Synthetic Causes Bearing Cavitation
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Arvada, CO
RE: Synthetic Causes Bearing Cavitation
ORIGINAL: bullelkklr
Was talking to a local Indy (denver) and he told me that synthetic oil is causing the main inner bearing to cavitate and the bearing goes out.
So I am thinking Fooey.
He goes on to say that the oil is so slippery that the bearing simply stops rotating and a flat spot is created. But this only happens at certain speeds/rpm's when the cruise control is locked and at highway speeds. He took me to the back room and showed me a bearing/crank on a bike this happened to. Showed me 9 other bikes that were in because of this happening to them.
So, my question is - has ANYONE else heard of such a thing anywhere in these here United States that might possibly confirm such a bold statement?
Was talking to a local Indy (denver) and he told me that synthetic oil is causing the main inner bearing to cavitate and the bearing goes out.
So I am thinking Fooey.
He goes on to say that the oil is so slippery that the bearing simply stops rotating and a flat spot is created. But this only happens at certain speeds/rpm's when the cruise control is locked and at highway speeds. He took me to the back room and showed me a bearing/crank on a bike this happened to. Showed me 9 other bikes that were in because of this happening to them.
So, my question is - has ANYONE else heard of such a thing anywhere in these here United States that might possibly confirm such a bold statement?
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
RE: Synthetic Causes Bearing Cavitation
This "bearing skate" idea is the oldest wives tale of the last century. Synthetic oils are just better and HD syn3 is a good group III oil as well. That said there are better GroupIV and GroupV syn oils out there for the same price. There are some gear oils that are "too slippery" for transmission applications that involve sychronizers but those are automotive related not motorcycle related. None cause "bearing skate".
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 7
From: guntersville, al
RE: Synthetic Causes Bearing Cavitation
66K miles on my 2001 RK using Mobil 1 15W50 car oil since first change. nengine has been apart three times for modifications and no visible wear was found anywhere. my chain tensioners lasted 54K.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Synthetic Causes Bearing Cavitation
ORIGINAL: huffhuff
66K miles on my 2001 RK using Mobil 1 15W50 car oil since first change. nengine has been apart three times for modifications and no visible wear was found anywhere. my chain tensioners lasted 54K.
66K miles on my 2001 RK using Mobil 1 15W50 car oil since first change. nengine has been apart three times for modifications and no visible wear was found anywhere. my chain tensioners lasted 54K.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: Synthetic Causes Bearing Cavitation
Ask your indy when my old RK's bearings will fail. It has 110k on it now, the heads have never been removed, and has had a diet of synthetic oil since 9k.
RE: Synthetic Causes Bearing Cavitation
I don't think you should just dismiss this bearing skate. I'm sure its been scientifically proven.You just cannot be too carefull. This pushed me into action, cause I got to look after my ride.
I dropped out that darn synthetic oil and put in some used dyno oil. I figure since its used, its already been tested by someone else. You wont catch me doing the oil companies research for them, no sir. I'm too smart for that. Used oil, its the way forward.
WB
I dropped out that darn synthetic oil and put in some used dyno oil. I figure since its used, its already been tested by someone else. You wont catch me doing the oil companies research for them, no sir. I'm too smart for that. Used oil, its the way forward.
WB
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,273
Likes: 7
From:
RE: Synthetic Causes Bearing Cavitation
ORIGINAL: WildBill2566
I don't think you should just dismiss this bearing skate. I'm sure its been scientifically proven.You just cannot be too carefull. This pushed me into action, cause I got to look after my ride.
I dropped out that darn synthetic oil and put in some used dyno oil. I figure since its used, its already been tested by someone else. You wont catch me doing the oil companies research for them, no sir. I'm too smart for that. Used oil, its the way forward.
WB
I don't think you should just dismiss this bearing skate. I'm sure its been scientifically proven.You just cannot be too carefull. This pushed me into action, cause I got to look after my ride.
I dropped out that darn synthetic oil and put in some used dyno oil. I figure since its used, its already been tested by someone else. You wont catch me doing the oil companies research for them, no sir. I'm too smart for that. Used oil, its the way forward.
WB
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,473
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: Synthetic Causes Bearing Cavitation
ORIGINAL: sleepneagle
I'm with Bill, I re-re-refine used oil in a distillery in my backwoods. Filter it with toilet paper rolls to clean out the impurities. I don't know if it ends up being 10-40, 20-90 or what. works good, I figure it ends up being a syn blend cause I don't know what was in the dippin bucket. Once I finish with the toilet paper rolls, I carry them up to the house and recycle them. After all it is prelubricated and will not chaff your backside. Not near as scratchy, you know. I believe in recycle.
ORIGINAL: WildBill2566
I don't think you should just dismiss this bearing skate. I'm sure its been scientifically proven.You just cannot be too carefull. This pushed me into action, cause I got to look after my ride.
I dropped out that darn synthetic oil and put in some used dyno oil. I figure since its used, its already been tested by someone else. You wont catch me doing the oil companies research for them, no sir. I'm too smart for that. Used oil, its the way forward.
WB
I don't think you should just dismiss this bearing skate. I'm sure its been scientifically proven.You just cannot be too carefull. This pushed me into action, cause I got to look after my ride.
I dropped out that darn synthetic oil and put in some used dyno oil. I figure since its used, its already been tested by someone else. You wont catch me doing the oil companies research for them, no sir. I'm too smart for that. Used oil, its the way forward.
WB
