74 Jackpiner Oil Capacity

[Tommy_V]

I'm doing some maintenance before VMD on my recently purchased 74 Jackpiner.  I drained the oil, which looked new, and need to know the volume to replace.  My owners manual says 1 - 1 1/2 quarts, but the manual is for 175 and 250's.  Anyone?

Thanks,

Tommy

[Tommy_V]

Doh!  I missed a page in the owner's manual, it says 'Old style clutch cover 1.4 Liter, New style profile case 1.2 Liter'  How do I tell which I have, or just fill to the check plug?

Thanks,


Tommy

[Steve Minor]

Tommy_V....On my 400, I use the "oil level plug" as an indicator. You're right, an oil change generally takes between 1 to 1.5 qts......But I use ATF (automatic transmission fluid).

It's also wise to remove the "clutch side" cover occasionally to get rid of any metal filings.....Just make sure you have a good gasket to go back on.

1977 400 GS6 Original Owner
1977 125 GS6 Project
1978 400 MC5 Project

[herman]

Steve,How long have you been using atf ?and are you using the synthetic atf? The reason i ask as i have 12 ktm pentons now and i have been using spectro cluctch savor in them but it cost almost 7.00 a quart and i change it after 15 hours on them.I was reading in the manuals that it said atf ok but had no idea if it works ok. Thanks Herm

Herm

[Dennis Jones]

Tom

The new style is molded around the clutch basket and the old style is flat.I use 1 1/2 quarts of Golden Spectro in my jp with the old style cover but it is pricey.

Dennis Jones

[Larry Perkins]

Tommy

Your 74 has the new style clutch cover which is silver/gray but the best method is to fill to the check cover like mentioned above.  1.5 quarts is about what that is if it has been completely emptied which will not happen unless thew clutch cover is removed.

Herm

We used ATF in all the Pentons I raced back in "The Day" and it worked fine and also seemed to make the clutch pull easier.  We did change it every race, though.

[firstturn]

ATF is fine for regular racing, but if you are at the top of your game(expert or pro) I recommend against it.  As Larry said we used it back in "the day", but clutches plates were plentiful.  I think in todays world where we don't have a great availability of clutch plates that I would use some of the newer oils no matter the cost.
  One other note we used the ATF for less friction and a faster bike(on the 100 and 125's).  But the bearings took a beating.  Just my take.

Ron Carbaugh

[tlanders]

I have been using 2 qts ATF and changing it after every two races. The clutches work great.

Teddy

[tomale]

If any one should know it would be Ron. Ron worked for a number of years figuring out and replicating engine failures for a very large motorcycle company. I am sure that he has just about seen it all. I for one am using ATF and I do change it with regularity. but then I did with the expensive stuff too. I have noticed that my clutch seems to work a bit better  easier to pull  and If I hold the clutch in at the line my bike does not creep forward like it did with the golden spectro. I for one use 2 quarts of the stuff. I have been told not to depend on the weep hole. I use it only to confirm that I do have oil in the transmission. My 250 weeps a bit around the shift shaft and I worry a bit about it so if I am not sure I check it out. I don't think they had bike transmissions in mind when they made the ATF but then if you think about it. A car has alot more power than a bike does and most people go 100,000 miles between transmission oil changes not a good Idea but the stuff does seem to hold up pretty well, just a thought.
Just for balance... when I raced a maico I had to replace the transmission oil after every race. That is what the manual called for and if you saw the oil you would know why. It was alway full of some kind of shavings. I never did quite figure out why but from the day I brought it home from the shop it did that.

Thom Green,I own and ride a 76 250 MC5 MX which I bought new.