Ironhead Did something silly maybe?

[rejeanprimeau]

Originally Posted by ryder rick

Motor Oil already has detergent in it......

Detergent in oil is a misnomer, actually calcium carbonate is use to keep acid at a lower level.

[11B40]

Reasonable solutions to a non-existent problem.

These are not automobiles. They are not measured by things like gas mileage, oil consumption, how tidy you oil is. Notice that these old ones have no oil filter. They are designed to use a certain amount of oil as normal. Look at Bonneville bikes, 3 miles to up to 7 miles on each run and they live and perform on one quart of oil. There is a message there: put some oil in it and add when necessary. There is no real mystery.

[gotamotor]

Okay thanks for all the reply

Just was getting paranoid and had to get it off my chest and ask someone, Google wasn't helping

I'll conclude that I did do a silly thing cleaning it cause it wasnt really that dirty but also it should be fine

Rode it yesterday it seemed okay
Gonna do another oil change next couple rides

Thanks alot again, appreciative of this forum and its people for helping and teaching me alot about old harley

[Ferrous Head]

I'll conclude that I did do a silly thing cleaning it cause it wasnt really that dirty but also it should be fine

No, not at all.

Your behaving as a mechanic would.

I have always said, to be a mechanic you need to be able to do two things.

Clean and measure.

If you can do and do do, those two things, it's the mark of a mechanic.

[needspeed]

^^
I agree with Ferrous Head. You cleaned the oil tank on a 45 year old bike. Nothing silly about that. Yes it may not have been really necessary but it's surprising how much gunk can solidify in the bottom that can't be easily seen until you start cleaning. Who knows if it has ever been done before.

You done good. I see nothing wrong with the cleaning method either as long as it's thoroughly rinsed and dried.

[gotamotor]

Ferrous Head and needspeed, thanks guys I feel less silly now

[11B40]

As Gene says, water in the oil tank is common. If it was a Japanese water cooled bike, that is a sign of a leaky head gasket, but it is oil that is very whitish and never gets better, If I bought a Sportster that had been in a barn for 20 years, the first thing I'd do is dump the oil and primary and go through that oil carefully, a lot of clues are in the oil, reasons why it was parked and not ridden. The oil isn't just warm, it is hot and that's what you want. It works best at temp. "Cold oil don't get it". If I saw metal in the tank oil I'd want to clean it. On the AMF bikes metal flakes were found in the transmission oil a lot. It is just shitty hard facing not a serious problem.

[Steve9]

Cleaning is good
I would use kerosene but

You will be fine. Ride the heck out of that bike!

[rokytnji]

Walmart sells mineral spirits, or naptha and other paint solvents like laquer thinner for the anal and paranoid. Douching/rinsing interior with mineral spirits keeps down on the flash rust after a dawn dish-soap clean-out.



Laquer thinner dissolves everything. But drys out fast. Need a air gun .

[Ferrous Head]

Walmart sells mineral spirits, or naptha and other paint solvents like laquer thinner for the anal and paranoid.

And how is it that we all know about that ?