Just found a guy near me who sells Ethanol free gas. Says it's 110 octane. Need it for my knucklehead. I want to use the best stuff I can for my machine. Any opinions?
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Ethanol free gas for Knucklehead
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I always prefer to run ethanol free gas but the bike runs just as good with the ethanol gas. I just never let it sit with ethanol gas in it because it seems to go skunky real quick and cause corrosion and moisture problems. Your bike does not need that high of octane if it is stock + you will never find that high octane stuff on the road away from home.
Jerry
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Another benefit that became known over time was that Tetraethyl lead kept valve seats from becoming worn down prematurely. Exhaust valves, in early model cars, that were subject to engine knocking tended to get micro-welds that would get pulled apart on opening. This resulted in rough valve seats and premature failure. Lead helped fuel ignite only when appropriate on the power stroke, thus helping eliminate exhaust valve wear and tear.
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IMHO, the best gas you can find is good for when you store the bike. When you are riding frequently though, a knucklehead will run just fine on 87 octane. Use premium if you like but it is a waste of money. I won't store my bike with ethanol. I don't think the valve wear and tear you are referring to is a problem unless you have antique valves and seats.
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I agree John - lead is ancient history if you are running new age valves and guides that are readily available. I would not put OEM stuff in a bike even if I never intended to run it.
Originally posted by jwl View PostIMHO, the best gas you can find is good for when you store the bike. When you are riding frequently though, a knucklehead will run just fine on 87 octane. Use premium if you like but it is a waste of money. I won't store my bike with ethanol. I don't think the valve wear and tear you are referring to is a problem unless you have antique valves and seats.
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[QUOTE=j I don't think the valve wear and tear you are referring to is a problem unless you have antique valves and seats.[/QUOTE]
All of my "antique" bikes have antique valves and seats. I'm guessing that most antique bikes/engines do. Valves / guides can easly be replaced, but it's the seats that take the real "beating". I stand buy my original post. The lack of lead in todays gasoline ,is worse on our old machines than the addition of ethanol.
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Originally posted by rousseau View PostAll of my "antique" bikes have antique valves and seats. I'm guessing that most antique bikes/engines do. Valves / guides can easly be replaced, but it's the seats that take the real "beating". I stand buy my original post. The lack of lead in todays gasoline ,is worse on our old machines than the addition of ethanol.
...Is that tetraethyllead and ethanol were both added for the same singular purpose: To increase the octane rating of otherwise poor fuels.
The subjective side benefit of protecting "soft" seats was not the intention of using lead.
H-D had the folly of switching from hard seats to soft in Shovelheads just about the time lead was eliminated, and the "spot-weld" erosion was often apparent to the naked eye.
Incompatible aftermarket valve materials often contributed as well, as some 'stainless' offerings were so high in nickel that they would quickly gall cast iron guides and stick to soft steel seats.
Lower octane fuels led to higher combustion temperatures, and I doubt fuels are much better today.
From my observations at the time, Flattys with integral cast iron seats did not suffer the way OHVs did, even though their temperatures are far more into the "weld" range.
Pans with bronze seats did not show the spot-weld effect either, although they were always 'sunken deep' anyway.
If you do not intend to ride in circles around an airport or a chance ETOH-free station, it is best to outfit your machine to deal with P4gas.
....CottenAMCA #776
Dumpster Diver's Motto: Seek,... and Ye Shall Find!
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Originally posted by knuckjunky View PostJust found a guy near me who sells Ethanol free gas. Says it's 110 octane. Need it for my knucklehead. I want to use the best stuff I can for my machine. Any opinions?
The one thing to remember in using gasoline fuel with ethanol (ethyl alcohol) instead of lead is that while the lead was used to slow the burning of the gasoline in the combustion chamber in order to prevent knock, alcohol is actually both a fuel and an oxygen donor which helps burning of the fuel charge and can improve combustion and engine power. Therefore when using gasoline with a percentage of alcohol, more power and cooler running can be obtained by using a richer fuel mixture and less ignition full advance timing.
In modern fuel-injected, computer - controlled auto and motorcycle engines this timing and fuel mixture are automatically controlled. In our old bikes use of the manual advance/retard ignition lever and the manual choke lever can help determine how much to adjust the timing and what larger main jet could be needed in the carb.
AFJ
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Originally posted by Will View PostI use MARVEL MYSTERY OIL all the time seem to make it run better. Dido on not storing with ethanol gas
Gasoline with alcohol does not store as well as leaded used to as the moisture in the air is taken up by the alcohol.
AFJ
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