rd two smoke oil?

[Captain Jay]

I am in the process of building a rd400.

What kind of oil should I be using?

Premixing.

 

[bradj]

32:1

 

[crazypj]

Why pre-mix?
Oil pump is better for road use, pre-mix is a PITA if your on a run

 

[Sonreir]

I hear that adding a dash of castor bean oil helps lubricate things, but it also accelerates the carbon build up.
Could be awesome on race bikes where you'll be tearing them down a lot anyway.

 

[teazer]

Bean oil and dino oil tend to form a thick sludge like gorilla snot when mixed. Not good for a motor.

Forget pre-mix on the street. It's beyond a PIA, it's a pretty sure guarantee that it will one day run without oil when you forget to add oil or don't have a measuring device with you.

We use pre-mix on our race bikes and carefully control the fuel and oil. On the street it's a disaster waiting to happen with absolutely no upside.

 

[stroker crazy]

Castor oil won't mix with other oils, mineral or synthetic - teazer was being kind when he called it gorilla snot.

Using castor alone can also cause problems; quoting AG Bell:

"Castor-based oils are hygroscopic, which means they absorb moisture from the atmosphere..... castor oil will absorb moisture after it has been mixed with fuel. Therefore, do not use fuel more than three days old, and don't forget to drain the fuel from the tank and carburettor bowl."

Oil (castor or otherwise) can also separate from the petrol or form layers when left in the tank; this leads to pretty haphazard lubrication to say the least!

Crazy

 

[bradj]

32:1

keep enuff spectro to mix a gallon at the pump on the bike ta get ya home and mix you fuel in a gas can at home

 

[teazer]

Pre-mix on a street bike is like going back in time - all the cons and no pros. Once you use an injector system there is simply no going back.

For off road, anyone that uses Pre-mix should have an Accu-mix jug http://www.accu-products.com/accu-products-specialties/accu-mix-fuel-jug/prod_3016.html It really is a Must have item. First time you see one it's all WTF? and then when you work it out, you realize it's as brilliant as you are for buying it.

 

[Captain Jay]

Don't worry, I can handle mixin the oil.

Thanks, 32:1

Got it.

 

[teazer]

As long as you remember that oil separates out overnight and needs to be re-mixed every time you ride.

I cannot imagine going back to pre-mixing oil and fuel on a street bike. There is not one good reason to do it. No more power, less reliable, more prone to phase separation and it's a PIA.

 

[reds]

http://www.klotzlube.com/proddetail.asp?prod=KL-302_Quart&cat=4

 

[reds]

http://www.klotzlube.com/proddetail.asp?prod=KL-100_Quart&cat=4

this one comes mixed with 20% castor oil.

I run the one i posted previous. 10+ years of hammering on my RD400, pull it apart and nothing more than a light varnish like finish

 

[teazer]

That's probably more oil than the motor needs but should be safe. if you insist on going Pre-mix there are quite a few good pr mix oils available. That last one is a castor/synthetic blend.

 

[Captain Jay]

Thanks for all the input.

Should I run a rich mixture at first for the new motor?

On my outboards I always double oil the first tankful.

 

[bradj]

32:1

 

[reds]

Thanks for all the input.

Should I run a rich mixture at first for the new motor?

On my outboards I always double oil the first tankful.

No. and don't break in with synthetic

 

[crazypj]

Doubling the amount of oil LEANS the mixture, unless you fit larger jets to compensate for less fuel?