I need help again!

[shawn]

Last week I asked you guys/gals what type of oil to use. Must of you said 20/50. I then called a local shop here to get their opinion also and they said the 20/50 oil would be a good oil. I changed the oil myself and I have no leaks and have the 20/50 oil in the bike. For some reason, it seems as though the bike doesn't like the oil. 3rd gear spurtters real bad. Also, 5th gear around 60 MPH's starts to vibrate. Should I change the oil again and go with the 10w40 stamped in the bike or is the bike just getting use to the new oil. It was stored for a while before I got it, so it needed an oil change. When i got the old oil out, I could see for myself how bad the old oil needed to be change. So again, now I need to know, if from what I described; the bike should go back to the stamped oil

[ryonker]

Most people on this forum know more than me, but my guess is it's not the oil.

I put 20w 50 in mine last summer and it has run fine ever since.

Sounds like something else is going on.

[Big T]

Oil has nothing to do with your problems

20/50 is Ok, won't harm anything - go back to 10/40 next oil change

[1978GS1000custom]

what brand of oil did you use? thats more important than anything. search the site using the search function there are lots of threads on oil. it seem the majority of users here use shell rotella T 15w-40 or similar that's what i use as advised by the senior users of this site (and this crowd know these bikes quite well) and every time i ride her she loves me more! now you say, "3rd gear sputters real bad". oil has alot to do with the clutch and how it grabs at different RPMs. the oil you may have used is cheap and just because they all say the same weight/type that's not always how they will preform. you say "5th gear around 60 MPH's starts to vibrate" thats sounds like clutch cavitation (lack of oil viscosity) also if i remember right, these motor have a very poor oil circulation process to the head so the thinner weight is important for flow. do what i did, use the shell and be done with the oil and dont forget the filter. also make sure to clean out the magnetic plug center on the drain plug.

[shawn]

Thanks guys. Yeah, I think something else os wrong with it. I just dont know what it is. THIS IS WHY I DONT USUALLY BUY ANYTHING USED!!!!! I dont have the patience.

[chef1366]

I would first check fuel flow through the petcock.

[SqDancerLynn1]

20/50 is fine the only consern is that when cold the clutch will grab, so don't put it in gear if there is anything in front of you without a good warmup. It sounds more like you need to clean the carbs

[Billy Ricks]

During hot summer months 20/50 is fine. Back when I first bought my bike new the service guys at the shop recomended 20/50 in a turbo grade. With temps here in south central Texas you can just about run it year round. I run Rotella now though because of the additives a bike needs.