Forum

[Bullet Whisperer]

My reasons for using oil are:
1 That is what the Redditch factory [who designed the gearboxes] recommended.
2 The extra drag and power absorbed by the gears trying to churn grease around is quite a large proportion of the engine's modest power wasted.
3 Grease left inside a gearbox for a long time becomes a form of fine grinding paste as it picks up wear particles and is much harder to get out and replace with fresh stuff compared with oil.
4 Perhaps I have just been lucky , but I have never had oil leak troubles with these gearboxes.
5 In spite of the above, I am not trying to tell anyone what they should do and anyone who wants to put sawdust inside their gearbox must feel free to do so.
6 I don't know where those italics came from.

[Presto]

Thanks BW. All you say is indisputable. (Italics add interest!)
BUT.
But my point still holds good - 10,000's of happy greased Bullet gearboxes.
As the stuff is a pain to get out of the gearbox I say leave it in and ride with peace of mind.

I'd be interested to know the real world effect on loss of road speed and increased fuel consumption of the gears having to cut their way through 'semi-liquid' grease.

But please don't misunderstand me - I do have the greatest respect for BW's knowledge and experience (honest I do).

[Presto]

PS. If ever you do need to strip the gearbox then I'd refill with oil [engine oil or 80/90 gear oil] - and fit sealed bearings.

[Dinsdale]

Just overhauled my 350 gearbox.On an empty / clean gearbox used 700 grams of 00 grease ( Veedol ) warmed the tin in a bowl of hot water, mixed with 20/50 until it was gloopy and topped the gearbox up until it dribbled out of the level plug.Will top up with 20/50 when it needs it

[stinkwheel]

Well, it's got HP90 in it now. Let's see if it stays there.

[Presto]

It'll stay there - at least most of it. Enough of it to keep the gears from autodigestion!

Hope your project works out well for you. And all the best for the estimable Dragon Rally.

[stinkwheel]

Hmm. Pool of HP90 on the workshop floor this morning. I think it's getting out past the gearbox sprocket. The bike leans WAY o0ver on the sidestand and the mainstand is off so the parked oil level is probably up around there somewhere.

As I recall, the 14t sprocket doesn't have an o-ring on the back of it.

[Presto]

Maybe you might try what was used by the makers!

Sorry. Can't resist.
No offense.
And not to be taken too seriously.
BUT!

[Bullet Whisperer]

You mean 50 grade?

[Presto]

BW - you shouldn't!

I didn't mean 50 grade. (And who'd have that in their workshop nowadays!)
I meant grease.
The factory workshop manuals I've seen from 1930's to late 1950's all advise to pack the gearbox with grease and then top up with engine oil.
The Indian 350's were all packed with grease from the factory.

Anyway - grease, oil or butter these gearboxes don't seem to mind. But maybe the garage floor does.