Sperm whale oil...

Actually the oil was rendered and 'kegged' abord ship. It was used for all sort's of things sort of like a pre 1840 WD-40.. there for (I.M.O.) it WOULD have bee :imo: :m2c:n in demand..

 

[Stumpkiller]

I don't think castor oil was used in motorcycles. Are you thinking of Castrol motor oil by any chance?

Nope. Plain old castor oil from castor beans is still used in high performance 2-stroke engines. It is very heat stable. I use 18% in my model airplane engine fuel - about the same ratio as was used by WWI rotary engines in biplanes. Castor oil does not burn up or evaporate - that's why I thought it would be a great oil for patch lube. Stays oily, even in fouling.

 

Right-on Stumpy - I mix my own Radio Control Aviation fuel myself. My big ST 45CC uses 12%, while the OPS 30CC uses 5%-8% with it's needle bearings and all of the smaller engines all use 18% to 22%. I use only 5% castor, 13% synthetic, in the Saito 4-strokes. Too high a percentage of castor fouls the exhaust valve in the 4 strokes due to the excessive heat they generate in the head as it does burn and cakes surfaces there. In the 2 strokes, if the castor is burning, it's too lean.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Saito 4-Strokes . . . mmmmmmmmm :master:

My budget allows OS 4-strokes. ::

That's what got me "lubing". I'm cleaning my planes (with a homebrew version of Windex - Moose Spit (1) : and a lightbulb smacks me: "This is almost pure castor oil I'm wiping off that just went through a OS -70II 4-stroke engine and didn't all burn away, why wouldn't this work as well in the combustion of blackpowder?" Turns out it does!

(1) Moose Spit R/C airplane bath
Water (non-chlorinated) 5 cups
Ammonia

 

[Slamfire]

I wouldn't try renderin' castor beans for their oil. the dried powder left over is ricin, and breathin' any of it guarentees you will die real soon. That means there ain't no antidote.

 

[Canuck Caster]

Castor oil WAS used in two stroke bikes, especially for racing. Had a very distinktive odour, to say the least. :: In later years it was superceded by the newer synthetic two stroke oils. I burned mostly Amsoil in my RZ350. Stank really good. Almost as good a stink as black powder. :winking:God, I miss that bike! Castrol oil on the other hand is a brand name. They make oil mostly for those horrible 4 stroke engines. :youcrazy:

 

[pepperbelly]

Horrible 4 strokes? I remember "You meet the nicest people on a Honda!" :>)
Dad started working on Hondas in about '65, and we didn't have 2 strokes until sometime in the '70s when the Elsinores came out.
We started racing in the '60s and some of our friends had 2 strokes- Bultacos, Hodakas, Husqvarnas, etc. and dad had an ugly lime green Ossa for a while. I remember wanting a Maico, but we raced mostly enduros and hill climbs so 4 strokes were the only way to go.
I never had much to do with the 2 strokes other than repairs in my shop and didn't know castor oil was used. Learn something new every day!
Jim

 

[brushbuster]

the base ingredient for castrol oil is castor oil hince the name castrol :m2c:

 

[Keith]

I've noticed some recipes call for non-chlorinated water. Why? Do you do that just to eliminate another chemical in the mix?
I also was wondering why add water to your lubes, Moose Milk. I was thinking if you were applying it and letting the patches dry. The wet-dry lube thing. Wouldn't it be simpler, and dry faster without water? :hmm:
Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I also was wondering why add water to your lubes, Moose Milk. I was thinking if you were applying it and letting the patches dry. The wet-dry lube thing. Wouldn't it be simpler, and dry faster without water?

Spooky. I just seconds before typed the following on the Pinesol thread here.

Why add water at all?" you ask. The fats and soaps seem to need it to dissolve the fouling and the oils seep under the loose fouling better. Pure Murphy's sucks as a patch lube & solvent.

 

[sneakon]

How do you know that jojoba is a dead ringer for sperm oil?

Don't know about "dead ringer," but here is some info (maybe too much):

"Serious commercial interest in Jojoba oil however was not sparked until a ban on Sperm Whale oil was enacted in the early nineteen seventies. In the search for an alternative to Sperm Whale oil it was revealed that Jojoba oil could be used as a replacement. Jojoba oil has a similar viscosity to Sperm Whale oil and is stable enough to burn at high temperatures. In the year 2000 The International Jojoba Export Council predicted that global production of the oil would increase by 15% over the next 5 years. Apparently Jojoba has been a successful replacement and earned itself a permanent spot in the industrial market.
http://www.livingdesert.org/plants/jojoba.asp


"

 

[pepperbelly]

I've noticed some recipes call for non-chlorinated water. Why? Do you do that just to eliminate another chemical in the mix?

Chlorine is very corrosive.
Jim