1968 commando, (I hate to ask)

uneasy rider

uneasy rider

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Oct 29, 2023
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OK, I guess the original 68 commando took straight 50 weight oil. Is Any good multi weight high zinc oil like mobile 2050 a good substitution?

Red faced for asking an oil question
 
Absolutely but I question if mobile has high zinc content. I am mostly using Valvoline VR-1 or Castrol Classic both of which are dino oils engineered for flat tappet engines but saying this will elicit criticism since oil is a highly opinionated subject. To the best of my knowledge, Norton did not change any engine parameters when they changed oil recommendations. Multigrade oil was not readily available in 68.
 
comnoz

Thread 'Follower scar oil tests (2018)'

So after having a cam failure and getting sucked into reading way to much crap about oils, I decided if I wanted to know I better do some more testing.

I had a Timkin scar tester some years ago but never thought it gave me any good valuable info so I put something together to do some testing. It is basically a scar tester that uses a Norton follower instead of a Timkin roller. This gives me line contact instead of point contact so I can use a lot more speed and load without causing an instant scar like the Timkin tester did...
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a good read.
 
This is the oil I now use as a result of the extensive work by our @comnoz , as posted by @CanukNortonNut above. BTW it is post #916 (page 46)
I am very happy with it! Read Jim's summary at the bottom.
comnoz

Post in thread 'Follower scar oil tests (2018)'

So Just like every other additive I have tested. It may work and it may not.
Here is another case where it helped, just not as much
________________________________________________
Royal Purple Max Cycle 20W50 with BG-MOA
Follower scar oil tests (2018)

230 lbs load capacity [60 lb increase with BG-MOA]
.624 total heat from friction
.01 heat from viscous friction
.95 heat from high speed shear
Safe for wet clutch
A very good choice for a Norton
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In my early days I ran a straight 50 racing Pennzoil imported by an American by the 44 gal drums and my Norton ran so well with it in our hot climate and after 15+ years he was sued by Pennzoil Australia to stop him selling it but after a 3 year battle he won the right to sell it as the Aust Pennzoil was product by Caltex and wasn't the same, I now run Penrite classic oil but I have always mixed STP in with my oil on all my old air cooled British bikes since 1979, a lot might say snake oil but it works for me and I have got very long life out of my motor with very min wear, I am still running my original cam that was built up to 2S profile and grind back in 1982, last time I pulled my motor down 15+ years ago to replace the crank case (original had a broken front middle stud broken piece of the crank case as well a few hair line fractures around the main seal) but all the main bearings and were good, slipper bearings only had very min wear but all were replaced (crank still on STD size) and my first rebore was still good (rebore was done back in 1982) Hepolite 40th over size pistons and very tight final hone bore to piston clearance, so just a light hone and new rings, my Norton was an everyday ride till 2013 and to me the use of STP has proven its worth, I also run since 1978 a Lochead oil cooler, always had a oil cooler on all my air cooled British bikes even through winter.

Ashley
 
I used this for years. Best value for the price.

Valvoline 4-Stroke Motorcycle Oil SAE 20W-50

shop.valvolineglobal.com shop.valvolineglobal.com
Post break-in I used this in my completely rebuilt 74 850
royalpurpledirect.com

Max-Cycle 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil

Royal Purple Max-Cycle 20W-50 motor oil is specifically formulated to maximize performance and meet the demands of high performance motorcycle.
royalpurpledirect.com royalpurpledirect.com
If you do regular changes just about any 20w50 motorcycle specific 4t oil from a reputable brand will work fine. I always ran atf in my primary so you don't have to worry about the oil being wet clutch compatible like you do on post 70 Triumphs.
 
robs ss said:
This is the oil I now use as a result of the extensive work by our @comnoz , as posted by @CanukNortonNut above. BTW it is post #916 (page 46)
I am very happy with it! Read Jim's summary at the bottom.
comnoz

Post in thread 'Follower scar oil tests (2018)'

So Just like every other additive I have tested. It may work and it may not.
Here is another case where it helped, just not as much
________________________________________________
Royal Purple Max Cycle 20W50 with BG-MOA
Follower scar oil tests (2018)

230 lbs load capacity [60 lb increase with BG-MOA]
.624 total heat from friction
.01 heat from viscous friction
.95 heat from high speed shear
Safe for wet clutch
A very good choice for a Norton
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Click to expand...
Same. For some reason it's cheap in NZ. I have a carton of it in my garage.
 
ilikevelos said:
Absolutely but I question if mobile has high zinc content. I am mostly using Valvoline VR-1 or Castrol Classic both of which are dino oils engineered for flat tappet engines but saying this will elicit criticism since oil is a highly opinionated subject. To the best of my knowledge, Norton did not change any engine parameters when they changed oil recommendations. Multigrade oil was not readily available in 68.
Click to expand...
 
ilikevelos said:
Absolutely but I question if mobile has high zinc content. I am mostly using Valvoline VR-1 or Castrol Classic both of which are dino oils engineered for flat tappet engines but saying this will elicit criticism since oil is a highly opinionated subject. To the best of my knowledge, Norton did not change any engine parameters when they changed oil recommendations. Multigrade oil was not readily available in 68.
Click to expand...
A major change to the lubrication system was the addition of an external oil filter in ‘72 or thereabouts. This is a good mod to make if you use detergent oils in an earlier engine.
 
johnm said:
Same. For some reason it's cheap in NZ. I have a carton of it in my garage.
Click to expand...
For clarity - I Use Royal Purple HPS 20W50 and no additive. Jim stated that additives such as BG-MOA may actually be a backward step for oils this good.
Cheers
comnoz

Post in thread 'Follower scar oil tests (2018)'

Well, I went ahead and upped the anti for five of the oils I was considering for my bike.
I set the tester up to start out with the normal 220 degree warm-up for 25 minutes.
Then I set it to run for 5 hours with a set load of 300 lbs, with only cooling for the oil -no cooling for the follower. [I put a cover over it to keep it out of the air blast]

I though I would compare the wear mark on the follower after the test.

Five oils:
Bel Ray V-twin synthetic
Mobil 1 v-twin with BG-MOA
Klots 25W60 with FR3 additive
Red Line 60 with BG-MOA
Royal Purple HPS 20W50

I didn't end up comparing the...
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robs ss said:
For clarity - I Use Royal Purple HPS 20W50 and no additive. Jim stated that additives such as BG-MOA may actually be a backward step for oils this good.
Cheers
comnoz

Post in thread 'Follower scar oil tests (2018)'

Well, I went ahead and upped the anti for five of the oils I was considering for my bike.
I set the tester up to start out with the normal 220 degree warm-up for 25 minutes.
Then I set it to run for 5 hours with a set load of 300 lbs, with only cooling for the oil -no cooling for the follower. [I put a cover over it to keep it out of the air blast]

I though I would compare the wear mark on the follower after the test.

Five oils:
Bel Ray V-twin synthetic
Mobil 1 v-twin with BG-MOA
Klots 25W60 with FR3 additive
Red Line 60 with BG-MOA
Royal Purple HPS 20W50

I didn't end up comparing the...
  • Like
Click to expand...
This one. I bought a big carton of it several years back. May need to buy some more soon.
 

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The mobile one has zinc in it. At the Asheville, North Carolina rally a few years ago John Favill was theguestof honor and he recommended mobile one 20/50
 
It isn't so simple as 'which one is best'. Take in to account where you ride, how you ride and how often you change the oil.
Changing the oil matters in an old aircooled engine. So too does how
much the oil costs. Royal Purple may be great oil but are you willing to change at 1k miles? That oil is still good at 1k but it is as polluted with tiny particles as any other oil or close to it even with filter.
My default is Castrol Classic 20-50 changed at 1k or very close to it.
If I lived in America or a hot climate I might be using the RP due to
the high ambient temps .
 

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