"slightly" used gear oil color ?

Hi Bruno!

On 12 Jul 2004 05:02:20 GMT, "bruno" wrote :
 >I just drained the oil on my '99 YZ250. I replaced it about 4 weekends ago
 >(Golden Spectro W80) so it has maybe 8-12 hours of riding at the local
 >MX tracks.
 >What color should I expect the oil to be ? I was surprised to see
 >how dark greyish it looked. Is that expected or is that the sign of trouble ?

If your YZ has aluminum clutch plates, that greyish look is pretty
normal - at least if you're kinda clutch-slipper-guy. My CR250 had that,
too. If that pisses you off, go for some aftermarket steel clutch
plates, that will keep your oil clean for a longer time.

V.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

In article ,

 > If your YZ has aluminum clutch plates, that greyish look is pretty
 > normal -

I don't know what kind of clutch plates I have as I bought the bike
used last October.
If it indeed has aluminum plates, what's the recommended oil change
interval ?

thanks,

bruno.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

Hi!



  >> If your YZ has aluminum clutch plates, that greyish look is pretty
  >> normal -

On 12 Jul 2004 13:52:00 GMT, "bruno" wrote :
 >I don't know what kind of clutch plates I have as I bought the bike
 >used last October.
 >If it indeed has aluminum plates, what's the recommended oil change
 >interval ?

Depends on how you ride it. I changed the CR250's oil every 10-15 hours
of playriding/nonexzessive MX.

V.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

In article ,

 > It looks sort of like frothy milk-chocolate pudding. Very attractive as
 > long as you don't think about what it means.

Definitely not what my oil looks like.
Still no separation after sitting overnight. I brought a sample to
work today and one of my coworker said it was aluminum plate stuff.
I guess I'll just have to change the oil more often until I put steel
plates in.

bruno.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

"Bruno Melli" wrote in message


 > Definitely not what my oil looks like.
 > Still no separation after sitting overnight. I brought a sample to
 > work today and one of my coworker said it was aluminum plate stuff.

Did he taste it? That's the only real way to tell.

 > I guess I'll just have to change the oil more often until I put steel
 > plates in.

My vote is for aluminum debris. Aluminum plates are pretty standard on
MX bikes. Steel is real.

-Jeffrey Deeney- DoD#0498 NCTR UTMA BRC COHVCO AMA
'99 ATK 260LQ-Stink Wheels '94 XR650L-DreamSickle
We don't stop riding because we get old, we get old because we stop riding.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

In article ,

 > Did he taste it?

I tried to make blondie taste it but he complained that aluminum
particles is what made most of his hair fall off, and he wanted to
keep what little he had left.
But you are welcome to come up and taste it yourself

bruno.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

If your YZ is an 'F' (four stroke) ( did they make them in '99?) and has the
same plates as a 426, I have a second set of steel plates.

Bought steel assuming I had aluminum in there, pulled them out and found out
they were already steel.

Tom

"bruno" wrote in message

 > Hi all,
 >
 > I just drained the oil on my '99 YZ250. I replaced it about 4 weekends ago
 > (Golden Spectro W80) so it has maybe 8-12 hours of riding at the local
 > MX tracks.
 > What color should I expect the oil to be ? I was surprised to see
 > how dark greyish it looked. Is that expected or is that the sign of
trouble ?
 >
 > I've heard of water pump leaks causing a milky color but I've never seen
 > a color picture so I can't tell if that's what my oil looks like. But I
put
 > some of that oil in a clear container and I see no sign of separation
 > after it sat for several hours.
 > The radiator level was maybe half an inch below the top mark, but it lost
 > that amount over 6 months of use (including 4 days trail riding in Utah)
 > so it is not like there is an obvious leak. I just flushed the radiator
and
 > the coolant didn't seem contaminated.
 >
 > Anyway, just being curious.
 >
 > Thanks,
 >
 > bruno.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

Bruno Melli wrote:
 >

 >
  > > Yep. Mine requires that I put gas in it.
 >
 > What kind of bike do you have ?
 > I'm sure 2 strokes have their share of issues, but nothing compared to
 > what I've read about the latest high revving 4 strokers:
 >
 > I've heard of the titanium valve issue with the 450 CRF. And how they have
 > a small oil capacity so you could potentially run out of oil on a long
 > ride.

4-strokes USE oil (as in burn or leak)? What for?

 > Just yesterday I was reading through one of the dirt magazines. They were
 > explaining how to "fix" the new Kawasuki 250F because of
 > - Gears that lose teeth
 > - valve springs that fatigue right away and float the valve.
 > - The need for larger radiators and water pump to prevent them from
 > overheating.
 >
 > In comparison, a top end job once a year seems very easy.

Our 1980-vintage Kaw 2-strokes were pretty much bulletproof when we were
using them every weekend. Do ALL modern bikes have radiators? Seems
like a step backwards.

--
Cheers, Bev
###################################################################
"Johnston [Island] was the home of a U.S. chemical weapons disposal
facility for 10 years before operations ended in November 2000.
The island was turned into a wildlife preserve."
© 2002 The Associated Press<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

In article ,

 > If your YZ is an 'F' (four stroke) ( did they make them in '99?) and has the
 > same plates as a 426, I have a second set of steel plates.

It is a 2 stroke. Sounds like the new generation of 4 stroke are a lot of
work to keep running.

bruno.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 17:34:06 GMT, bruno RemoveThis @hpsvbpm.fc.hp.com (Bruno
Melli) wrote:


 >It is a 2 stroke. Sounds like the new generation of 4 stroke are a lot of
 >work to keep running.

Yep. Mine requires that I put gas in it.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

In article ,


 > Yep. Mine requires that I put gas in it.

What kind of bike do you have ?
I'm sure 2 strokes have their share of issues, but nothing compared to
what I've read about the latest high revving 4 strokers:

I've heard of the titanium valve issue with the 450 CRF. And how they have
a small oil capacity so you could potentially run out of oil on a long
ride.
Just yesterday I was reading through one of the dirt magazines. They were
explaining how to "fix" the new Kawasuki 250F because of
- Gears that lose teeth
- valve springs that fatigue right away and float the valve.
- The need for larger radiators and water pump to prevent them from
overheating.

In comparison, a top end job once a year seems very easy.

bruno.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 19:25:32 GMT, bruno.TakeThisOut@hpsvbpm.fc.hp.com (Bruno
Melli) spewed forth:

 >I'm sure 2 strokes have their share of issues, but nothing compared to
 >what I've read about the latest high revving 4 strokers:

Only if you ride the dog dookie out of them.

 >I've heard of the titanium valve issue with the 450 CRF.

That is a valid concern but putting in a set of stainless steel valves
cures the issue permanently and doesn't cost any performance.

 >And how they have
 >a small oil capacity so you could potentially run out of oil on a long
 >ride.

Yeah. like a 600 mile ride. The CRF uses a little oil. I've never had
to add oil since I change it before it gets that low.

 >Just yesterday I was reading through one of the dirt magazines. They were
 >explaining how to "fix" the new Kawasuki 250F because of
 >- Gears that lose teeth
 >- valve springs that fatigue right away and float the valve.
 >- The need for larger radiators and water pump to prevent them from
 > overheating.

The KXF had a couple issues. Pro racers were nuking the gearboxes in
stadium style whoop sections. I've asked all the local KXF/RMZ owners
and none have heard of any valve spring issue. I know some of the guys
ride them extremely hard so it isn't a *wimpy rider* thing. Adding 3
capfuls of Redline Water Wetter fixes the "overheating" issue.

 >In comparison, a top end job once a year seems very easy.

Some of the two strokes are having issues. It isn't a *4 stroke*
thing. It is a *mechanical object intended for racing* thing.


MX Tuner<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ? 

"Bruno Melli" wrote in message



 > It is a 2 stroke. Sounds like the new generation of 4 stroke are a lot of
 > work to keep running.
 >
Not. I'll chime in on the rest of the defense posts here. I love my 4
stroke. Can't believe how hard it pulls.

I check the radiator fluid before every ride, check the oil (capacity 1.5L)
and change it frequently - roughly every couple hours of good riding. Same
with air filter. Awhile ago when I thought the top end might be needing
freshening, I put a new rear tire on it. Now it wants to loop out all over
again like when I first bought it. It's a 2001 and was in very nice shape
when I bought it a year and a half ago. No complaints other than the
weight. It's a bit heavy. Still, I stand in the garage looking at it and I
grin because I can't believe I'm back in this game after a 20 some odd year
break with a still competitive bike. And it's still basically stock. No
engine mods. Starts on about the second kick - every time when cold. 1st
kick when hot. As long as you know how to kick them.... like you mean it.

Treat them right, and they'll treat you right. Just make sure you're not
buying someone else's problem if you buy used.

And I just figured out how I can reclaim some of the money I spend on decent
oil so often... I'm going to use it when I change the oil in my tractor.
It's a '62 International. Should work just fine in it.

Tom<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ""slightly"" used gear oil color ?