OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => Tech Talk => Topic started by: suzuki27 on October 11, 2011, 05:40:31 pm

Title: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: suzuki27 on October 11, 2011, 05:40:31 pm
Is it worth converting a CR125M to methanol? The bike will be used in dirt track, and a lot of the "quick" CR's seem to be on methanol. Is the difference in HP large- given the right carby, porting etc.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Freakshow on October 15, 2011, 08:07:42 pm
Seems to be, but you will neeed more engine rebuilds from the castor and probally more gearbox work from the stress.  Unless your already riding it around fully tapped out at every point of the track, id wait till you get to that point and have run out of ducks. 

Then go over if you still think you need to.  You should be able to tune up a CR125 to very close to Full tilt on gas and then go over if you need to cool it off and would pick up a HP or 2 on the change over.  I think you need to be clear on your expectations and you mechanical skills to keep it on alchy.

dont just do it, cause it sounds like a good idea
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: suzuki27 on October 16, 2011, 02:20:14 pm
Sounds reasonable Freaky. I will go for more fuel and clean up the ports etc and see how it goes in a drag race with the "quick" ones.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: oldyzman on October 16, 2011, 05:09:30 pm
Yep Freaky is right, but i must say - There are a couple of standout pre 75 cr125's that run on methanol around Nepean, its not just by chance either these guys know how to setup a bike...
Cheers Brett
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: jimg1au on October 16, 2011, 05:36:53 pm
there is a fast cr125 1977 which is as fast as the quick 250s at nepean.its on methenol
the trick is to set it up right
i have a cr250 on methenol no gearbox problems for 4 years now.time for piston and ring now
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: pancho on October 16, 2011, 05:53:02 pm
 I had a ride a few years back on a 125 elsinore on methanol and I was amazed at the power of the thing. It seems to me that small engines, especially 2/ can be really responsive to methanol if done right.
 The one I rode belonged to the late Arthur Hamburger.
 cheers pancho
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: evo550 on October 16, 2011, 06:34:56 pm
Seems to be, but you will neeed more engine rebuilds from the castor
What's wrong with castor oil ???
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Freakshow on October 17, 2011, 11:07:50 am
Castor oil gums everything up over time and that along with the methonal love to eat alloy up. so you have stuff being eating away and other stuff being shallac up, if it dries out it peels off and blocks shit up.

Im really not sure why castor is still pushed so heavily on Alchy, maybe other than the high temp shearing.  My understanding was it was used originally becasue of the war and the cold european winters, so they needed an oil they could use so the sumps wouldnt freeze in the planes, tanks and so on. 

Im running the JAwa on castor at the moment, but i havent heard a definitive answer on why in Australia's warn nights you cant use anythign else, specially as its lubing bushes only and total loss anyway ? Im sure your Amsoil, penrite and what ever big yank oil sellers would have blended an allternative by now, but you never hear about it or see it, every one seems to still be in the mutton fat chain oil mentallity.  ???

As far as the 2 bangers go, You need to be ridding them all the time or cleaning them, flushing and storing them properly all the time, (cranks and small bearings)  not like petrol when you can shut off the tap and park it for a few months.

2 stroke Motors run black in the cranks and smell like shit, like cleaning out you old man's smoking pipe back in the day . :D

We seem to all agree, get it dialled in on Petrol first, get to the pointy end, then switch over if your still in the mood and see where it takes you.  You have to get the comp up to 14:1 so if you need to deck the head and mod barrells to get there, then there no turning back, so just be aware of that.    Other option would be collect a second shitty barrell, top end and carby to tinker with that way you can put that set up on for ride days and play set up to you heart content, and put your petrol complet set up back on race days till you get it sorted out.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: yamaico on October 17, 2011, 11:54:38 am
No problem using another oil - you just have to find one that stays in solution with methanol.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: jimg1au on October 17, 2011, 12:02:32 pm
as peter says castor stayes in solution with methanol.all you have to do is attatch a little tuning tank off about 300mls to your carby at the end of the days ride start up the bike with the little tank full of petrol 2 stroke mix i use 20/1 run it through the motor this will get rid of the methenol out of your carby and motor also lubes eveything up.yes it eats away at alloy and not too keen on fiberglass either.i have been using methenol off and on since 1973 and if set up right gives you no less or more problems than petrol.also it lasts months were petrol goes off and only good for lawn mower or wippersniper.
when you finished just crack the carby bowl and drain all fluids out.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: JAP 454 on October 17, 2011, 12:02:59 pm
No problem using another oil - you just have to find one that stays in solution with methanol.
Go-kart lads use Shell M mixed with methanol in their little two smokers.
Foss
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Freakshow on October 17, 2011, 12:21:34 pm
No problem using another oil - you just have to find one that stays in solution with methanol.

NAh i was refering to the 2 vavle jawa in that comment. It seems such a waste for it to go through the system and onto the ground, it not mixing wiht anything and its only lubing bushes.  so one must have tried normal oil at some point or come up with other options.

YEp like i said jim it got a few more steps than petrol, flushing etc.  if your a chuckit in the trailer kinda guy it might not be the best option for you.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Curly3 on October 17, 2011, 12:58:39 pm
Speaking of methanol, are we still on for Nepean in 2 weeks Foss?
I can smell it already.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: pancho on October 17, 2011, 01:06:13 pm
 Like Jim said, the most important thing is to run it on petrol-oil mix after draining the tank etc, to flush out ALL of the methanol fuel, and you won't get rid of the water condensation at the bigend rollers until its run long enough to get these components hot enough to evaporate the condensation.
 If you just chuck the bike on the trailer after the last race without a thought, the result will be the carby filled with a gunky mix of jellied methanol and alloy plus a rusted bigend and mains plus more jellied gunk.
cheers.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: firko on October 17, 2011, 01:28:13 pm
Quote
If you just chuck the bike on the trailer after the last race without a thought, the result will be the carby filled with a gunky mix of jellied methanol and alloy plus a rusted bigend and mains plus more jellied gunk.
I last rode my methanol DT1 at the final Condo Greybeards meet back in 1999 and promptly retired it to the garden shed without flushing the old methanol out. Earlier this year I pulled the old engine down to find surprisingly that the crank looked and felt pretty good but the mains had gone all 'clunky'. The Amal carby was almost a solid glob but it cleaned up OK. There was little internal corrosion. Even though the crank felt OK I stuck another one in when I rebuilt her, just to be sure. On the other hand I pulled down a 250 Maico engine I'd bought that had been on methanol in a slider and it was rusted solid and the inner cases badly corroded.

So kids, always flush the methanol befor putting your bike to bed. I used to run petrol through it for a few minutes just to clear the methanol out of the system.
Quote
The one I rode belonged to the late Arthur Hamburger.
Small world Wal. I did a few laps around Nepean on Arthurs little Elsinore a few years ago....yep, it was quick all right.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Freakshow on October 17, 2011, 02:19:47 pm
So after all that do you still wanna do it ?  Swings and round about #27, but see where it takes you.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: JAP 454 on October 17, 2011, 02:22:33 pm
Speaking of methanol, are we still on for Nepean in 2 weeks Foss?
I can smell it already.

Me, EA and the Gally will be there for sure, Slides, organised some fresh methanol from me sprintcar mate, pick it up this week, fresh oil in the old girl and just gotta turn the rear tyre, see ya there !!!

BTW, Whisper said to say G'day to you, he was at Canberra on the weekend, still goes hard !!

Oh , yeah, seeing we are talkin about oil in this thread, I use Castrol Edge 25 w 50 in both bikes, blurb on Castrol's website says suitable for speedway motorcycle engines using methanol, as a single use oil
Foss
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: JAP 454 on October 17, 2011, 02:25:10 pm
I'm with Freaky, Bill, you'll never know till ya have a go at it !!
Foss
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Freakshow on October 17, 2011, 02:36:13 pm
Speaking of methanol, are we still on for Nepean in 2 weeks Foss?
I can smell it already.


Oh , yeah, seeing we are talkin about oil in this thread, I use Castrol Edge 25 w 50 in both bikes, blurb on Castrol's website says suitable for speedway motorcycle engines using methanol, as a single use oil
Foss
Interesting thats what i've been  thinking Foss, so that not a castor basejust a normal mineral oil

More info Foss have you used it in old Speedway bangers ? and is it safe you reckon for a 2 vavler ? and is it shit load cheaper then the price of castor ? its killing me, i even bought a collection tank to try to reuse the stuff later..

http://www.tds.castrol.co.nz/pdf/8873_Edge%20Sport%2025W-50.pdf
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: JAP 454 on October 17, 2011, 02:58:25 pm
Freaky,
It is a castor/ synthetic blend, how-ever , it doesnt gum things up like Castrol R does after a while , but I dump it after the meeting as well as carb and fuel tank, part of post meeting maintaince, It does go milky if you over fuel your motor, ie way to rich, having said that, spoken to Sprintcar driver mate that runs the oil and Alky in the motor, he says the milkiness doesnt affect the oil and so does another GP midget driver mate of mine, and I have been running it for a while now and it hasn't affected my motors, Castrol Edge Sport 25w50 is a replacement for Castrol GP 50 which I used up until its replacement.
Check it out on Castrol's website.
I think it is cheaper than Shell M we use in TD's 84s, but my motors are Yammy 500s so was looking for an oil that suited recirculating oil systems
Foss
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Freakshow on October 17, 2011, 03:03:37 pm
so....  QUESTION IS WOULD YOU TRY IT IN A 2 VALVE..

Special as its a one pass, it wont get the chance to go milky.  Web site says its mineral oil not blend castor
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: JAP 454 on October 17, 2011, 03:08:49 pm
OK Freaky,
I did try to avoid giving an opinion, but, for what it's worth, with a 2 valve or a JAP I would stick with a tried and true oil like Shell M
Foss
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: JAP 454 on October 17, 2011, 03:14:09 pm
Your right Freaksta, it is a mineral blend , got mixed up between Shell M and Castrol, I plead Insanity and a LONG day at the Skids yesdy, I'm still knackered from it !!

Foss
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Freakshow on October 17, 2011, 03:17:53 pm
NOW after all that your sitting on the fence.  IF not why not given its non recirculating.  Someone somewhere must have tried it and figured it out by now.

Im happy to use castor but not at $15+ a litre unless its in a 2 smoker and being mixed.
Just to dump it on the ground ( total loss on the 4 banger) seem crazy and im going through shit loads ATM with PRac days and season starting up.....  :-[
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: JAP 454 on October 17, 2011, 03:31:02 pm
Have a yarn to the Tech boys at Castrol, I did, you are the only one who can decide which way to go, I guess.
but we are all traditionalists in many ways and reluctant to change, but $15 a litre hurts and to see it pumped on the ground nearly makes you weep !!
Foss
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Freakshow on October 17, 2011, 03:45:31 pm
well the price can only go up from here as there is less and less market for it.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: suzuki27 on October 17, 2011, 06:53:13 pm
Thats great info guys. I reckon I will get the ports tidied up, up the compression a bit and try a 30-32mm carby. I remember talking to guy at the 2008 DT Nats in Canberra with a CR125 on methanol and he was telling me that he had a 2.6mm main jet in it. I know it had a GEM type reed block and a large carby hanging off it. It was fast but gearbox issues sidelined him that day.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: oldyzman on October 17, 2011, 08:29:07 pm
Suzuki 27, have you raced dirttrack muck before? Cause if you havn't (like me) you will find it just as great a buz weather you use meth at the front pack or bang around with the middle of the pack running 98...
Brett
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Curly3 on October 17, 2011, 08:48:26 pm
I agree Brett, that's the intention/philosophy of just enjoying the experience.
BUT, there is a point you reach when you start thinking, now if I just tried this, I might beat that other bloke?
That's when the horn's come out of the forehead.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: yamaico on October 18, 2011, 04:03:47 am

 its killing me, i even bought a collection tank to try to reuse the stuff later..

http://www.tds.castrol.co.nz/pdf/8873_Edge%20Sport%2025W-50.pdf
[/quote]
Kerry, Kerry, Kerry. Used oil back in your fresh motor - shame. Try turning the top end down after you have warmed her up. Just keep it on max into the bottom end.
Pete.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Freakshow on October 18, 2011, 12:00:52 pm
Wouldnt exactly say its fresh.....  like 1970 fresh maybe

NEwer 898's recirculate oil so why cant i use it twice ? i dotn like messing with the thumbs, incase something goes pear shaped with the pilgram, reckon they would be like rocking horse to fix.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: yamaico on October 18, 2011, 01:24:07 pm
No problems backing off the top end, won't hurt the pump. The thumb screws just regulate the drops per second on the outgoing. Too much to the top end just runs down the guides and gets combusted or oils the plug.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: shelpi on October 18, 2011, 02:47:14 pm
back in 1979 i purchased T Wigzels old CR125 76/77 MODEL from A kammer, that thing was real quick and on the super (pb) ( no methanol)we had a drag race at torrens island CR125 vs YZ465 and there was nothing in it, and yes the 465 had its changes to get it on tap, I wish i still had that CR125 stupidly sold it to help pay for the RM250X :'(
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Freakshow on October 18, 2011, 03:34:27 pm
AHh good ol Torrens islan.  Flys, pelican, car bodies and coppers...   hehehe
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: pancho on October 18, 2011, 06:10:00 pm
 I went to see a friend who works for Gulf Weston & asked "what do you recommend for my XT500 on methanol " he gave me 5 litres of " GW Comp 50 plus" that he said they use in there sponsorship for methanol burning Harley D drag bikes. I've been using it , no probs.  visc. 25-70.
 Gave me a super price toO!
cheers pancho.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: Curly3 on October 18, 2011, 06:18:59 pm
How does the jetting compare Punchy?
With Methanol and/or 98.
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: jimg1au on October 18, 2011, 07:02:50 pm
http://www.gulfwestern.com.au/Data%20Sheet%20PDFs/Comp%2050%20Plus%2025W-70.pdf
the oil i use in my 500 yam on methenol
http://www.tds.castrol.com.au/pdf/8873_Edge%20Sport%2025W-50.pdf
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: mainline on October 18, 2011, 07:30:29 pm
Does all of the previous info still apply (to some extent) to old four strokes also?
Title: Re: methanol vs 98/100 RON
Post by: shelpi on October 19, 2011, 02:30:45 pm
 :D torrens island hey Freaky dont forget the salt, sand and sun oh yer the wind,more coppers and that guy comeing the other way when ya full tilt  ;D ahhh the memory's or was that mamories  ???  ;)