Forum

[Brian]

Hi All,
I have a 1949 350 bullet with its original engine and gear box. Does anybody know the correct oil for this gearbox? I have been advised to pack it with grease if it is rebuilt, which I have not needed to do. I cannot find any definitive information in the workshop manual or user instructions as to the type of oil to use.
Recently I was told that you must not use a modern 'EP' rated gearbox oil as this would attack the phosphor bronze bushes, this got me worried, does anyone know if that is true?
Since I don't know what oil is in it I have drained it out until I know for sure what to use!
Advice would be appreciated.

[grunda 12]

hi brian,i would advise you to use 20/50 type engine oil you should be ok with that ,its what i use in my bullet gearboxes with no problems atb paul.

[Beezabryan]

Straight 50 if you have other golden oldies that use straight oil.....Otherwise Castrol do a graphited grease suitable for grease boxes Veetol is the name I think

[Leon Novello]

700 grams of Veedol 00 grease to repack the box; top up with 20/50 motor oil; is what the workshop manual says. Mineral engine oil is not really suitable for the mangaling action of gear teeth; this is why synthetic oil is used in gearboxes lubricated by engine oil. If the box is empty and not prone to leaking, I would fill it with 140 gear oil.

[simon]

Yep 00 grease is what they want. Anything else will pour out of them. It's semi liquid grease and whilst I've heard of Veedol I use the Caltex equivalent that they sell for use in all sorts of low maintenance gearbox applications. I get mIne from a firm that manufacture winches for yachts because Caltex only want to sell me 20 litres and I haven't got enough time left to use that much.

[Les H]

Yep Semi fuid grease such as Veedol or Renolit ep00 as sold here. I would top up if necessary with straight 50 grade oil. It's true that 20W-50 multigrade is recommended but I believe that is an Indian misunderstanding of the multigrade viscocity. When cold, the multigrade has the same viscocity as straight 20 weight oil, not 50, which is far far thinner than the grease which it surely must thin out if added to it. EP90 used in more modern boxes has a similar viscocity to 50 grade engine oil, which is recommended for many old design Classic Bike gearboxes, so I would use Veedol and top up with straight 50 engine oil IF required.

[Beezabryan]

Thanks folks Veedol it is. I knew it was summat like that !!

[Alan R]

------- for a really "healthy" gearbox you could try using VIROL ????

[PeteF]

And a tablespoon of Black Molly in with the grease helps the gearchange I find.

[Alan R]

----------- we know a song about that, don't we children ?? ( Cue}--- Mary Poppins !!)