Forum

[Robin]

Hi all. I've just completed the rebuild of an Electra X engine, I hope. New main bearings, oil pump worm and shaft and new barrel and piston. Special thanks to Norm and Les H for their tips on getting the inner bearing races on the crankshaft. At the moment I've got semi-synthetic oil in the engine, and was wondering if I should change it to a mono grade for running in or not.
I also have an oil leak. The barrel has a tiny 1mm hole through which a lot of oil comes out. Is it possible to plug this with something? Many thanks for all advice.

[jaffa90]

I`m old hat and would use 20/50 mineral multigrade,as far as the hole i`ll pass on that.

[Beezabryan]

Unless a Bullet engines has been gholdified 20/50 is the stuff, no synthetic or semi synthetic which was developed for modern engines with miniscule clearances. Monograde is expensive and unnecessary, so is semi synth..... as for the oil leak i have dificulty envisaging whereabouts your leak is...is it at a joint (head or base) or is it a blow hole in the cylinder casting? If so then I'd be tempted to bung it up with black snot - black silicone sealant.

[rog]

Why not use the same oil that would be in the bike from new? This would be 10W-40. A semi-synthetic type is recommended by our hosts in thier catalogue.

[Robin]

Hi Guys. I'm looking specifically for an oil which will speed up the process of wearing in the new parts I have installed. If 20/50 multigrade is the stuff, then I'll use that.
It doesn't leak from between a gasket, but from a 'blowhole' as you call it Beeza. In the cylinder barrel at the height of the pushrod cavity. Will try and see if filling with silicone solves the leak. Thanks for your replies!

[Riggers]

Hi Robin. If you've just shelled out good money for a new cylinder barrel it shouldn't be leaking at all. Having to bung up 'blow holes' with 'garage glob' I would suggest is just not good enough. I'd complain to our hosts (if that's where you bought it from), and ask for a proper resolution of the problem to your satisfaction.

[neddy]

Always mineral oil for running in.

[STU]

If this is an Electra X with the AVL engine then the recommended oil is 10w-40. This is what the bike would have been delivered with from new and for running in. There is absolutely no way that I would ever consider putting a non-recommended grade of oil into a bike.
I fear that some of the replies to your question Robin are more in line with the the old iron engined bikes.
Using a non-recommended oil is more likely to speed up the wearing out of your new parts - rather than the wearing in!
All the best.