| Author | Message | ||
     Az_rider |
Also posted in Knowledge Vault in Lubrication. Ulysses XB12X, 7500 miles on bike, 2500 miles on oil. Bike is stock. Any ideas on the copper and silver? I can find only one other Oil Report for a Buell, and their copper was high too, but they did not post the value for silver. Reports for Harleys do not show copper or silver, so it seems specific to Buells. I was told the oil cooler (silver solder) could be causing these values to be high. Insolubles, aluminum, and iron are good, so I would be surprised if it was a lubrication problem. Thoughts?  | ||
| Teeps |
Cams run in bushings. Personally I rather spend the money on a more suitable oil for the bike like Mobil 1 V-Twin 20/50, than oil analysis. | ||
| Whodom |
The cage for the roller bearings in the big end of the connecting rods is silver plated. This was a change made in 06 IIRC. That seems like the most likely source. | ||
| Az_rider |
How does one determine a more suitable oil without doing an oil analysis?  If the cage for the roller bearings is the source of silver, what is an acceptable amount in the oil? It seems that during break-in, there would be silver present regardless of which oil is used. I am somewhat surprised that more Buell owners have not done / posted an oil analysis. | ||
| Whodom |
Good question about the acceptable amount of silver. I know we've had at least one other UOA thread here and seems like the silver content showed up in that discussion too. Oh yea, you've also got a bronze oil pump drive gear (the gear on the crankshaft, not the gear on the pump); that could be the source of the copper. The bronze gear was an upgrade in 06; the original gear was evidently steel and would wear excessively on some bikes (mainly tube frame models), eventually failing, which could send shrapnel through the lube system. If the copper content continues to be high, it's pretty simple to drop the oil pump to inspect the gear. You remove two bolts and disconnect one line to drop the pump. You can either lie on your back and shine a light up in the hole to see, or better yet use a digital camera. You also need to rotate the engine and check the gear in several positions as they almost always wear non-uniformly. If you search the KV there are several threads on oil pump gears including photos so you'll have a good idea of what to look for. | ||
| Swampy |
I don't think you can tell anything from only two oil analysis. I would be concerned what the next two analysis show. The bottom row is what would be important to me right now, you are burning all the fuel, good seal on the rings, and there is no water present in the oil, so the bike is running at operating temperature long enough to remove the condensation. | ||
| Az_rider |
OK, thanks. I will test again in 2500 miles, and post the results. | ||
| Alchemy |
Az_rider, Mind my asking how much the analysis cost and how the sample is supplied. Do you mail it in or what? | ||
| Blake |
This is excellent information. Please keep it coming. If you can send me a more readable high res scan I will post it. I've PM'd you with my email address.  | ||
| Az_rider |
Alchemy- the analysis is $20 and the kit is free from Blackstone Labs. http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ I liberated a turkey baster from the kitchen to draw the used oil from my bike. The sample bottle is only 4 to 6 ounces. Postage is $1.59 and I usually gets the results by e-mail within 6 business days from mailing. Blake- high res image sent. Thanks. | ||
| Blake |
My eyes thank you!  | ||
| Whodom |
Az_rider, I'd let them know about the silver plated roller bearing cage and the bronze oil pump drive gear. Those items might influence their interpretation of the results. | ||
| Swampy |
Aren't you supposed to take the oil sample from the stream of drained oil midway through the drain process from the engine(reservoir)? | ||
| Whodom |
Aren't you supposed to take the oil sample from the stream of drained oil midway through the drain process from the engine(reservoir)? Well, since I just had a physical I know that's how you're supposed to give a urine sample...  |
