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Gear oil change 85W-140

C

chimmu

Tuned and Synch'ed
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I took a class at Moto Guild for the valve adjustment and I also had time to change the gear oil. After draining the oil I/we realized that they don't have 85W-90 in stock and ended up using 85W-140. (Belray Hypoid Gear Oil 85W-140 API GL-5)

After reading a few posts, I don't know if I should replace it now or wait until the next service interval. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

2017 Moto Guzzi Cal 1400 Touring
 
Reportedly the shop manual for the 2021 V7 850 ES Stone now specifies 75W-140 for the transmission (differential) and gearbox. This is a recent change from 90 weight specified for the gearbox, but I don't know if this change applies to your bike.

Jason
 
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Thanks for your responses! I have not rode the bike after I got it home, will consider changing it.
 
THIS MECHANICS OPINION:

I have never seen a gearbox with hypoid gear oil in it, fail because of the oil used.

Never.

In truth, you could run that gearbox on straight 30 weight oil in a complete pinch, and it would be just fine.

Only issue would be that the gears would break down the additive package in the oil faster than it would in the hypoid gear oil.

The oil additives against wear and excessive friction, would probably be chemically exhausted by 500 miles from the mechanical crushing of the oil.

So right now, you have a very high quality lubricant in your gearbox with a higher upper weight rating.

Relax! It’s fine. Nothing bad will happen.

Run it as it is and change it at your next engine oil service.

In all my Moto Guzzi motorcycles, I change all 3 oils every service. It’s cheap but excellent insurance.

I say this all the time to my customers.

“Oil is CHEAP. Engines, gearboxes, and transmissions are EXPENSIVE!”
 
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In my 1400, I put Motul 75W140 for gear box and transmission, and this oil is perfect .
I put this oil in all my guzzi's, Norge, 1100 Breva, 1200 sport . The gear shifting is better and smoother , because it's a very high quality oil and no problem with it.
 
Vizir said:
In my 1400, I put Motul 75W140 for gear box and transmission, and this oil is perfect .
I put this oil in all my guzzi's, Norge, 1100 Breva, 1200 sport . The gear shifting is better and smoother , because it's a very high quality oil and no problem with it.
Click to expand...
Do you experience balky shifting in cold weather with that heavy gear lube in the gearbox?

Jason
 
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NO, this oil is not for heavy gear lub, but for competition, and very good both for summer and winter .
 
In theory the first number you read on the oil's viscosity is specifically related to the oils thickness ( resistance to flow)
in cold weather ( used to be the freezing point for water) . So similar numbers ( viscosity's) should have very similar
cold weather characteristics :) . Peter
 
JasonC said:
Do you experience balky shifting in cold weather with that heavy gear lube in the gearbox?

Jason
Click to expand...
Moto Guzzi motorcycle gearboxes, like BMW‘s, perform flawlessly when “preloaded” at the pedal before rolling off the throttle and squeezing the clutch.

The gears will shift like butter when this is done regardless of the lubricant used.

This is a technique that European motorcycle riders need to know how to perform smoothly.
 
I showed the preload method to customers years ago that rode HD shovelheads and they were truly shocked at how
smooth and quick those old 4 speed gear boxes could actually shift . Old dogs and new tricks :) Peter
 
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