Full synthetic engine oil in the 961?

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Anyone have any experience with using a full synthetic oil in their 961 yet? My 2012 Triumph T100 has been happy from day one on the dealer supplied Castrol Power RS Racing 4T 10W-50 full synthetic motorcycle oil. It's rated JASO MA-2, API SL, and the label says it is formulated for wet clutches. I'd like to keep both of these modern bike on the same oil-diet if possible, and don't really see any reason not to change, except for the 961 manual's recommendation for semi-synthetic, and my concern if will be OK for the clutch.

Any thoughts?
 
richard-7 said:
Full synthetic in the engine not the transmission. Thats what I do.
Why not in the transmission? Could this do any harm?
 
richard-7 said:
Clutch plates will slip.
Motorcycle oils have friction modifiers and are designed to work with wet clutchs as PrecsiionBob stated in his Castrol post!
 
I'll look into it for myself then. Good info. Almost all of my motorcycle experince is of bikes before 1980. And then the 961's.

I follow the Norton UK reccomended trans oil and then really good synthetic engine oil. My dad too and he ripped apart his engine at 15,000+ miles and all is perfect. So I''m sold.
 
I tried the full synthetic Motul in my bike, It didn't slip once underway but just "jerky" on the take up. I know I removed it from the transmission, and went back to the semi-syn Motul. Clutch went back to normal behavior. Can't remember if I removed the syn from the engine. Sorry Bob, I think you're going to have to use the semi-syn in the tranny. Mark.
 
Matt Capri at Southbay Norton recommends adding 50 ml of Justice Brothers grease to the semi-synthetic Torco 20/50 oil in the transmission; gear shifting is very smooth. Can't comment on fully synthetic oil for the engine, but Richard's comments make sense.
 
Hello,

For the transmission/gearbox:
you can also use "Sport Transmission Fluid" from Bel Ray.
This oil is made for HD Sportster transmissions.(nearly the same as the 961 one)
I have only good experience with this oil.
 
I'm not familiar with the cam / follower arrangement in these motors, do they have flat followers and do they need zinc in the oil?
 
No , full roller bearing lifters. Look at Richards 961 oil circuit.
 
Interesting.
Next question: are they candidates for being fitted to old Commandos I wonder?
 
I doubt that anyone could answer that question today.
Each lifter resides in its own separate shaft/tunnel. Probably would require comnoz or some other enterprising Command genius on the forum to study the issue for a while. I don’t know if the lifters would work in a vintage command with standard rockers. The lifters were designed to work with the 961 which has I believe a central camshaft bearing to limit flex and lifter bounce at RPM.
However, it would sure be interesting to see a 750/850 motor retro fitted with roller lifters, a wild roller cam, and Narley ports and combustion chambers. The motor would probably pull the cylinder studs out of its cases. :lol:
 
Britjunkie said:
I tried the full synthetic Motul in my bike, It didn't slip once underway but just "jerky" on the take up. I know I removed it from the transmission, and went back to the semi-syn Motul. Clutch went back to normal behavior. Can't remember if I removed the syn from the engine. Sorry Bob, I think you're going to have to use the semi-syn in the tranny. Mark.
Hello Britjunkie
Could you please tell me which semi-synthetic Motul you use for the transmission?
I would like to get rid of the jerky noise as well.
Thanks, Raphi
 
The clutch and primary drive on the 961 are lubricated by the same oil.
The transmission is lubed by its own separate oil.
Surely these oils do not mix?
If you put fully synthetic oil in engine are you not if these facts are correct lubing the clutch with fully synthetic?
Or have I got it all wrong?
Maybe Norton would be kind enough to comment and advise us why they recommend semi synthetic in both and not fully synthetic in either or both?
 
The clutch and transmission are in the same oil bath. Both engine and trans factory says semi syn. Tony
 
Ralphi, from my notes I put Motul 7100 syn in it at 600 miles. Thats when I got the clutch "chatter". I replaced it shortly after that with Silkolene Comp 4 10w/40 semi-syn and the clutch returned to normal ops. The Silkolene is the recommended oil from Norton. So much for my memory and my attempt at a perceived improvement. Mark.
 
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