When to change oil on re-built engine - whose right?

[Roadrocket649]

Hi Guys,

Appreciate your input here

Bike : A10 Super Rocket
Year: 1958
Oil: Catrol XXL40

The 1959 BSA User Manual states change engine oil at 250 miles & then at 1000, and thereafter every 2000 miles
The BSA A10 WIKI quotes 280 miles then at 500 miles, and every 2000 miles thereafter?

Whose Right?

RoadRocket649

[t20racerman]

There are so many different theories about this that I don't think either is THE correct answer. With modern oils being so much better than they were, the old advice is probably dated, but you can worry too much about the correct oil change regime. If you've fitted a filter as well, that changes things too. When I finish my rebuild (shortly I hope!) I'll be doing a few miles getting it fettled, MOTd and sorted, and then am off for a weekend away on it. I'll change the oil before my trip away no matter how many miles ive done and then have a long blast on it. As long as it has some oil in it should be fine! :-)

[Brian]

Like t20racerman says there are lots of different opinions with this. What I do is change the oil initially at 50 miles and then every 1,000 miles thereafter.

[BSA_54A10]

How much does 2 lit of engine oil cost ?
How much does an engine rebuild cost ?

It is a no brainer.

You can not change the oil in your BSA too often.

We had a member who literally changed the oil every time he rode the bike ( he usually only did big rides )
As soon as he got home the chain was wiped then oiled then the oil was dropped from the engine & oil tank.

He got better than 80,000 miles from his A65.

So my answer is forget about worrying about it , just change it.

[Goldy]

The second one sounds odd. The first one sounds correct and if that,s from the BSA manual then so be it. BSA made the machine so follow the BSA instruction.