Kick starting the 850 bastard. [ nothing to do with iso's and other shit ]

johnm · Mar 4, 2023

NorLuck said:
Wait so what oil can I get anywhere and did well? Because I looked up M1 V twin and none of the usual drive up places have it?!

Hi mate

Years ago I lived in Scotland and spent the first two years complaining they didn't have half the things I could get at home. But finally I realised that I could get everything if I looked in the right place.

I think you said you came to NZ from the States and can't find most what your looking for.

So I just googled Mobil one V twin oil and found about 5 places straight up that have it. Including Supercheap Auto. And for sure if it isn't on the shelf they can get it in a couple of days. I think you are in Auckland. There must be 10 Supercheaps in Auckland, or alternatively Repco who will have it as well.

Plus Mobil and other autosuppliers. I stopped scrolling after the first page of hits.

Seriously Supercheap is about as hard to find as a McDonald's. Give them a call.

Good luck.

Shelby-Right · Mar 5, 2023

Also if , you want a full zinc oil check out Aegis oil , you can buy 20 litres of 20/50 full zinc and many others a reasonable cost .

kerinorton · Mar 5, 2023

Kerikeri. No ferking Mobil petrol stations around here. I looked up the internet and got a shock at the prices. $40 plus for a US quart. I got used to paying $90 to $120 for 20 litres.
[ might be a bit more now ]

Greg, your not out of line talking about oil as this may be the cause of my problem. [ I used 800 ml during the 1500 mile ride which I consider ok for an original bike with unmentionable miles not on the clock ]

Shelby, I am using Penrite 20-60 [ 20 l drum ] right now which is high in zinc.

blaisestation · Mar 5, 2023

NorLuck said:
It's not uncommon for the internet to modify your search results so you see what they want you to see.. I just goggled "M1 V twin" and "Mobile1 V-twin" again and the ONLY place that popped up that was a NZ based shop was supercheapauto and when I clicked on the link it said "special order" soooo....

David (gort) pointed out that it's at the gas station, I'll check then next time I fill up... Weathers been so nice I've been walking everywhere haven't gone into a gas station in well over a month.

Castrol GTX 20W50 - This stuff I see everywhere, gas stations, the warehouse, etc..

It's not the Castrol GTX that you want but Castrol classic XL. 20W50
Has to be ordered online in NZ.
Comes in a gallon tin.

gortnipper · Mar 5, 2023

I looked at the price for RP HPS 20w50. It was $11/qt in 2018. $18/qt now.

Castrol XL is $23/L or $70/4.5L

glcaines · Mar 5, 2023

I only use Castrol classic XL 20W50 in my 75 MkIII Commando and my 68 Triumph Bonneville and my 69 BSA 441 VS. I had problems with NGK plugs and have gone back to Champion and no more problems.

hhh · Mar 5, 2023

gortnipper said:
I looked at the price for RP HPS 20w50. It was $11/qt in 2018. $18/qt now.

Castrol XL is $23/L or $70/4.5L

$23/L??? I just about fell off my chair. I've been using Canadian Tire no-name 15W40 Diesel in everything I own including a '77 Sportster, a handful of Brit bikes, my '66 Mustang, Austin Minis, you name it. The only engine I've had apart is the Sporty after about 50,000 km on this oil which I change about every 1000 km, and there was no perceptible wear on the valve guides. Up until a couple years ago, it was $55 for a 19 litre pail. This oil is SAE approved, has plenty of zinc for flat tappets and I don't care how much you pay for a litre, or if Juan (Exxon) Valdez picked the castor beans to make it at peak ripeness himself, IMO, if you change cheap adequate oil more frequently, you'll probably have less wear. Your mileage may vary.

kerinorton · Mar 6, 2023

A diesel mechanic i met at a Classic rally in Waihi told me his experience of using diesel oil in his Triump. It always used oil, until an oil rep told him to use a different oil meant for air cooled engines [ sorry I don't know the details as he was helping me free up my throttle cable which had the oil washed out due to the heavy rain the bike had drive through for 6 hours the previous day ]. His bike ran better and stopped using oil. He had used diesel oil because he had it in 44 gallon drums [ like we used to buy or oil in our motor workshop ] .

So now you can see why I nearly shit myself when looking at the prices of oil. It was over 23 years ago we paid $5 - $ 6 a liter in the 50 us gallon drums. I have never used cheap oil.

A mate of mine sold oils here for years, all the good stuff and best price around, hence the $90 odd for 20 Litres I used in my Landcruiser. [ worked out at $45 per oil change. ]

hhh. do you run often. BB