Leaded Petrol For Bikes - SV650.org

squirrel_hunter · 17-10-12, 10:44 PM

I was watching a TV program related to cars and the fixing of last night, whereby they converted a engine to run on Unleaded fuel and not the Leaded petrol that it was originally designed to use. And it got me thinking...

I've not heard of older bikes having to be converted to use Unleaded. Why?

Dave-the-rave · 18-10-12, 12:44 AM

Lead additives do the trick. http://www.triumphshop.co.uk/Quiller...alvemaster.htm

Some old school types just chuck a lump of lead in the tank.

rictus01 · 18-10-12, 01:49 AM

yeah I had a metal mesh thing with lead balls in it for my old Norton tank, it dissolved over time, you could get the head reworked where they machined out the exhaust valve seats and put in a hardened insert (intake doesn't get as hot so doesn't need doing), but it was a couple of hundred quid.

Cheers Mark.

joshwalker094 · 18-10-12, 06:59 AM

I too was watching wheeler dealers the other night, nice car it was

Sir Trev · 18-10-12, 07:02 AM

Trumpet Spitfire - I saw it as well.

Japan moved over to unleaded before us if I recall so they made their enginges to run on it from way back.

yorkie_chris · 18-10-12, 08:05 AM

If it's got an ally head then it will have hard valve seats anyway. Lead was added for cast iron heads.

squirrel_hunter · 18-10-12, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshwalker094

I too was watching wheeler dealers the other night, nice car it was

Guilty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rictus01

yeah I had a metal mesh thing with lead balls in it for my old Norton tank, it dissolved over time, you could get the head reworked where they machined out the exhaust valve seats and put in a hardened insert (intake doesn't get as hot so doesn't need doing), but it was a couple of hundred quid.

Cheers Mark.

Now thats interesting, the first time I've heard someone with a bike who had needed to use Leaded petrol. So it is required for some bikes, you just don't really hear it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

If it's got an ally head then it will have hard valve seats anyway. Lead was added for cast iron heads.

Interesting, now how do I know if my head is iron or not? Or as Sir Trev indicated as a general rule if its Japanese its Unleaded, if old and British it might need some Lead?

19-10-12, 05:48 AM

Wheeler dealers the other night was a triumph tr4 wasn't it?

A lot of decently restored classics already have the hardened valve seats done, it's an extra selling point.

19-10-12, 06:28 AM

Leaded petrol is required for lots of classic bikes. What do you think all bikes used before the days of unleaded?

The reason bikes don't tend to get converted is because they are a bit easier to fill up from a gerry can, allowing you to mix your own leaded fuel at home.

With cars people want to fill at the pump, though a bottle of lead additive the size of a small orange juice will do 5 or 10 fill ups with a car so there's no reason why you can't, it's just like adding Redex. Lack of knowledge, nervousness, myth, causes car people to want the peace of mind of not worrying about it, whereas classic bike owners tend to know a bit about the bike.

mep · 19-10-12, 12:31 PM

I'm a big fan of wheeler Dealers too. Ed China is the man. I believe it was a Triumph. There should be a bike version for us. Although I did see something along those lines on channel 5 possibly ? with some spanner presenting it who's style was really grating so I gave up pretty soon.

If I had an old motor than originally ran on leaded full I would be keen on having it converted. Just fill up & go.

17-10-12, 10:44 PM	#1
squirrel_hunter Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sunny Swindon Posts: 3,579	Leaded Petrol For Bikes I was watching a TV program related to cars and the fixing of last night, whereby they converted a engine to run on Unleaded fuel and not the Leaded petrol that it was originally designed to use. And it got me thinking... I've not heard of older bikes having to be converted to use Unleaded. Why? __________________ "A little enthusiastic?" May I add here, GG is awesome and I think I am in love with Stretchie...he rocks my world! SH2 \| 2MA \| GROM \| YSR

18-10-12, 12:44 AM	#2
Dave-the-rave Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: London Posts: 167	Re: Leaded Petrol For Bikes Lead additives do the trick. http://www.triumphshop.co.uk/Quiller...alvemaster.htm Some old school types just chuck a lump of lead in the tank. __________________ SV650N K1 Last edited by Dave-the-rave; 18-10-12 at 12:47 AM.

18-10-12, 01:49 AM	#3
rictus01 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South London Posts: 9,799	Re: Leaded Petrol For Bikes yeah I had a metal mesh thing with lead balls in it for my old Norton tank, it dissolved over time, you could get the head reworked where they machined out the exhaust valve seats and put in a hardened insert (intake doesn't get as hot so doesn't need doing), but it was a couple of hundred quid. Cheers Mark. __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!

18-10-12, 07:02 AM	#5
Sir Trev Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: High Wycombe, where the chair factories used to be Posts: 1,479	Re: Leaded Petrol For Bikes Trumpet Spitfire - I saw it as well. Japan moved over to unleaded before us if I recall so they made their enginges to run on it from way back. __________________ We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town, BEEP BEEP!

18-10-12, 08:05 AM	#6
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Leaded Petrol For Bikes If it's got an ally head then it will have hard valve seats anyway. Lead was added for cast iron heads. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

19-10-12, 05:48 AM	#8
Specialone Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Leaded Petrol For Bikes Wheeler dealers the other night was a triumph tr4 wasn't it? A lot of decently restored classics already have the hardened valve seats done, it's an extra selling point.

19-10-12, 06:28 AM	#9
-Ralph- Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Leaded Petrol For Bikes Leaded petrol is required for lots of classic bikes. What do you think all bikes used before the days of unleaded? The reason bikes don't tend to get converted is because they are a bit easier to fill up from a gerry can, allowing you to mix your own leaded fuel at home. With cars people want to fill at the pump, though a bottle of lead additive the size of a small orange juice will do 5 or 10 fill ups with a car so there's no reason why you can't, it's just like adding Redex. Lack of knowledge, nervousness, myth, causes car people to want the peace of mind of not worrying about it, whereas classic bike owners tend to know a bit about the bike.

19-10-12, 12:31 PM	#10
mep Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Torquay Posts: 208	Re: Leaded Petrol For Bikes I'm a big fan of wheeler Dealers too. Ed China is the man. I believe it was a Triumph. There should be a bike version for us. Although I did see something along those lines on channel 5 possibly ? with some spanner presenting it who's style was really grating so I gave up pretty soon. If I had an old motor than originally ran on leaded full I would be keen on having it converted. Just fill up & go.

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