Synthetic Oil ?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
Several dealerships with good reputations still recommend dino oil. I use synthetic, but I wear a helmet too. Different strokes for different folks. Several threads on here where people didn't have leaks with oil, but did with synthetic.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
the question was about shovelhead motors and some of those motors came from harley with NO valve seals -- if you dont know what i am talking about - i guess you have a good question for like minded individuals
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,008
Likes: 464
my shovelhead has valve seals. I know because I replaced them when I rebuilt the top end. anyone with actual experience using synthetics? I have a great appreciation for the classics, but that doesn't mean your thinking has to be outdated as well.
Maybe there are good reasons not to use synthetics, I'm just asking what are they.
Maybe there are good reasons not to use synthetics, I'm just asking what are they.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
( my own personal experence being in a bike shop all my life - since 1965 )
i have seen what some never see being an one or two bike owner - syn oil in a shovel motor will leak uncontrolable with paper gaskets - not so with the cometic tin stuff - but what i have seen is shovel lifter rollers are small wheeled and with very slippery syn oil tend to skip on the cams base circle not roll over it like it should - cam and lifter roller wear that sends steel dust into the oiling system -- NOW some one else may see this different and thats fine the guys in the NYC metro are very hard on the bikes as well as the city traffic - out in the corn is all about speed not idling for 20 min at a time sometimes at every light ( foot cops ) keep you from riding on the sidewalks
i have seen what some never see being an one or two bike owner - syn oil in a shovel motor will leak uncontrolable with paper gaskets - not so with the cometic tin stuff - but what i have seen is shovel lifter rollers are small wheeled and with very slippery syn oil tend to skip on the cams base circle not roll over it like it should - cam and lifter roller wear that sends steel dust into the oiling system -- NOW some one else may see this different and thats fine the guys in the NYC metro are very hard on the bikes as well as the city traffic - out in the corn is all about speed not idling for 20 min at a time sometimes at every light ( foot cops ) keep you from riding on the sidewalks
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