1st Time oil-change on the Bullet 500

[Paul Romans]

Going over the 1963 Bullet 500 I picked up last fall, getting it ready for this year. Bought oil filters, pulled off the filter cover and about 2 spoonfulls of oil came out. Well, some black liquid tar came out. The previous owner was lax in his maintenance. May refill with cheap oil and SeaFoam, no filter, and run it at idle, just to clean the old feller out.

Anyway, does anyone recommend a particular oil? I've been running Castrol Synthetic 20w50 in my Goldwing, like that stuff. Comments welcome.

 

[Eatmore Mudd]

Don't forget pre Unit Bullets are school design and old spec metallurgy. New spec oil doesn't have the anti-wear additives that old school oils had. The zinc and phosphorus levels in car oil stated to take a dive when API service grade SL came out then I used Castrol 4T, Amzoil and Motul 5100 until from JASO MA to MA2. Now looking into Amzoil and oils for older diesel engines.

 

[Roy Gavin]

There was a recent link to the best oil to use in old tech Norton Commandos for hight stress racing with the air cooled flat tappet motor.
Motul 7100 was the highest rated MA oil, those better were full race oils dosed with some type of anti wear additive.
They gave some results for traditional classic oils too - maybe Bluestrom will manage to move the post over here for you ---!

 

[petespace1]

1963 you say… Mineral oil.
Oh and have you looked in the gear box yet ? Is it still grease or was it converted to run 90W oil?
sealed bearings etc.

 

[Bluestrom13]

Hitchcocks Technical notes -

Technical Notes

accessories.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com

 

[Philos]

Personally I'd ring an oil manufacturers tech dept and ask the question there. Any decent manufacturer will have a good idea on what the best oil is for older machines.

 

[Cpt.Sparkles]

For Redditch Bullets, go here...

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Vintage Royal Enfield

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