2 Stroke, oil mixing ratios

[Richard]

Situation:

Couple years ago, found a 1893 Maico 490 dirt bike for sale on internet, in boxes, TOTALLY disassembled. Bought it, put all new bearings in motor, bored, honed, new piston yada yada yada... Essentially a new motor (then).

Put all back together, and fired up after first couple kicks /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif.

Puttered around on it some over the next year. Never raced it or really ran it that hard. Even though it's a race bike, I have just used it to get from one side of farm to other to check up on things.

Ok, working on house and forgot about bike in garage for probably 2 years.

Current: contemplating selling bike now, bring out of garage to clean up, figure, I'd better make sure it runs or sparks first...couple kicks (with 2 year old gas), fires right up!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and runs like a bandit.

Still smokes a bit out of tailpipe as did before new carburetor was installed (though smokes much less). Since motor is totally rebuilt, I know it's a jetting/mixture thing.

Bought new gas today and here's my quandry... couple years ago, I was told, "mix at 40:1 and have fun". I've since read (I think here) that you mix the oil/gas to the OIL specifications, not the "engine" specifications because oil has improved over the years.

So, I'm using pump gas and Klotz technoplate oil. The bottle of oil gives me the amount of oil to use to achieve various ratios, but does not say that "x" ratio is best use of this oil.

So, for any 2 stroke Maico fans (any out there remember what a Maico is?) What is the best ratio I can/should use for my little Ferrari on 2 wheels?

Richard
(who has to go clean the bathroom now... will checkback later /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

 

[Richard]

I DID mean to say, a 1983 /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So, for any 2 stroke Maico fans (any out there remember what a Maico is?) What is the best ratio I can/should use for my little Ferrari on 2 wheels? )</font>

Sure do,years ago I once had a Maico MX 250. It seamed to be harder to get parts for later on so I sold it .
If it were mine I would stay with the 40:1 mixture.

 

[Richard]

Guess I expected that answer. My hope is to clean up the exhaust smoke a bit. I rode around field other night with dog chasing me (exercise for "us" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif), it was after a rain so sort of misty/foggy out...after several loops in field, the whole field looked smoggy /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif.

I know it's coming from bike and I guess I just wanted to jigger with the oil ratio rather than get into fine tune the jets. (if I sell it, I'll let them do that)

Fun bikes huh /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[5030]

Years ago I had a Maico 360 square barrel motocrosser. I also ran Klotz and I ran it at 40:1. That was on regular pump gas, not premium. It probably smokes a lot because there is quite a bit of unburnt oil and fuel mixture laying in the bottom of the crankcase. Maico's would "clean out" after you wound them up and they got hot. I remember that the 360 was a bear to start, you are lucky. I think Maico still makes hearing aids. They could have sold them to owners of their motocross bikes. The expansion chambers were LOUD!!

My snowmobiles do the same smoke routine when I first fire them up in the fall. The first trip we call getting the "smoke out". The oil collects in the bottom of the engine and then it smokes up the neighborhood. It also will foul the plugs until you get it burnt up.

 

[5030]

I forgot to add, that I now use Amsoil 2 stroke injection oil. It seems to run pretty smoke free and it's easier on plugs too.

 

[Richard]

Guess I hadn't thought of using Amsoil...

by the way (having fun with oil wars), which brand of oil IS the best brand to use???

Is a Hydrostatic drive dirtbike better than a geared, or vice/versa?

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BigDave]

I second the Amsoil idea. I had two different 2 cycle that needed different mixtures. Rather than have two gas cans, my dealer recommended using Amsoil, and it worked just fine in both engines.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> after several loops in field, the whole field looked smoggy </font>

We call that fogging for mosquitos! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[5030]

I've posted in the "Oil thread" too, but now I just follow it. I don't want to get into the "Oil" thing here. Back in my racing days, )I rode with the guys from "Team Penton", Amhearst, Ohio. I used a pre-mix made from Castor Beans. It's probably not on the market any more though. It smelled really good and at that time, Castor bean oil was supposed to be a superior lubricant for 2 strokes.

I also had a 250 Penton ISDT bike. Penton bought bikes from KTM and then modified them (made them REALLY fast). It was a real out-and-out fire roader. That was a long time ago. I now prefer to ride a bicycle on ocassion.

As far as a hydro bike, I think it would be too heavy.

And in closing, the Amsoil that I use in the snowmachines is about $32.00 per gallon. It has an interesting side effect. You can't sit and idle very long as the exhaust from the sled will give you a terrible headache!! Refreshemnt breaks on the trail or a smoke is a really abbreviated thing.

 

[Slamfire]

Caster oil smelled ok, but didn't it give you the runs. I know we used anything but in our BULTACOS. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[5030]

I had a 250 Sherpa "T" that liked Lawn Boy oil!!!

 

[Slamfire]

Daryl, I think you're almost as old as me, I had a 200, cause they didn't make 250s yet. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[5030]

I'm 54, and the "Bull was a 68 0r 69. My foggy memory remembers that it wasn't a Sherpa T. It was an Alpina. Sorry, another Geraritric moment.
I have had the following bikes, I haven't had one in about 8 years though I am thinking about a very custom one. So custom that even the engine is hand built. I'm not talking about assembley line hand built, I'm talking about an engine that is custom machined as well as the complete bike. I want one bad, I just don't know if I can afford it.
Anyway:
68 Triumph T-120
66 Norton P-11A scrambler
45 Harley Flathead Trike
(2) Hodaka Ace 100's
Maico 360 Square Barrell Motocrosser
Penton KTM ISDT 250
(2) Yamaha DT250 enduro's
(2) Suzuki 250 Enduro's
Kawasaki 500 triple
Kawasaki 350 triple
Yamaha 750 Seca
Harley 1200 Electra Glide dresser.

 

[Richard]

yikes...

with all those bikes (and a fancy schmancy tractor) I only have 1 thing to say to you...

I am not worthy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Slamfire]

I'm 63, and my main claim to fame was I was a novice the same year as Gene (Burito) Romero. Heck, I even finished ahead of him sometimes. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif My last bike was a Yamaha 500 C. A gravedigger, turned right out of a left hand turn pocket, and my wife gave my bike to our oldest son. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[RobertN]

Here is what I do, with advice from a former moto-cross semi-pro, who built a couple engines for me.

I run oil/gas at the oil manufacturers recommendation. The oils are rated to provide optimal lubrication at a specific mixture. If you mix it lean, there is not enough lube. If you run it rich, you will get lube, along with smoke, fouling, and sometimes overheating.

Many older bikes, chain saws, ect, are rated for the oil available at thier introduction. Some old bikes and saws ran at 16:1 or 24:1. That may have been needed because of oil formulas at the time of manufacture, but not now.

I had an old boat with an 75hp outboard a while ago. The guy I got it from ran it at 24:1, like the 1960's engine spec said. It ran TERRIBLE, fouled plugs like crazy, and smoked badly. I ran it on new oil, rated for and mixed at 50:1. It ran flawlessy for me.

Also of note is how long gas is stored. Although a saw or bike may start on year old gas, it may damage the engine. From a racers standpoint, the oil starts breaking down, and is less effective after 24-48 hours. That may not matter to you, but for a top spot racer, that may make enough performance difference to decide between 1st and 2nd.

Thisa is of course, IMHO FWIW