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Final Drive Gear Oil This information is for the Honda Shadow models that uses driveshafts, like the VT1100's and the 2004 and newer VT750's.
There always seems to be some confusion about the proper type of gear oils to use in the final drive units in our Shadow's. The owners manual states the following gear oil type;
Recommended Oil: HYPOID GEAR OIL SAE 80
The manual states the following service intervals for the final drive oil;
(I) inspect every 8,000 miles and (R) replace every 24,000 miles.
What is 'Hypoid'? Hypoid is a type of gear, it's the way that a hypoid gear set is made that requires a special type of oil. Hypoid gears creates more pressure at the contact points then do other types of gears. Oil for use in these types of gears needs to be rated EP which stands for 'Extreme Pressure', EP or Hypoid really means the same thing. Most modern gear oils you'll find today are the approved typed. Though many may not display the term 'Hypoid' in bold print on the front of the bottle but they will more than likely say something to the effect of; This oil is suited for any application where an EP oil is required! but you might have to look at the smaller print on the back of the bottle.
For the weight or viscosity range of the oil, which is SAE 80 ( or SAE equivalent). Most of the non motorcycle specific gear oils you'll find at the auto parts stores will not be a fixed weight of just 80W but rather a multi-viscosity type like, 80W-90 85W-90 The viscosity range of the synthetic gear oil are a little different. 75W-90 75W-140 (I don't recommend this oil because its to far outside the range of the specified weight of oil.
You can use either the synthetic or crude type in your Shadow's final drive. Also any of the weight ranges above can be used except for the 75W-140. If you dig around you will also find some marine gear oils that is a fixed weight of 90W and are also the EP/Hypoid type, the only problem wih these is they will cost as much as the motorcycle specific gear oils from the motorcycle dealers.
Honda says to replace the gear oil every 24,000 miles. Well if you do you will more than likely find the oil to look much like sewage sludge and small even worse. I don't like to go that many miles on the final drive gear oil, it takes less than 5ozs of oil and can be change in just a few minutes. I change mine every two to three oil changes, that's probably around 10,000 to 12,000 miles. A once a year gear oil change might be a good idea too.
Below is a small list of gear oils that I found in my local area that can be used in the final drives of our bikes.
Wal-Mart,
All the gear oils are suited for use in our Shadow's final drive units.
Advance
Auto parts
Just make
sure whatever gear oil you buy that states either an EP rating, or
Hypoid type. MarkC
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