2 questions---brake light & oil

[garyheskett All 49 x 3 st.louis]

Today, as I was coming home, I noticed my brake light wasn't working when I applied the front brake.  When I would step on the rear brake pedal (which I very seldom use), the brake light would come on as normal, so I assume the brake light switch is ok, so what do I check?

Second question----I changed the oil today and used Mobil 1 5w30 High Mileage.  The high mileage oil doesn't have the star burst symbol.  I've used Mobil 1 15w50 for years, but the ole Valk has 120,000 now and the temps are in the 20's (and getting colder) in the morning. Thought I would try the 5w for the winter.  Anybody know anything about the High Mileage Mobil 1 oil?    Thanks,  Gary

[scoot]

Your front brake has its own switch, it is independant of the rear brake. I would first look at that switch. It's in the right lever assembly.

[salty1]

I'm guessing the front brake switch is bad or the contacts need to be cleaned up some. I don't see where 5W30 is going to due any harm in cold weather conditions, but when it warms I would go right back to the 15W50, good stuff.

[Brian]

You must ride in some really cold weather that you think you need the 5W/30. Ride safe and watch out for black ice my friend.

[Hoser]

I would not use that oil, does it say energy conserving anywhere on the bottle?  That is a no no. I use 10-40 mobil 1 in the winter. 10-40 is the recommended wieght in the manual.  The 5w30 goes in my wife's car. Hoser

[salty1]

Hoser's comment about "energy conserving" is critical. I should have said something in my reply above. 

[sugerbear]

i live around the corner from you. use 15-50 all the time. never a problem(when i was riding )

[salty1]

Another oil you might want to consider is Rotella 5W40 synthetic during the colder months( blue bottle ).

[Patrick]

Clean the front brake light switch. The 15-50 oil should be fine for year round use.

[R J]

You must of grown up in the old school days.     10W winter, 30W rest of year, and then came synthetic, with the 5-30 & 10-40 weights.

I use Mobil 1, auto, 15-50W I think it  is.    We buy it at the shop in 55 gallon barrels and I just pump me out about 3.8 qts and pour it in and head off for about 12 to 15,000 miles, and then repeat the procedure.

In the dead of winter, MGM will fire off on about the 6 or 7th spin of the engine and run like a dream.   So quit mucking around with the different weights, find a oil & weight you like and run it 24/7/365.

I've used Mobil 1 auto oil for over 240K miles in MGM and he still runs harder than most other Valks.  

PS:   I broke him in on the road  making stops at various Capitals, taking a picture and go to the next Capital.   Also, in the Western states he got to extend his legs very frequently.

I bought the bike, rode it a mile to the shop and we put Mobil 1 in it.  Been there ever since.   I've run a couple of oil changes into the 20 to 24K before a change.

[garyheskett All 49 x 3 st.louis]

Went out this morning and took off the right brake lever. Cleaned it up, it was pretty dirty. Took off the switch, sprayed it with cleaner, put some dielectric grease on it, (noticed it had two prongs on the switch) plugged it back in, no brake light. Hmmm, two prongs and I had only one wire plugged in. Went over to the other Valk, looked like two plugs. Went back, changed glasses, stronger flashlight, found another wire. Cleaned BOTH prongs, dielectric grease, put it back together, have a brake light again. The eyesight ain't what it used to be, and that really SUCKS.  Thanks for the help, didn't know there was that little switch on the front brake lever.    Gary

[salty1]

Good show Gary!