10-30 for 20 weight in chaincase?

pantah_good

pantah_good

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Jul 17, 2015
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For a '72 Triumph T100R Daytona, the manual calls for SAE 20 weight oil in the primary chaincase. You just can't find straight 20 weight oil anymore. Is it o.k. to substitute 10-30 oil in the chaincase?
Bill
 
From Google, it looks like the late 500 uses the same crankcase breather as the contemporary 650, so the primary contains the same oil as the engine.
 
I think 10W/30 is too thin for any old Brit bike engine.

I think that is the reason for LAB's incredulous smiley.
 
Due to what the Triumph manual said, I initially wasn't aware that the two oils might intermingle, and wasn't sure a multi grade would be o.k. with the clutch plates. The bike hasn't run for almost 20 years and I'm now thinking of using the thinner mineral 10-30 in the engine for a few short running cycles to flush it out, dump it, then put in what it would regularly run with. Since I'm a big fan of motorcycle specific full synthetic motor oils, I'm now wondering if there are any problems with using something like Klotz in this Triumph?
 
pantah_good said:
Due to what the Triumph manual said, I initially wasn't aware that the two oils might intermingle, and wasn't sure a multigrade would be o.k. with the clutch plates.
Click to expand...

If you use a "motorcycle" 20w-50 then you shouldn't have any problems (unless there's an existing problem with the clutch).



pantah_good said:
The bike hasn't run for almost 20 years and I'm now thinking of using the thinner mineral 10-30 in the engine for a few short running cycles to flush it out, dump it, then put in what it would regularly run with.
Click to expand...

Well, if you only intend to run it for a short time then it probably won't do any harm although I think I'd rather use a cheap 20w/50 myself, but I would clean the primary case and clutch plates regardless as it's not a difficult job on a Triumph.
 
Re; “Since I'm a big fan of motorcycle specific full synthetic motor oils, I'm now wondering if there are any problems with using something like Klotz in this Triumph? “

You could use this synthetic motor oil in your engine, but avoid at ALL costs using anything synthetic where there is a wet plate clutch, as you will find out to your cost, it will tend to slip. :(
 
Classic Triumphs tend to leak more when you switch to synthetics or even semi-synth.
 
Sounds like a motorcycle specific multi-grade mineral oil is the way to go with this bike. The bikes owner can't bring himself to spend any extra for synthetic anyway.
 
Was common to run A.T.F. ( dextron III ) in chaincases .

Even in Trans. at Daytona , for an extra mph or two .

FRICTION MODIFIED Oils , as they called them , in the 70 on Triumphs , with the Combined Oil System - could ( did ) lead to clutch slip , at the time .

A weekend bike , as opposed to everyday , Id run 40 monograde in the engine , and run it 5 minutes before heading out . Theory is circulate the Oil Twice , minimum . Anyway
before engageing gear . Aston before the plastic ones , were 15 min. before full wellie . Thats so engines at full operating temperature & stabilised , so clearances as required .
 
Matt Spencer said:
A weekend bike , as opposed to everyday , Id run 40 monograde in the engine , and run it 5 minutes before heading out . Theory is circulate the Oil Twice , minimum . Anyway
before engageing gear . Aston before the plastic ones , were 15 min. before full wellie . Thats so engines at full operating temperature & stabilised , so clearances as required .
Click to expand...

Just start up and ride away.
 
I have 2 79 T140D. The past 2 years, I've been using 20W 60 with nice results. Less consumption, the one minor primary leak almost disappeared, tranny feels shifts like hot rubber.
 
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