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I'm getting old....well, I have been on Harley's since I was 16. I always wanted a 1973 shovel like I had in 1973, if nothing more than to add to the 2 in my corral. I found a beautiful survivor. My old Harley manual (original shop manual) only gives me grades for motor oil not SAE weights....... I don't remember what I used in 1973! I live in Texas....it's always hot here and I use synthetic in everything.....Harleys, Jeep and hot rod!
So, I have two questions I could use some opinions on....1) Lucas 20-W50 syn, or Lucas 50W syn and 2) a lithium battery in it.
Just for grins.... a picture of my first Harley. I built it in 1965. it's a '48 panhead 80ci via flat head 80" wheels, Sifton cam and a bored-out Linkert '48 pan, 80" flat head wheels, Sifton cam, bored out Linkert carb, sportster front end, 1/4 rake
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I can't comment on synthetic in a shovel but we always ran 20/50 in the motor as it was 'said' that straight 50 took too long to get up the rocker oil feed tubes.
Oh no, an oil thread! LOL I'll put my 2c in here. I think these old motors were designed for straight weight dinosaur oil, and that's what we should use, especially with roller bearings. I use high zinc valvoline VR-1 50w, you may want 60w.
As far as lithium battery, it depends. Most of my bikes are fine with AGM, but my 96" evo chopper with the battery inside the oil tank was going through two every three years. This will be the third or fourth season with the lithium battery.
I run PennGrade 60wt here on Long Island. You need straight oil with extra zinc for the older motors. 70wt may be a good idea in Texas, assuming hot where you live. Valvoline VR1 is the alternative, all depends on what you can find. I have the PennGrade mailed to me from Summit.
Don't use synthetic 20w-50 oil in the Shovelhead. It's too **** thin. I always ran conventional straight 50w in the winter and straight 60w in the summer.
Don't use synthetic 20w-50 oil in the Shovelhead. It's too **** thin. I always ran conventional straight 50w in the winter and straight 60w in the summer.
20w50 conventional and 20w50 synthetic meet the same exact viscosity requirements, in fact they both meet all the same SAE, API requirements, because as we know, there is no separate specification for synthetic motor oil.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Apr 9, 2025 at 04:31 PM.
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what grade oil?
