Oil for DXL clutch

Post all your vintage karting messages here in the General Discussion Forum

Moderator: Rob Voska

Post Reply
philrock
Posts: 104
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:38 am
Vintage Karting items owned: Mc101 engines
1977 Hartman Blue Streak
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Contact:

Oil for DXL clutch

Post by philrock » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:58 pm

I'm running modern DXL clutches on my twin Mc101s. (Yes, I know, not vintage legal.) Looking for something better in clutch oil than I've found so far.

I've used L&T , Steel Nytro, and Red Line clutch oils.

The L&T oil works o.k., but is very thick when cold, and expensive.

The Steel Nytro oil works o.k., but is even more expensive.

The Red Line oil works o.k., and is less expensive, but I see a lot more grit in the oil when I drain the clutches compared to the L&T and Steel Nytro oils.

I heard that plain old automatic transmission fluid is o.k. for oil-filled kart clutches. Anyone know more about this? Recommendations on brands, etc?

User avatar
Jeff Campbell
Site Admin
Posts: 581
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:52 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: 1961 Fox Go-Boy MC20's
Robron Chaparral dual MC101
Margay Cheetah MKIII
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Contact:

Re: Oil for DXL clutch

Post by Jeff Campbell » Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:43 pm

Phil,
The oils you have tried are probably some of the best. I usually run Mobile One synthetic automatic transmission fluid in my Hartman clutches, which have fiber type linings. The synthetic trans oil can handle higher temps, so it's an obvious choice over the standard trans oil. I would imagine any decent brand synthetic trans oil would work about the same. I would say that the clutch slips a little more than the original Hartman oil, I'm running extra weight on the shoes.

Jeff

Rob Voska
Posts: 1704
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:04 am

Re: Oil for DXL clutch

Post by Rob Voska » Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:33 am

I always liked Olson but don't think you can find it any more. Try Comet.

We used to run B&M trick shift for auto trannys. I agree with Jeff a good tranny fluid will work fine. I do think oil changed more often helps a ton.

Terry Schmitz
Posts: 106
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:04 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: 63 Brand X, 64 Fox Box ,71 BucketBug ,66 LANCER,63 GP, Rupp F35,66 CHAPERRAL SPRINT/ENDURO
User Agreement: Yes
Location: KY

Re: Oil for DXL clutch

Post by Terry Schmitz » Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:43 pm

I burned up a dxl on a yamaha kt100 using standard transmission fluid. synthetic would be better. but i bought the horstman and redline oils and they worked fine

Sonny Gerber
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:22 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: 1959 Caretta, 60's? Hellcat

Re: Oil for DXL clutch

Post by Sonny Gerber » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:50 pm

B & M Trick Shift works really good. L&T oil also works good. My experience with type F atf is that is needs to be changed every heat and it is very hard on the discs. I would say that the savings in oil is not worth the wear on the discs. Current Horstman oil works as well.

Post Reply