Gearbox oil

GregsBuddy · Post by **GregsBuddy** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 6:12 pm

Oil lubricates and cools the gearbox.
Pressure between gears is very high and thus the higher viscosity.
The correct lubricant will be compatible with the materials used in the gearbox's construction (gaskets, seals and plastic parts).
The only reason to change oil often is if you're seeing moisture in it. After break in, you should see little breakdown in our applications and at our normal operating temperatures. However, because our gearboxes are not sealed to atmosphere they breath from the air and moisture can/is a problem.

ucandoit · Post by **ucandoit** » Wed Sep 14, 2016 2:24 pm

Well, I've only changed the gear oil once in the last 3000 miles on my Buddy 125, which is when I bought it used. I can't believe people are changing it with every oil change. I'll go back and check what Genuine recommends.

GregsBuddy · Post by **GregsBuddy** » Thu Sep 15, 2016 3:58 pm

I follow the Genuine recommended oil and schedule as well.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Fri Sep 16, 2016 12:13 am

The Buddy owners manual recommends changing the engine oil (on 4T scooters) every 1,800 miles and the gear oil every 3,600 miles. I personally think both of those are a bit conservative, but most riders put less miles than that on in a year and should be changing engine oil at least annually regardless of mileage.

GregsBuddy · Post by **GregsBuddy** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 5:43 pm

I've been watching my engine oil closely and at the present 1,500 miles since last change it still looks great. I know "looks" are deceiving. This 170i has ~4,500 miles and uses a small amount of oil.

DeeDee · Post by **DeeDee** » Tue Sep 20, 2016 1:30 pm

I change the Buddy engine oil every 2,000, and gear oil every other change at 4,000. I change the engine oil filter every other oil change. I use Rotella T6 full synthetic. I also check the valves every 4,000 miles. Hard to nail an interval for the air filter. Sometimes it looks better than other. I'll vaccuum/ blow it out every service, unless it's looking real dirty. Then I'll replace it.

sc00ter · Post by **sc00ter** » Tue Sep 20, 2016 1:58 pm

I do the engine oil every 2000 miles and the filter every other change. Use Wally World Tech 2000 10-40 cheap oil. I do the gearbox oil every 10,000 miles when I check the valves. That is some thick Valvoline gear oil (its raining so Im not checking the weight). Also lube the speedo cable and lube the rear brake cable every 10,000 miles. I check tire pressure every week and always replace the valve stems at every tire change. Finally, do fresh brake fluid when I do the front pads. Seems excessive but the poor Buddy sits around nowadays.

GregsBuddy · Post by **GregsBuddy** » Tue Sep 20, 2016 11:56 pm

Both you last two gents have your collective acts together!
You're both likely to get a long life from the running gear of your scoot's.

ucandoit · Post by **ucandoit** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 3:32 pm

I do all the reg. fluid changes, etc., but have not thought of lubing the speedo cable and rear brake cable. Could you give us more info. about this? What to use, how to use it. Thank you.

PhillyKick · Post by **PhillyKick** » Fri Sep 23, 2016 1:30 am

Lubing cable-in-housing (brake, speedo) can be a bit dangerous with petroleum based lubes, I've seen the vinyl housings get weak/brittle/melty on my (and other's) mountain bikes. Also, which buddy's come with cable actuated rear brakes? I feel spoiled with all-around hydraulic discs now, haha. Haven't regularly used a cable since... probably 2006

sc00ter · Post by **sc00ter** » Fri Sep 23, 2016 4:21 am

Please dont take this personal PhillyKick, but you must be much younger than me! I grew up on mopeds, with the pedals, in their heyday and learned basic riding skills on a Montgomery Wards mini bike and a Honda CT70-running from the cops into the forest behind our neighborhood. Disc brakes were non-existent on all but the most expensive/exotic two-wheelers. Same with bicycles, I JUST NOW bought a affordable mountain bike with disc! When I was young and broke I'd do anything/everything to prolong parts from wearing out-and we kids beat the wheels off those mopeds and minibikes! I guess its just habit now. I use Synthetic Super Lube high temp grease on the speedo cable and Pedros enviro-friendly cable lube on cables. But yes, your right, petroleum based lubes can destroy rubber-sometimes pretty quick!

ucandoit · Post by **ucandoit** » Fri Sep 23, 2016 1:40 pm

Well, every Buddy 125 has a rear drum brake that uses a cable and each one has a speedo cable and there are a lot of Buddy 125 riders. It'd be nice to know if there is a need to grease these cables. I'll search it out.

scootERIK · Post by **scootERIK** » Fri Sep 23, 2016 4:32 pm

ucandoit wrote:Well, every Buddy 125 has a rear drum brake that uses a cable and each one has a speedo cable and there are a lot of Buddy 125 riders. It'd be nice to know if there is a need to grease these cables. I'll search it out.

My first Buddy 125 had over 44,500 miles on it and I never greased the rear brake cable. I also never greased the speedo cable, but ever time I changed the front tire(ever 10-12k) I would grease the front axle and grease the part of the speedo cable that connected to the front wheel, I believe that the manual tells you to do that.

As for gear oil I change that every 2-3 oil changes, usually when I change the oil filter, so every 2,500 to 5,000 miles. Changing the filter every oil change is a waste of time and money. I had the gear oil go bad at one point(there is a chance that it got overheated?) so I try to change it fairly often just to be safe. My general policy with oil is- when in doubt change it.

In 44k I never changed the air or fuel filter, but I would take the air filter off every so often and knock the dirt off and wipe it with a paper towel.

The Buddy 125 I am riding now was over 11k on it and I service it the same as the last one.

PhillyKick · Post by **PhillyKick** » Sat Sep 24, 2016 1:23 am

sc00ter wrote:Please dont take this personal PhillyKick, but you must be much younger than me! [...]But yes, your right, petroleum based lubes can destroy rubber-sometimes pretty quick!

Nothing personal!! I'm only 25, and I spent my entire earnings from my first summer job (age fifteen!) to buy an amazing Kona Scrap with hydraulic brakes. Like I said, haven't regularly used a cable brake since then (except parking lot e-brake turns in my VW in my slightly-younger, much-dumber days).

As far as lubing cables, try lithium grease, as long as the binding gel isn't petroleum based. It's a bit thick so it takes a bit of working to get it to spread the length of the cable, but it works well. That or tri-flow, but that seems to dissipate and needs reapplication.