Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

Hi

The bike arrived this pm, and a little later I did a little video on my mobile telephone.

So here goes:-

Hope you all like it, my dad had a little ride on it, I didn't due to my bee sting jabs this morning, and a very sore arm!

Cheers

Dave

P.S... A question from my Father - "Being two stroke, he has been told to add 2 measuring tubes, contained within the cap of the fuel tank of 2 stroke oil to each tank, and he wants to know what additive re leaded fuel he should be using for two stroke if any."

Now my thoughts no additives would be needed, as there are no valves, and it looked like hell of a lot of oil as the tube is quite long, does modern two stroke oil make any difference, i.e. better grades, use less etc?

Lastly any one recommend a 2 stroke oil they use? The only stuff I have used is for the Sthil saws, or the chainsaw, and I would need about 50 sachets to fill the measurement tube! Very Happy

Greeney in France · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:15 am Post subject:

You wont need a lead substitute but maybe an octane booster as 95/98 may be a little under octane, most octane boosters are 90% (100%)Acetone so you could add a touch, I use about 1ml per litre fuel in one of my 60s Renault 4s but I think its a suck it and see.
Usually 2stroke oil is about 1:40 if you know how much fuel the tank takes.
Where I live in France 2 stroke oil can be bought anywhere village newsagents and all supermarkets due to many 2stoke mobilettes as well as having wood burning stoves, obviously they need their vast lines of burning wood thus chainsaws. there is quite a big difference between the dirty cheap and the quality more expensive oil, Stihl is usually a good quality though
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7211 Location: Edinburgh

Memory's a bit thin on this but I wonder if 1:40 is a bit lean on oil. Perhaps modern two strokes are differently constructed but I seem to remember, from 40 years ago, ratios more like 1:20 being the norm.

Peter
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22777 Location: UK

That looks fab, did he used to be into bikes at one time, or is this a completely new idea??

R
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buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

Hi

The oil maybe 1:25 then, I will show him this thread and then he can decide, maybe contacting the BSA club!

He had the same baike except it was a D5 175cc when he was younger, hence wanting another. I could get right into this bike lark! hehe You can fit loads in the garage!!

Cheers

Dave

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22777 Location: UK

yup thats the beauty of them isn't it, plus you can buy a real belter for the cost of a fairly average old car. I keep nagging my uncle to get his Velo' finished but I doubt he ever will!

R
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pigtin · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1879 Location: Herne Bay

the fly · Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 95

Hello Buzzy.Glad to see your dad has a bantam major i allways thought that they were the best of the bunch . A good many strokers of that period ran on 16 to 1 mix using castrol x l oil. Ihave several sthil machines that run on 50 to 1 using sthil oil i also run a small kawasaki but this needs 25 to 1 using sthil oilnot sure why but thats how it is . I myself would put the bantam on 25 to i and when warm and riden at a good cruising speed check by folowing driver that the bantam exhaust emits a slight blue haze .Hope this is of some help.Regards The Fly .

Keith D · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:13 am Post subject:

I had a Bantam back in the Dark Ages but I can't remember what the petroil mixture was. (16:1 is lurking in the far recesses of my mind, but don't rely on this!!) Modern two stroke oils are designed specifically for total loss oil systems and much less is needed than the four stroke engine oil used back in the fifties/sixties. I would tend to agree with The Fly regarding the ratio.

However, one thing that I am sure about is there is no need or benefit in using a high octane petrol for a two stroke engine. Just regular lead-free is fine.

Keith D

welder · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 265 Location: North Warwickshire

That's one of the rare ones. I know that the Bantam is seen as the ubiquitous motorcycle but that bike was only built for the 1957 "model" year, so available from lateish '56, soon to be replaced by the D7 175 in it's various guises.
The bike in question was popular with trials riders as the, swinging arm rear suspension, frame was lightweight and capable, of course, of accepting any of the available Bantam engines. Perfect for the early Twinshock classes in rather later times, too.

As regards the oil tube attached to the filler cap......don't!!
Modern, self-mixing, two-stroke oils are far more efficient than anything available in 1956. As a rule of thumb 40:1 is about right these days. Indeed, I run my 1954 D1 on that ratio and all is well, assuming the use of quality oil. I only buy recognised brands.

Ian