Transmission lubricants

Gearboxes of classic Harley-Davidson motorcycles have their own oil filling. In this context, classic means everything except V-Rod, Street or anything else with the name Revolution, Revolution X or Max. Until the end of the 1970s, engine oil was filled into the gearbox, the same monograde oil as in the oil tank. This is why we also list engine oil under transmission oil. For later models from this time onwards, special transmission oil with specifications designed for the intended use was filled in. Aftermarket gearboxes usually require multigrade gear oil, recognizable by the two numbers before and after the W, e.g. 80W90 or 85W140.

The PanAm and Bel-Ray oils we offer are quality oils carefully matched to their intended use.

When do I need to change the transmission oil in my Harley?

And how often? The intervals are best looked up in the manual, the filling quantities can also be found under the following link to our Tech Tips.

And of course, you should change the transmission oil after a repair. You don't fill it with the same old stuff.

Which transmission oil should I fill in my Harley-Davidson? Once again briefly summarized: until 1978 the factory recommends monograde engine oil, after that transmission oil. Baker recommends 85W140 for its transmissions. Our fully synthetic PanAm Full-Synth oil can replace all of these oils.