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Garden Tractors Discussion Forum

oils for a 80's Snapper V-twin?

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AJMBLAZER

11-15-2004 04:18:48




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So can anyone recommend an oil (brand/weight) for a 80's Snapper with a 16hp Briggs & Stratton V-twin. Tractor is in Northern Michigan and will be doing snow blowing duties in our occasionally down to zero winters. Also will be mowing in our occasionally 90 summers.

Also what should I use in the rear axle? Regular 80w90 gear lube?




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Bob - MI

11-15-2004 05:58:03




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 Re: oils for a 80's Snapper V-twin? in reply to AJMBLAZER, 11-15-2004 04:18:48  
In southern Michigan, (Spring Lake), the suggestion for winter temps on B&S twins is 5W-30. I have a 20HP and that"s what the manual calls for. Lots of guys suggesting switching to synthetic and 15W-50 would get you by year round.

I inherited a Ranch King of a similar vintage of yours and changed the trans oil to 80/90wt and noticed a huge reduction in drag. The old oil was super gooey (in summer conditions) and when I started it up in the winter, when I released the clutch it would load up the engine until it warmed up. Not so bad now.

Check the belts out now before it gets snowing and then you have to start replacing them. If you can get Kevlar replacements go with that. Lube the auger bearings and chute control. I also paint the inside of the auger housing every fall with high gloss paint. Anything to keep the rust down and give the snow a slick surface to slide off from. If the blower is chain driven, get some motorcycle chain lube and do it up. That stuff will stay on all season.

Lube the choke and throttle cables up so they don"t freeze. My choke cable is prone to freezing so I leave it pulled out when I get done using it. If it freezes it"s a lot easier to push it back in rather than to try and pull it out.

Sorry for the long post but I have become an expert on using a vintage tractor/blower unit to move snow. My driveway is 1/4 mile long.

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Ludwig

11-15-2004 13:10:44




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 Re: oils for a 80's Snapper V-twin? in reply to Bob - MI, 11-15-2004 05:58:03  
The Mobil 1 5w40 (Truck and SUV I think its called) is repackaged Delvac 1 which is reportedly the BEST oil that Mobil makes. I've been using 0w40 in a diesel car for a year now. Last winter that car would start down to -15 unassisted which it would NEVER do with conventional oil. Mobil 1 is great stuff.
I like to spray PAM on the inside of my snowblower, seems like it helps the snow sheet through. Don't know if it really does or not but it makes me feel better.

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txblu

11-15-2004 07:50:46




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 Re: oils for a 80's Snapper V-twin? in reply to Bob - MI, 11-15-2004 05:58:03  
Second the motion and I live in Texas. Syn is THE oil for air cooled engines. If the 15-50 is too thick and you don't have a heated garage, you might drop down to the 10-30 but I'd keep it syn, and keep it thick (15w-50)if you can.

As pour point on 15w-50 is like - 47????? ?? as I recall. Try that with a paraffin oil.

Mark



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AJMBLAZER

11-15-2004 14:23:17




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 Re: oils for a 80's Snapper V-twin? in reply to txblu, 11-15-2004 07:50:46  
So....ummmm.....I guess I'm confused...10w30 synthetic oil for the engine in my lawnmower?

All the car references have me a bit confused.



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Ludwig

11-16-2004 07:49:09




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 Re: oils for a 80's Snapper V-twin? in reply to AJMBLAZER, 11-15-2004 14:23:17  
ABSOLUTELY.
I've got an old White lawnmower, its mowed about a million acres over the years and its about played out. Two years ago I switched it to Mobil 1 10w30 and the change was amazing. It started easier and ran better with more power. Bought us another 2 years anyway. I'll probably end up selling it as a runner rather than sending it to the dump.

What weight to use in the cold is largely a measure of personal preference. I use 0w40 in my diesel car so I'd probably use that if I were using my tractors in the cold just because I keep a case of it around. Any of the Mobil 1 stuff should be fine 0w30, 0w40, 5w40, 10w30, 15w50 etc its all much more better in very cold weather than conventional oil.

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AJMBLAZER

11-16-2004 16:50:43




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 Re: oils for a 80's Snapper V-twin? in reply to Ludwig, 11-16-2004 07:49:09  
Okay, I'll probably go get some Mobil 1 5w30 synth. Sucks though, I use Valvoline 5w30 MaxLife in my vehicles, but the dino goo kind. They've both got too many miles on them to switch to synthetic now.



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Ludwig

11-17-2004 11:02:32




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 Re: oils for a 80's Snapper V-twin? in reply to AJMBLAZER, 11-16-2004 16:50:43  
Who says? I've got a diesel Mercedes and I switched it to Mobil 1 at 210,000 miles. My Dodge Dakota had like 120kmi when I switched it, 160+ now and going fine.
Sure there are lots of horror stories "I switch and it leaked all the oil the next day" but if you check in they're ususally either from years ago when Mobil 1 admittedly had some problems, or of a friend of a friend's brother in law who had problems. OR somebody who changed and it leaked bad so they changed it back to dino oil.
If you're going to go to Mobil 1 plan on giving it at LEAST 10,000 miles to clean out any crap in the system and soften the seals. When I put Mobil 1 in my truck I'd been told I needed a new rear main seal. The truck leaked something like a quart every 700 miles. After about 10,000 miles it was up to a quart every 2000 or better and has stayed that way. I change it at 8,000 miles.

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