Noob questions

[Mike1nw]

1. do we use MC oil in Buddy 125? (There is no wet clutch)
2. is 15w-40 MC oil? I don't see it at auto parts stores.
2a. Can we use alternate grades of oil?
3. any thoughts on using Rotella (diesel oil)?
4. As for the gear oil, the OM sez use SAE 140 but I find only multi-viscosity gear oils. Such as 90-140.
5. You change the engine oil at 1000 km Which is about 625 miles? Really?
6. Is there no sidestand switch to shut off the engine? So my wife (a noob rider) doesn't accidentally hit the gas while bike is idling.... No, it hasn't taken off across the garage yet....

I don't mean to start a dreaded OIL THREAD here!

[DeeDee]

No sidestand switch. Don't use T6 until you hit 1,000 miles or more. Go with full non-wynthetic 10w 40 now until 1k. On genuine Buddys, I change the oil every 2k, gear oil every 4k, valve check every 4k, Oil filter every other oil change, Blow out/ vacuum air filter every 2k, replace every 4k, spark plug replace every 2k. I use T6 and 75 or 85/140 gear oil.
The first oil change is 600 to get rid of the break in oil. Bullet proof scooters if you maintain them.

[scootERIK]

I use Rotella 15w-40 heavy duty diesel oil, T4, the conventional kind.* I change it ever 1,200-1,500 miles, sometimes less if I have a long trip planned or a rally weekend. Oil filter gets changed every other oil change sometimes only every third oil change. Gear oil every other oil change. Replace spark plug every ~8-10k. I clean the air filter ever 3rd or 4th oil change.


*I have been using Rotella 15w-40 conventional since 2010 in three Buddy motors, the first had 44,000 on it when it died(not oil related,) the replacement motor in that scooter now has ~14k and my other Buddy has ~17k.

[Mike1nw]

do you clean the air filter like my Burgman's- wash in Simple Green, rinse thoroughly, dry, reinstall? (It's made of a similar red material)

[DeeDee]

It's a pleated paper filter. Vacuum and blow it out, hold it up to the sun.