700kms is a VERY short period for that muck to make itself.

See what a second helping does and report.

A google search does report similar instances of the oil turning black in double quick time.

The redline gets the thumbs up in the same thread.

I Think he has an idea that is    true.

The primary oil never looked that bad before.

Now that I've used Harley Primary Oil, the oil looks terrible.

Could it be this is where the  black  stuff is coming from? 

Drop the oil again  in another  1000 km and see what it looks like. 

Just for the record I put  the same oil in the three holes. Makes life  a bit  easier. 

Pretty sure that the oil in your primary is mainly a chain lubricant. This is why it looks putrid at an oil change compared to your gearbox.

I run Penrith gear oil in my flh’s. One has 120,000 kms on it and it is a good shifting gearbox.