Synthetic Oil Vs. Shifter 'Clunk'.

Skip · 06-04-2012, 10:10 AM

Hey, I'm new to this forum, and I've done a search but didn't find anything exactly answering this. I have an '09 Nomad w/ 12K miles. Love the bike, but I have the standard shifter clunk that everyone seems to have. I was told that synthetic oil makes a big difference for some reason.

Has anyone had experience with this, and if so, which oil did you find the most successful? I live in the South with hot temps in the summer and mild winters. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Vulcan Hammer · 06-04-2012, 10:44 AM

Valvolene Premium Blue Deisel, 5w40 Full Synthetic worked wonders quieting and smoothing the shifting on my 4 Cylinder Sport Bike, but had very little effect on the Vulcan 1700 tranny. It was a little quieter and smoother for the first few hundred kilometers, but it shifts as noisy as ever now.

The 1700 has large, straight cut gears which are inherently noisy. Such a gear box is hard on oil, as the gears are constantly shearing the molecules and breaking down the oil. Later production 1700s are supposed to have refinements in the tranny design to make it a little quieter and improve shifting.

Considering your location, and without getting into a debate about Kawi approved viscosity, you may benefit somewhat from one of the premium 10w50 or 15w50 motorcycle synthetics.

**ringadingh** · 06-04-2012, 11:01 AM

I use the Rotella T 15/w/40 oil, I find it makes for easier smoother shifts.
You can tell when your getting due for an oil change as the shifter feels a little sticky.

**schoeney** · 06-04-2012, 11:21 AM

+1

Any oil change will help short term but not long term.

Sin City Stan · 06-04-2012, 11:26 AM

My experience with the 09 Nomad using Mobil 1 20W-50 and Rotella 5W-40 was the same. It was quieter for a little while then back to normal. I did notice that the shifting was smoother.

Skip · 06-04-2012, 02:04 PM

Thanks everyone, sort of what I expected, no magic bullet unfortunately. Bike drives great, just that 1st and 2nd clunk drives me friggin nuts. But I love the looks and ride otherwise. Thanks again for all your responses.

vulcanguy · 06-04-2012, 02:26 PM

I also use the Rotella T 15/w/40 oil, & Like Ringading said, the bike does shift nice. I have been using Rotella for a couple of years now, gr8 stuff!
Cheers

Vulcan Hammer · 06-04-2012, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip

Thanks everyone, sort of what I expected, no magic bullet unfortunately. Bike drives great, just that 1st and 2nd clunk drives me friggin nuts. But I love the looks and ride otherwise. Thanks again for all your responses.

I find that the clunk is much less pronounced if I short-shift into second...of course, then you risk lugging it. The short-shifting approach works fine though if you are just taking a sedate, relaxed ride ;)

I had read that "preloading" the shift lever before actually shifting helps, but I cannot seem to get the knack of that process consistently

.

redjay · 06-04-2012, 04:30 PM

I tried Amsoil in my Voyager. It does not help with the shifting.
It did help on my 1600.

**sacarriker** · 06-04-2012, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip

Hey, I'm new to this forum, and I've done a search but didn't find anything exactly answering this. I have an '09 Nomad w/ 12K miles. Love the bike, but I have the standard shifter clunk that everyone seems to have. I was told that synthetic oil makes a big difference for some reason.

Has anyone had experience with this, and if so, which oil did you find the most successful? I live in the South with hot temps in the summer and mild winters. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Had a 900. Used the castroil partially synthetic. Worked great. Kept it quiet.

AlabamaNomadRider · 06-04-2012, 10:03 PM

Seems these bikes with the way they are set up are going to clunk shifting from 1st to 2nd. I think all of them do it. With my engine cool and the oil probably a little thicker it shifts quietly but once the bike warms up it sounds the same.

replay13 · 06-05-2012, 02:53 AM

I used to notice some 1st to 2nd shift clunk, but my old bike was just as bad or worse. I'm just happy that the trany's are built like a tank and I haven't heard of any blowing up. Actually after 20,000 miles on my 2010 Nomad I don't hear or notice much clunk anymore. Synthetic oil never made much noise difference in mine.

clayton · 06-05-2012, 01:07 PM

Skip
The only way I could reduce this "clunk" was to not let my RPM's climb to high and then shift into 2nd.
True as most have said fresh oil, syn or dyno, helps for a short period but then back to the good ole Clunk.

**ray2** · 06-05-2012, 04:13 PM

I use ma kaw 20w50 dino oil. have used the other oil's but like the kaw 20W50. As for the shifting its not the oil its how you shift.

bap · 06-05-2012, 04:51 PM

I have just purchased my 2011 vaquero and would like to know if there is any advice any one can give me about it? I also have a 900 custom that I enjoy as well. Thanks

06-04-2012, 10:10 AM	#1
Skip Jr. Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 19	Synthetic Oil Vs. Shifter 'Clunk'. Hey, I'm new to this forum, and I've done a search but didn't find anything exactly answering this. I have an '09 Nomad w/ 12K miles. Love the bike, but I have the standard shifter clunk that everyone seems to have. I was told that synthetic oil makes a big difference for some reason. Has anyone had experience with this, and if so, which oil did you find the most successful? I live in the South with hot temps in the summer and mild winters. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. __________________ Skip Mustang, Oklahoma 2009 1700 Nomad VBA #02048 "Life is what happens while your busy making plans."- John Lennon Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-04-2012, 11:01 AM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	I use the Rotella T 15/w/40 oil, I find it makes for easier smoother shifts. You can tell when your getting due for an oil change as the shifter feels a little sticky. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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06-04-2012, 11:21 AM	#4
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	+1 Any oil change will help short term but not long term. __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
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06-04-2012, 11:26 AM	#5
Sin City Stan Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 3,746	My experience with the 09 Nomad using Mobil 1 20W-50 and Rotella 5W-40 was the same. It was quieter for a little while then back to normal. I did notice that the shifting was smoother. __________________ Oldest Saloon In Nevada http://www.pioneersaloon.info/ "Sin City Stan" Henderson, NV VBA #01004 VROC #29365 2004 Nomad 1500L5 +100 "The Bike" 2009 Nomad 1700 (past) 2004 Vulcan Classic 800 (past) 2010 Cortez - 2011 Crescent City - 2012 Kanab - 2013 Estes Park Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-04-2012, 02:04 PM	#6
Skip Jr. Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 19	Thanks everyone, sort of what I expected, no magic bullet unfortunately. Bike drives great, just that 1st and 2nd clunk drives me friggin nuts. But I love the looks and ride otherwise. Thanks again for all your responses. __________________ Skip Mustang, Oklahoma 2009 1700 Nomad VBA #02048 "Life is what happens while your busy making plans."- John Lennon
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06-04-2012, 10:44 AM	#2
Vulcan Hammer Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southern Ontario, Canada Posts: 66	Valvolene Premium Blue Deisel, 5w40 Full Synthetic worked wonders quieting and smoothing the shifting on my 4 Cylinder Sport Bike, but had very little effect on the Vulcan 1700 tranny. It was a little quieter and smoother for the first few hundred kilometers, but it shifts as noisy as ever now. The 1700 has large, straight cut gears which are inherently noisy. Such a gear box is hard on oil, as the gears are constantly shearing the molecules and breaking down the oil. Later production 1700s are supposed to have refinements in the tranny design to make it a little quieter and improve shifting. Considering your location, and without getting into a debate about Kawi approved viscosity, you may benefit somewhat from one of the premium 10w50 or 15w50 motorcycle synthetics.
	0

06-04-2012, 02:26 PM	#7
vulcanguy Advanced Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Aylmer Quebec Posts: 987	I also use the Rotella T 15/w/40 oil, & Like Ringading said, the bike does shift nice. I have been using Rotella for a couple of years now, gr8 stuff! Cheers __________________ Some days your the pigeon...some days your the statue! "Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. "
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06-04-2012, 04:30 PM	#9
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,932	I tried Amsoil in my Voyager. It does not help with the shifting. It did help on my 1600.
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06-04-2012, 10:03 PM	#11
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Seems these bikes with the way they are set up are going to clunk shifting from 1st to 2nd. I think all of them do it. With my engine cool and the oil probably a little thicker it shifts quietly but once the bike warms up it sounds the same. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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06-05-2012, 02:53 AM	#12
replay13 Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 224	I used to notice some 1st to 2nd shift clunk, but my old bike was just as bad or worse. I'm just happy that the trany's are built like a tank and I haven't heard of any blowing up. Actually after 20,000 miles on my 2010 Nomad I don't hear or notice much clunk anymore. Synthetic oil never made much noise difference in mine. __________________ Kawasaki 2010 Nomad 1700 Southern Oregon Vance & Hines slash cut slip-ons Cobra Powerpro CVT Thunder Air Kit, stock cover Kuryakyn Power Point 12v adaptor Cobra Luggage Rack Grasshopper back rest Tomtom GPS
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06-05-2012, 01:07 PM	#13
clayton Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cincinnati Ohio Posts: 618	Skip The only way I could reduce this "clunk" was to not let my RPM's climb to high and then shift into 2nd. True as most have said fresh oil, syn or dyno, helps for a short period but then back to the good ole Clunk. __________________ Clayton 2008 1600 Nomad VBA #01332
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06-05-2012, 04:13 PM	#14
ray2 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 939	I use ma kaw 20w50 dino oil. have used the other oil's but like the kaw 20W50. As for the shifting its not the oil its how you shift. __________________ Ray Minnesota 2010-1700-Nomad VBA#01525
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06-05-2012, 04:51 PM	#15
bap Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Livingston,tn Posts: 15	I have just purchased my 2011 vaquero and would like to know if there is any advice any one can give me about it? I also have a 900 custom that I enjoy as well. Thanks
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