Non Yamaha Oil For The Shaft Drive

[Vulcan]

So I go to my dealer to get my oil and filter and some gear oil...He hands me BelRay 80W90 Hypoid Gear Oil for the rear. I asked him about it and he told me that the Yamaha stuff was just a big rip off and that the BelRay stuff was way better and cheaper.....What do you guys think before I try it?

 

[radman]

If you're gonna use anything but the Yamalube, use Mobil1 75w90, as do I and many, many of your fellow owners.

 

[gryphon68]

It's OK to switch to Mobil1 Gear Lube at the 600 mile change, right?

Going to keep dino juice in the engine until at least 4K.

Thanks,

 

[TWILKIN650]

The service manual ominously lists only a part number for the Yamaha gear oil, and not a specification for an alternate acceptable gear oil as the recommended fluid. What up with that? Likewise the owner's manual only states "shaft drive gear oil" and no spec. Yeah, what's the chance that Mobil 1 gear oil would be a problem? Pretty small chance. I bet the Iron Butt riders use this or similar stuff and never look back.

 

[Overfly]

I'll put my vote in for the Mobil 1 gear lube. Great stuff, a lot of people using it for many, many miles and no problems.

You just have to wonder about the mystery Yamaha gear lube that costs so much without any real explanation as to why. :erm:

 

[todd34]

After reading the posts around here, I used Mobil 1 when I changed mine and it works fine.

Todd

 

[Windjammer]

The service manual ominously lists only a part number for the Yamaha gear oil, and not a specification for an alternate acceptable gear oil as the recommended fluid. What up with that?

I wondered the same thing, so I decided to buy one bottle of the Yami lube to see what it's like. Got it from University Motors for a good deal less than list. Jug it came in says it has synthetic additives. Considering the cost and how often you're expected to change it, the price difference only amounts to fractions of a penny per mile. Not a big deal either way, I guess.

 

[nusman68]

Also running full synthetic, 75w-90 Royal Purple; originally my Houston dealer sold me the 'general purpose' shaft drive lube that Yamaha markets; saw what it was & returned it. Asked about the 'FJR spec' lube, was told they will not carry it, due to the additonal expense since they are required to order it by the case.....surprising to hear from a "5 Star" Yamaha dealer...... :erm:

 

[Warchild]

So I go to my dealer to get my oil and filter and some gear oil...He hands me BelRay 80W90 Hypoid Gear Oil for the rear. I asked him about it and he told me that the Yamaha stuff was just a big rip off and that the BelRay stuff was way better and cheaper.....What do you guys think before I try it?

The Bel Ray Hypoid oil is good stuff, and would be just fine in your rear drive housing. I wouldn't hesitate using it whatsoever.

That having been said, I personally have been recommending the Mobil One Synthetic 75-90W rear drive fluid for the past decade or so, starting waaaaaay back in my ST1100 days. It was recommended to me by one of the true legends from the early days of Iron Butt riding, the late, great Ron Major.

 

[Vstar2FJR]

I'm taking my 05 in Saturday for the 16000 mile service and this past week the tech tells me he's found something better than the expensive Yamaha rear end gear oil. Ready for this, he tells me it's Mobil 1 Synthetic . I burst out laughing and tell him I've been using it since the 4000 mile mark, even though my service contract includes all fluids at the recommended intervals. I even give him the Rotella T synthetic to put in the crankcase, all they do is provide the filter and crush washers.

Yes gryphon68, put the Mobil 1 in at your 600 mile change, and don't look back. Opinions vary on the starting point for synthetic oil, but you should be fine at 4K if you want to switch to synthetic then. In the mean time, don't think you are captive to the Yamaha oil, unless you get it extremely cheap. Pick up some Shell Rotella T 15W-40 at Walmart for around $7 a gallon and give it a try. Then at 4K you're all set to switch to Rotella T synthetic for about $13 a gallon at Wallyworld. Way cheaper than any other synthetic. There's a Motorcycle specific forum at the Rotella site that's fairly good reading, check it out.

https://www.rotella.com/ubbthreads/postlist...oard=Motorcycle

Lot's of folks want to know if it's OK for use in cycles with a wet clutch. Short answer is that it is an API SL rated oil without friction modifiers, hence it MEETS Yamahas requirements.

 

[snikr]

I cast my vote for the AmsOil gear lube. Benn using it since the 600 mile mark with no problems. I just LOVE being the oddball in a group. :bleh:

 

[markjenn]

I couldn't find the M1 stuff, so put it Castrol Syntec full-syn 75W-90. I think any good full-syn GL-5 should work fine.

- Mark

 

[zorkler]

valvoline syn. blend 85 -140 GL -5 mt- 1 put it in at the 3800 mile mark

 

[speedjunkie]

What Zorkler said, I've been using since the first service at 600 miles. Good stuff.

Mike

 

[avigar]

I've used the Mobil 1 gear oil without any issues since the first change.

 

[Bluestreek]

I have been using moble one in my diff since the 50 mi. oil change. :cownoy:

no problems.

 

[C&C]

Valvoline Full Synthetic here, no problems.

 

[Yambone]

Cool, another dreaded oil thread. Next time you're on the Autobahn and you find yourself being overtaken by a Beemer GT because your rear end is foaming and smoking, you'll wish you had stayed with the one, the only, the secret sauce not to be imitated or replaced, the probably illegal synthetic whale oil distillate (cached years ago before the harpooning embargo), the Yamaha part #9079E-SH001-00

It's ingredients are too secret to publish. When you pour this stuff into the final drive, you will learn the secret of life itself.

 

[Windjammer]

When you pour this stuff into the final drive, you will learn the secret of life itself.

Hey, he's right!! I poured in that secret Yammi Juice and voice spoke to me from the container and told me the secret of life itself!! Too bad I forgot it already. Damn, guess I'll just have to wait 'til the next gear lube change. :eh: