Aprilia Series II front suspension oiling

[peterblenk]

What lubricants do Members use? I use 20-50 engine oil in the scuttle tank that sends oil to the top of the sliding pillar. I have also used 20-50 in the bottom oiler (accessed from the nipple at the crook of the axle and the pillar), but is this right.  To simplify matters, I have been thinking of linking the two, so that the scuttle tank sends oil to both top and bottom. Is this a good idea? It would make oiling so much easier and cleaner.
Peterblenkgmail.com

[simonandjuliet]

20w50 for the top is OK , and recommended (or a variation there of)

I would want something thicker in the bottom, especially if there is any wear. 90 or even 140

Not sure I would link the 2 because they need different things at different times.

[Kari]

Hello all,
I can only write about the Augusta sliding pillar suspension, but the one on the Aprilia is similar.

IMHO the oil at the bottom should be engine oil like the oil on the top (shock absorber) chamber. The oil in the bottom chamber not only serves to lubricate the ball thrust bearing below the springs but also to lubricate the lower guide and the lower sliding cylinder( king-pin). As those parts are above the nominal oil level, the only way oil gets there is by splashing. The oil splashes up to the lower guides by the movements of the front wheels on the uneven (mostly) road surface. I think that’s quite a good system as more the road surface is uneven, the more splashing is effected.

Therefore, the oil at the bottom chamber should be thin enough to splash up.

I hope that helps
Karl

[simonandjuliet]

I agree that many of the principles for different model sliding pillars are the same and I think that sometimes the literature has been vague. I completely understand your point of view about use of a thinner oil at the bottom. It is backed up by the literature at the time - it doesn't differentiate between top and bottom lubrication

The later Appia literature does specify a difference between top and bottom

I do use thicker oil in the bottom guides, especially if there is some wear, this is personal preference and what I have always done - it doesn't mean it's correct though !!

[Kari]

Hello Simon,
Thanks very much for the information. I have my info from the original manual "Aprilia  Istruzione e catalogo di pezzi ricambi" from December 1952.

I do have this manual in PDF format. I can send a copy of it to interested Aprilia owners. It's about 75 Mb.

With great interest, I follow your reports on rejuvenation of the engine compartment! I wish I had room (height) for a hoist like yours.

Karl

[peterblenk]

Is it also the case that to introduce oil at the bottom of the front suspension, one attaches the oil gun to one of the ports at the junction of the pillar and the front axle and removes the screw in the second port? One then pumps oil in, until oil spills out of this second port? One then replaces the screw. If this is the case, then one must either get under the car to remove the screw and access the oil port, or remove a road wheel to do the same. If one must access this second screw, it would be best to observe the moment when oil escapes from it, either from under the car or with a road wheel removed. In this case, it seems to me that there is little advantage in linking the two oilers, the primary objective of which was to eliminate the need to get underneath or to remove a wheel. Sincerely, Peter Blenk