Castrol R?

If theengine is able to run that unmistakeablecastor oil smell should tell you.

Put a little oil on paper and burn it in the garden.

Whether vegetable or mineral, I would strongly suggest changing the oil regardless. Morris lubricants manufacture both mineral and vegetable oils for bikes. Their R equivalent claims to have advantages over Castrol's own. See their website for details.

Having said that, I changed from R to 20-50 in an 88 without any problems. I drained the R, filled with 15W-40 diesel oil, ran it until it was warm, drained the 15W-40 and refilled with normal 20W-50. The Diesel oil is highly detergent and the idea was to give a gentle flush out. It worked.

Hi Alec,

Castrol R is unique in that it has additives to give it the distinctive smell and when used itchanges to a dirty purple colour. Morris castor oil does not produce the same smell as Castrol and turns a dirty greenish colour. Mineral oils turn the usual sh**y black colour and has the usual second-hand car smell. Check what fuel your dad wasusing as alcohol fuel emulsifies mineral oil.

Regards, Richard.

I am not trying at all to be facetious with the following comments indeed it is of genuine life saving importance.

To describe Sh*t as black coloured could be an indication that the user of the term might have actually encountered this and could have a serious intestinal disorder...caused by internal bleeding quite far up the plumbing and, at worst, could very well be a sign of cancer. If ever ones daily motions are of blackish colour do not hesitate to visit your GP for diagnosis. I repeat this is a serious medical "heads up" for everyone. Hopefully I have not spoiled this thread or be accused of Hi Jacking, but it is a serious matter.

Les

thanks for that Les. Baz

R attracts moisture. It should not be left in an engine over winter let alone 5 years. Strip it down and clean it well before putting your 20/50 in it.

Previously les_howard wrote:

I am not trying at all to be facetious with the following comments indeed it is of genuine life saving importance.

To describe Sh*t as black coloured could be an indication that the user of the term might have actually encountered this and could have a serious intestinal disorder...caused by internal bleeding quite far up the plumbing and, at worst, could very well be a sign of cancer. If ever ones daily motions are of blackish colour do not hesitate to visit your GP for diagnosis. I repeat this is a serious medical "heads up" for everyone. Hopefully I have not spoiled this thread or be accused of Hi Jacking, but it is a serious matter.

Les

Hi Les,

Sorry for my poor choice of adjective, I was purely using this term figuratively and should have chosen a more suitable description. Now I am of a certain age I have recently completed an NHS postal test for thispossible problem which I believe is offered to all older people in the UKand thankfully this was negative. As you say, younger people should be vigilant, just think of it like a spark plug test!

Regards, Richard.

A quick peek in the OED reveals all manner of definitions for shit, so its usage has morphed beyond the simply scatalogical. Off to the Rudge and Velo Owners Xmas dinner today - no doubt stirring tales of hip replacements, prostate problems and almost certainly riding the silver rocket! Just the lunchtime topic.

For the younger readers, a failed bowel blood test (see black shit above) results in a summons for a colonoscopy. Nowadays a flexible fibre optic device is used but in days of yore a sigmoidascope was used - simply a worryingly large diameter brass or stainless steel tube and a torch. Hence riding the silver rocket.

Anyway, best of luck sorting the lubrication issues.

An article in the VMCC journal suggests that the time to change caster is when you immerse an old coin in it and it comes out like new. Must be the acid? If not the oil is still good for service.

Now you need to find out what oil is in there? I thought Charles B could help with this one?