BSA A65 Lightning Primary chaincase oil

An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to know
the correct oil for the primary chain case.
Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid.
He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the
engine over on the kick start.
Any help gratefully received.

--
....
Jules
Brisbane, Australia

On or around Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:00:32 +1000, Julian Cann
<julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> enlightened us thusly:

>An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to know
>the correct oil for the primary chain case.
>Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid.
>He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the
>engine over on the kick start.
>Any help gratefully received.

what did he put in it?

has to be possible that it's fought with what's in there.

consensus here (mind, neither me nor Father has ever had an A65) is engine
oil, on the basis that sooner or later you'll get a leak one way or the
other :-)

when he says "can't turn it over" is this "it feels a bit stiff" or "it's
locked solid"?

too-heavy oil might be a problem, but I doubt engine oil comes into that
category. EP90 or something might.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Travel The Galaxy! Meet Fascinating Life Forms...
------------------------------------------------\
>> http://www.schlockmercenary.com/ << \ ...and Kill them.
a webcartoon by Howard Tayler; I like it, maybe you will too!

On 27 Apr, 09:39, Austin Shackles
<austinDITCHTHISFORBETTERRESU...@ddol-las.net> wrote:
> On or around Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:00:32 +1000, Julian Cann
> <julianREMOVETHISc...@hotmail.com> enlightened us thusly:
>
> >An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to know
> >the correct oil for the primary chain case.
> >Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid.
> >He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the
> >engine over on the kick start.
> >Any help gratefully received.
>
> what did he put in it?
>
> has to be possible that it's fought with what's in there.
>
> consensus here (mind, neither me nor Father has ever had an A65) is engine
> oil, on the basis that sooner or later you'll get a leak one way or the
> other :-)
>
> when he says "can't turn it over" is this "it feels a bit stiff" or "it's
> locked solid"?
>
> too-heavy oil might be a problem, but I doubt engine oil comes into that
> category. EP90 or something might.

I wonder if it shoud be lighter? From memory my Norton takes 30 in the
primary and 80/90 in the gearbox.

In article <2bd333pk99r95rd3hifu3ldmldifnj0mc9@4ax.com>,
austinDITCHTHISFORBETTERRESULTS@ddol-las.net (Austin Shackles) wrote:

> consensus here (mind, neither me nor Father has ever had an A65) is
> engine oil, on the basis that sooner or later you'll get a leak one
> way or the other :-)

Well, with the Bonnevile I had at one point, it was engine oil. With a
wet clutch you really do not want something with high viscosity like
EP90.

Ken Young

Julian Cann <julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> wrote:

> An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to know
> the correct oil for the primary chain case.
> Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid.
> He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the
> engine over on the kick start.
> Any help gratefully received.

From the Twins and Triples book, "1/4 pint/142cc of SAE 10-30", which I
presume is not 10/30 multi, but any grade between 10 and 30, depending
on local weather.
So I'd have a wild guess that a 10/30 multigrade would be fine.

If he cannot turn it over, then I'd say there is something other than
the wrong oil grade used.The chaincase oil is only around a inch 'deep',
just enough to cover the bottom chain run, this then throws oil all
around the case, and onto the clutch - the clutch is not totally
immersed.
Drain the oil out, then try again. It will run fine with no oil, though
dont go doing 100 mile trips with no oil. If it turns over easily, then
it was an oil issue. Refill with the correct amount and grade, then see
how it is.
Alan.

--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

"Julian Cann" <julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.209be82d92db8eb7989691@news.bri.connect.c om.au...
> An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to know
> the correct oil for the primary chain case.
> Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid.
> He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the
> engine over on the kick start.
> Any help gratefully received.
>
>
Probably the oil is too thick (heavy) or he may have just put too much in
and it has got on the clutch plates and making it slip when he tries to kick
it over. Drain it out or remove the cover, dismantle the clutch and wash the
plates in petrol or degreaser and try again. Can't think of any other
problem caused by just putting some oil in.

Martin

Oily wrote:
> "Julian Cann" <julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:MPG.209be82d92db8eb7989691@news.bri.connect.c om.au...
>> An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to
>> know the correct oil for the primary chain case.
>> Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid.
>> He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the
>> engine over on the kick start.
>> Any help gratefully received.
>>
>>
> Probably the oil is too thick (heavy) or he may have just put too
> much in and it has got on the clutch plates and making it slip when
> he tries to kick it over. Drain it out or remove the cover, dismantle
> the clutch and wash the plates in petrol or degreaser and try again.
> Can't think of any other problem caused by just putting some oil in.

He might have topped it up through the spark plug hole...

--
platypus

"Merely corroborative detail, intended to
give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise
bald and unconvincing narrative.”

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:40:24 GMT, "platypus"
<monotreme@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

>Oily wrote:
>> Probably the oil is too thick (heavy) or he may have just put too
>> much in and it has got on the clutch plates and making it slip when
>> he tries to kick it over. Drain it out or remove the cover, dismantle
>> the clutch and wash the plates in petrol or degreaser and try again.
>> Can't think of any other problem caused by just putting some oil in.
>
>He might have topped it up through the spark plug hole...

Heh. I recall a housemate telling me that the gearbox oil was draining
terribly slowly out of his bike. I turned out that he'd mistaken a
relief valve or a selector indent plunger (I forget which) for the
drain plug.

--
-Pip

"platypus" <monotreme@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:YctYh.8134$Ro3.6438@text.news.blueyonder.co.u k...
> Oily wrote:
> > "Julian Cann" <julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:MPG.209be82d92db8eb7989691@news.bri.connect.c om.au...
> >> An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to
> >> know the correct oil for the primary chain case.
> >> Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid.
> >> He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the
> >> engine over on the kick start.
> >> Any help gratefully received.
> >>
> >>
> > Probably the oil is too thick (heavy) or he may have just put too
> > much in and it has got on the clutch plates and making it slip when
> > he tries to kick it over. Drain it out or remove the cover, dismantle
> > the clutch and wash the plates in petrol or degreaser and try again.
> > Can't think of any other problem caused by just putting some oil in.
>
> He might have topped it up through the spark plug hole...
>
>
You might be right....... if it was a two smoke with drive side crank oil
seal gone. :-)

Oily

"Julian Cann" <julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.209be82d92db8eb7989691@news.bri.connect.c om.au
> An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to
> know the correct oil for the primary chain case.
> Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid.
> He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the
> engine over on the kick start.
> Any help gratefully received.

He has probably used something with lots of extra slippery additives. The
clutch may now be slipping because the plates can no longer grip properly.

--
Tony
'04 XL1200C, '95 LS650
OMF#24

	#1
Julian Cann	BSA A65 Lightning Primary chaincase oil An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to know the correct oil for the primary chain case. Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid. He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the engine over on the kick start. Any help gratefully received. -- .... Jules Brisbane, Australia

	#2
Austin Shackles	Re: BSA A65 Lightning Primary chaincase oil On or around Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:00:32 +1000, Julian Cann <julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> enlightened us thusly: >An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to know >the correct oil for the primary chain case. >Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid. >He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the >engine over on the kick start. >Any help gratefully received. what did he put in it? has to be possible that it's fought with what's in there. consensus here (mind, neither me nor Father has ever had an A65) is engine oil, on the basis that sooner or later you'll get a leak one way or the other :-) when he says "can't turn it over" is this "it feels a bit stiff" or "it's locked solid"? too-heavy oil might be a problem, but I doubt engine oil comes into that category. EP90 or something might. -- Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that Travel The Galaxy! Meet Fascinating Life Forms... ------------------------------------------------\ >> http://www.schlockmercenary.com/ << \ ...and Kill them. a webcartoon by Howard Tayler; I like it, maybe you will too!

	#3
osvif@my-deja.com	Re: BSA A65 Lightning Primary chaincase oil On 27 Apr, 09:39, Austin Shackles <austinDITCHTHISFORBETTERRESU...@ddol-las.net> wrote: > On or around Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:00:32 +1000, Julian Cann > <julianREMOVETHISc...@hotmail.com> enlightened us thusly: > > >An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to know > >the correct oil for the primary chain case. > >Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid. > >He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the > >engine over on the kick start. > >Any help gratefully received. > > what did he put in it? > > has to be possible that it's fought with what's in there. > > consensus here (mind, neither me nor Father has ever had an A65) is engine > oil, on the basis that sooner or later you'll get a leak one way or the > other :-) > > when he says "can't turn it over" is this "it feels a bit stiff" or "it's > locked solid"? > > too-heavy oil might be a problem, but I doubt engine oil comes into that > category. EP90 or something might. I wonder if it shoud be lighter? From memory my Norton takes 30 in the primary and 80/90 in the gearbox.

	#4
kenney@cix.compulink.co.uk	Re: BSA A65 Lightning Primary chaincase oil In article <2bd333pk99r95rd3hifu3ldmldifnj0mc9@4ax.com>, austinDITCHTHISFORBETTERRESULTS@ddol-las.net (Austin Shackles) wrote: > consensus here (mind, neither me nor Father has ever had an A65) is > engine oil, on the basis that sooner or later you'll get a leak one > way or the other :-) Well, with the Bonnevile I had at one point, it was engine oil. With a wet clutch you really do not want something with high viscosity like EP90. Ken Young

	#5
A.Lee	Re: BSA A65 Lightning Primary chaincase oil Julian Cann <julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> wrote: > An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to know > the correct oil for the primary chain case. > Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid. > He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the > engine over on the kick start. > Any help gratefully received. From the Twins and Triples book, "1/4 pint/142cc of SAE 10-30", which I presume is not 10/30 multi, but any grade between 10 and 30, depending on local weather. So I'd have a wild guess that a 10/30 multigrade would be fine. If he cannot turn it over, then I'd say there is something other than the wrong oil grade used.The chaincase oil is only around a inch 'deep', just enough to cover the bottom chain run, this then throws oil all around the case, and onto the clutch - the clutch is not totally immersed. Drain the oil out, then try again. It will run fine with no oil, though dont go doing 100 mile trips with no oil. If it turns over easily, then it was an oil issue. Refill with the correct amount and grade, then see how it is. Alan. -- To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

	#6
Oily	Re: BSA A65 Lightning Primary chaincase oil "Julian Cann" <julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:MPG.209be82d92db8eb7989691@news.bri.connect.c om.au... > An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to know > the correct oil for the primary chain case. > Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid. > He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the > engine over on the kick start. > Any help gratefully received. > > Probably the oil is too thick (heavy) or he may have just put too much in and it has got on the clutch plates and making it slip when he tries to kick it over. Drain it out or remove the cover, dismantle the clutch and wash the plates in petrol or degreaser and try again. Can't think of any other problem caused by just putting some oil in. Martin

	#7
platypus	Re: BSA A65 Lightning Primary chaincase oil Oily wrote: > "Julian Cann" <julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:MPG.209be82d92db8eb7989691@news.bri.connect.c om.au... >> An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to >> know the correct oil for the primary chain case. >> Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid. >> He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the >> engine over on the kick start. >> Any help gratefully received. >> >> > Probably the oil is too thick (heavy) or he may have just put too > much in and it has got on the clutch plates and making it slip when > he tries to kick it over. Drain it out or remove the cover, dismantle > the clutch and wash the plates in petrol or degreaser and try again. > Can't think of any other problem caused by just putting some oil in. He might have topped it up through the spark plug hole... -- platypus "Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative.”

	#8
Pip Luscher	Re: BSA A65 Lightning Primary chaincase oil On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:40:24 GMT, "platypus" <monotreme@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote: >Oily wrote: >> Probably the oil is too thick (heavy) or he may have just put too >> much in and it has got on the clutch plates and making it slip when >> he tries to kick it over. Drain it out or remove the cover, dismantle >> the clutch and wash the plates in petrol or degreaser and try again. >> Can't think of any other problem caused by just putting some oil in. > >He might have topped it up through the spark plug hole... Heh. I recall a housemate telling me that the gearbox oil was draining terribly slowly out of his bike. I turned out that he'd mistaken a relief valve or a selector indent plunger (I forget which) for the drain plug. -- -Pip

	#10
TMack	Re: BSA A65 Lightning Primary chaincase oil "Julian Cann" <julianREMOVETHIScann@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:MPG.209be82d92db8eb7989691@news.bri.connect.c om.au > An old non-computer literate friend has the above bike and wants to > know the correct oil for the primary chain case. > Some say engine oil....others auto transmission fluid. > He recently topped up the oil and found he could no longer turn the > engine over on the kick start. > Any help gratefully received. He has probably used something with lots of extra slippery additives. The clutch may now be slipping because the plates can no longer grip properly. -- Tony '04 XL1200C, '95 LS650 OMF#24