Topic: Aussies - what oil do you use CB750

[Scott]

Hi
Not which oil is better please
Just what do you use that works.  Marks book says 20w 50 low detergent.
I was hoping to go down to Repco or Super Cheap and pick up a bottle with out reading the lables on heaps of bottles
Thanks for any replys cause it saves me a headache at the shop
Scott
Bike is 1972 with 98 000 kms but engine was "rebuilt" maybe 30 000 - 50 000km ago

[Stev-o]

Oh, boy, get out the popcorn!

[Retro Rocket]

Gday Scott, try and avoid anything with "friction modifiers" mate, the old Honda clutch is in an oil bath and could possibly slip because of the modifiers....

He did say "NOT WHICH OIL IS BETTER"     

[Scott]

G'day Stevo
How you going, I think I talked to you ages ago when I first picked up my Rickman about one year ago. Still not going yet.
I thought I'd seen on here oil threads were not cool because of the arguments.  Definatly not trying to stir anyone up about favourite oils or cause any hassles.
Have a good one
Scott

[Scott]

G'day Retro
Thanks for that
Scott

[liPPy]

Gday Scott, try and avoid anything with "friction modifiers" mate, the old Honda clutch is in an oil bath and could possibly slip because of the modifiers....

He did say "NOT WHICH OIL IS BETTER"     

Don't forget the reverse coriolis effect which means all oil in the southern hemisphere has to be added using your left hand only.

[Stev-o]

G'day Scott!  I like a good oil debate! Sorry to hear the Rickman is not going yet.
Have you made much progress? Post some pics when ya get a chance, mate.

[Scott]

Stevo
Made heaps of progress
frame has been re nickle plated (was in the electro platers for couple of months)
New swing arm bushes made and shocks
New chain and sprockets
So its a rolling chasis, waiting on twin carbs and exhuast from Cycle X, a few other bits and pieces and then the sparky will make up a new harness and all is good.
Hey I just got back from my first ride ever on a CB750.  happy as a pig in poo
So I can see the Rickman taking a back seat to the CB while I muck aroung that for a bit
Mate I'm on 2 months holliday starting yesterday so I may have time for both bikes but maybe not much cash
Scott
(got to work at the photo posting )

[Retro Rocket]

Hi Scott, those twin carb set ups hit the frame on a stock 750 frame, do you have enough clearance on the Rickman frame..?

[72500john]

from what i have read on alot of the contiversial "oil threads " here is that castrol is what honda developed their bike with. 20 w 50 is "my" personal choice for air cooled engines. and have had alot of luck with. engine runs good, little wear and clutch behaves itself. just my 2 cents worth. enjoy your bike!!

[Stev-o]

First ride on a 750 - that's a good day! Wow, two month holiday! Lucky you. I'm hoping for ten days off at the end of the month.

[Scott]

Hey Retro
I bloody hope they fit cause they are on the way.  But I can't say for sure until I get them.  I mentioned it to the importer in Australia and he reckons it will be OK

[Scott]

cheers John
That sounds good enough for me mate.  I'll get some today or tomorrow.
Definatly going to enjoy the bike thanks
Scott

[Retro Rocket]

Hey Retro
I bloody hope they fit cause they are on the way.  But I can't say for sure until I get them.  I mentioned it to the importer in Australia and he reckons it will be OK

How come you used an importer mate.? I get stuff shipped from the States regularly, never had a problem yet.? If i were you i would be emailing Ken at CycleX just to make sure, he's always returned my emails...  

[Frostyboy]

Regardless of everything I've read in previous 'oil threads', I used to use Castrol GP in my 550. That's no longer available so I've switched to Castrol Activ 4T.
    SAE 20W/50
    API SL
    JASO MA2
No clutch issues so I guess there's no synthetic slipperies in there. The engine hasn't blown up so I'm assuming all is good. 

[Scott]

G'day Retro
I should have said distributor not importer. I found it easy cause I phoned them up and they ordered the parts once I put the money in their account.  Saves me form doing it on the computer cause it was a bit to hard for me.
The bloke who is a distributor for Cycle X is listed on the bottom of the Cycle X web site
Scott

[w1sa]

PENRITE.......Gas 'Premium Mineral' (20w60) for highermileage bike, especially summer riding
..................Gas 'Premium Semi-Synthetic' (10w50)  for rebuilt/lower mileage bike.

They just released a range of motorcycle specific oils including MC 4 Stroke 'Premium Semi Synthetic' (10w50), (pretty much the same as Gas 10w50),  if that weight is your choice.........

[dave500]

i ride a 550 so i cant comment on your 750,many diesel engine oils are well suitable for wet clutch and air cooled bikes at a third the price of bike specific oils,,i use a certain brand diesel oil in my 550 i buy in 20 litre drums for 99 bucks from a truck supply place,ive been using this same oil in my old hq 308 V8 holden i drive everyday aswell and its quitened the famous lifter clatter,diesel oils mostly contain more zinc and detergents and have a higher tolerance to being mashed up in bike gearboxes,dont forget only one pair of gears and the clutch reduction are actually putting pressure on the oil,the others are just drifting around.

[Trevor from Warragul]

Valvoline XLD

[wardlow]

Hi guys,

I've just dropped in on this thread and will be watching with keen interest.

I'm about to do my first oil change on a low km K7 and am in much the same situation as Scott.

[CB750F2]

Penrite Gas HPR 20W-60. Pat

[WarwickE36]

Unobtanium 20W-50, anything else is pure CRAP

[mrbreeze]

Sorting through the oil threads here is a tough thing to do but a few years back.............I decided to follow a pretty large group of people here and use Castrol 20-50. They claimed the 20-50 didn't have the additives for newer cars like the other weights do. The bike calls for 10-40 but unless its motorcycle specific.........you don't wanna run it because of the additives not playing nice with the clutch. I've also heard the diesel 15-40 oils are OK also but I never ran them in my bikes.

[cben750f0]

i go for a good mineral based oil, with no friction modifers... im in cairns so the temp here and humidity is hard on oils/aircooled bikes.

hope that helps

peace

[Retro Rocket]

Anyone use Pennzoil ?   Used it in  my  750's back in the late 70's early 80's, never had a problem with it....
I think these days, as long as there are no friction modifiers in them,oils have come a long way since then, any decent oil should be good enough for our bikes, just change it regularly...

[Terry in Australia]

I only used it once Mick, I bought a K4 and did it up, then sold it to a British backpacker who wanted to ride around Australia. He wanted me to get a roadworthy certificate for the transfer of rego and get it serviced at the same time. The shop that did the work only used Pennzoil, and I don't know what grade they used, but it smoked like a bastard.

The poor bugger who bought it rode it to Sydney and got booked by the cops for "excessive smoke" so the buyer rang me and I suggested that he dump the oil out and refill it with penrite 20W 50 and he did, and hey presto! No more smoke. I haven't used it myself, and I've got no idea what grade it was, but it was thin............. 

I throw just about anything in my bike, any cheapo supermarket oil is much better than the stuff available when my bikes were new, so I know I'm not doing them any harm. Of course I run an oil cooler on them too, but don't tell Lloyd, or this will turn into another war of words...........