2 stroke ratio for Guzzinos

48 views
Skip to first unread message

jerry atric

unread,
Aug 27, 2021, 6:38:30 AM8/27/21
to Guzzi Singles
Can anyone advise on a good 2t ratio using semi synthetic oil to suit the Cardellino please? Thanks.

Dave Knaack

unread,
Aug 27, 2021, 8:32:51 AM8/27/21
to guzzi-...@googlegroups.com
I use motul 2stroke oil 40:1

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 27, 2021, at 5:38 AM, jerry atric <baconsl...@gmail.com> wrote:

Can anyone advise on a good 2t ratio using semi synthetic oil to suit the Cardellino please? Thanks.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Guzzi Singles" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to guzzi-single...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/guzzi-singles/37170d6f-567c-4fce-810d-39bb53923313n%40googlegroups.com.

Andrew Nahum

unread,
Aug 27, 2021, 8:42:02 AM8/27/21
to guzzi-...@googlegroups.com
I use any good modern two-stroke oil at 30:1. 

I reckon that though oils have improved the engine is still a 1940s design. 



On 27 Aug 2021, at 13:32, Dave Knaack <fastgu...@gmail.com> wrote:

I use motul 2stroke oil 40:1

Dave Knaack

unread,
Aug 27, 2021, 9:46:59 AM8/27/21
to guzzi-...@googlegroups.com
30:1 is definitely on the safe side. I thought the cardellino had a rotary intake like the zigolo???  If so, guzzi was the first to recommend 40:1. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 27, 2021, at 7:42 AM, Andrew Nahum <andrew...@gmail.com> wrote:

I use any good modern two-stroke oil at 30:1. 

Andrew Nahum

unread,
Aug 27, 2021, 9:53:43 AM8/27/21
to guzzi-...@googlegroups.com
Yes Guzzinos pioneered that rotary intake through a hollow crankshaft like Cardellinos and Zigolos. 

Mine has an oil measuring cup on bottom of tank filler cap. May be wrong but I thought original Guzzino ratio in 1949 was 20:1. I’ll check. 

It doesn’t oil plugs on 30:1 which I reckon is the main thing. 



On 27 Aug 2021, at 14:47, Dave Knaack <fastgu...@gmail.com> wrote:

30:1 is definitely on the safe side. I thought the cardellino had a rotary intake like the zigolo???  If so, guzzi was the first to recommend 40:1. 

Paul Compton

unread,
Aug 27, 2021, 10:38:58 AM8/27/21
to guzzi-...@googlegroups.com
Just about every old 2 stroke engine will run much better with a
modern oil and a much leaner oil/fuel mix. 50:1 is a reasonable
figure.

Starting is improved and plug fouling reduced if not almost eliminated.

You may well need to re-jet though as the oil was displacing fuel in the mix.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/guzzi-singles/3BA75F50-B44D-48A6-A355-983E01578DA4%40gmail.com.



--
Paul Compton
www.paulcompton.co.uk (YouTube channel)

Andrew Nahum

unread,
Aug 27, 2021, 12:27:25 PM8/27/21
to guzzi-...@googlegroups.com
It’s just a gamble isn’t it? We have no idea how long the engines will last with that lean oil mix and we won’t use them enough to find out. I suppose if it doesn’t seize it’s probably ok. I remember Saab introduced a 50:1 mix in the 1960s but with their own oil.


> On 27 Aug 2021, at 15:38, Paul Compton <paul.c...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Just about every old 2 stroke engine will run much better with a
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/guzzi-singles/CAGKfbeeNdOkmkkeqU9yJvv09yGcVgsnTuGpwebJFH8NWLBv2fg%40mail.gmail.com.

jerry atric

unread,
Aug 27, 2021, 2:49:18 PM8/27/21
to Guzzi Singles
Thanks for the answers, guys. I thought I had read 30:1 but it sure smokes at that, hence my question.

Rick Yamane

unread,
Aug 27, 2021, 4:33:32 PM8/27/21
to guzzi-...@googlegroups.com
Anecdotal experience is I've been running Optimol 2T at 100:1 for over 20 years. No bad bearings, no top ends. It goes in all my 2T's so I don't have to have more than three gas jugs around. I don't own anything as old, my earliest 2T is a 1968 Sachs Enduro. Most of the running time would be MXing a Sachs powered Penton/KTM.
Before that I would use Oilzall or Maxima 927 at 40:1.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroups.google.com%2Fd%2Fmsgid%2Fguzzi-singles%2F37170d6f-567c-4fce-810d-39bb53923313n%2540googlegroups.com&amp;data=04%7C01%7Crick%40motionpro.com%7C23aeb7b3c017403c50f908d969778ee4%7C4bc14e2a4c8540b2984b3dce5d2e6c40%7C0%7C0%7C637656784494872135%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=%2FtpzgeicQ%2BPMm%2F%2BI%2BJzpRCvEi7eUpcAqpvKdfWmYYZ8%3D&amp;reserved=0.
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Guzzi Singles" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to guzzi-single...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroups.google.com%2Fd%2Fmsgid%2Fguzzi-singles%2F074D88B7-BF4F-45A8-ADFF-2A269BEB0C8C%2540gmail.com&amp;data=04%7C01%7Crick%40motionpro.com%7C23aeb7b3c017403c50f908d969778ee4%7C4bc14e2a4c8540b2984b3dce5d2e6c40%7C0%7C0%7C637656784494872135%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=%2FPgOCmeOliEfe5rfacUXrzMPoB1DKjpIkxo6LZzJ8QQ%3D&amp;reserved=0.
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Guzzi Singles" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to guzzi-single...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroups.google.com%2Fd%2Fmsgid%2Fguzzi-singles%2F022BDFD6-5B6A-4086-B2BA-3482A2A3A0EE%2540gmail.com&amp;data=04%7C01%7Crick%40motionpro.com%7C23aeb7b3c017403c50f908d969778ee4%7C4bc14e2a4c8540b2984b3dce5d2e6c40%7C0%7C0%7C637656784494882121%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=v3si6XvUy%2BX1bgz9JNDe40QZjxv3HzXZoM7asVXi35g%3D&amp;reserved=0.
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Guzzi Singles" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to guzzi-single...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroups.google.com%2Fd%2Fmsgid%2Fguzzi-singles%2FE7DEB5E1-1AA6-4FF1-8FDF-B0D7AEC07D69%2540gmail.com&amp;data=04%7C01%7Crick%40motionpro.com%7C23aeb7b3c017403c50f908d969778ee4%7C4bc14e2a4c8540b2984b3dce5d2e6c40%7C0%7C0%7C637656784494882121%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=SH%2B4QSbkRZoCKzRBtrLaZ6A4hznRgWNjKtQtrnLKpBc%3D&amp;reserved=0.
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Guzzi Singles" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to guzzi-single...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroups.google.com%2Fd%2Fmsgid%2Fguzzi-singles%2F3BA75F50-B44D-48A6-A355-983E01578DA4%2540gmail.com&amp;data=04%7C01%7Crick%40motionpro.com%7C23aeb7b3c017403c50f908d969778ee4%7C4bc14e2a4c8540b2984b3dce5d2e6c40%7C0%7C0%7C637656784494882121%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=vPPjSQ92wvsvCApGkg3CvQVd1OtLncoTA5moNw4VSFE%3D&amp;reserved=0.
>
>
>
> --
> Paul Compton
> https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paulcompton.co.uk%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7Crick%40motionpro.com%7C23aeb7b3c017403c50f908d969778ee4%7C4bc14e2a4c8540b2984b3dce5d2e6c40%7C0%7C0%7C637656784494882121%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=xRJ70Az%2BBu6dCYR7zVKNgsvOPeL0A6o8EWz0KHOcuWk%3D&amp;reserved=0 (YouTube channel)
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Guzzi Singles" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to guzzi-single...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroups.google.com%2Fd%2Fmsgid%2Fguzzi-singles%2FCAGKfbeeNdOkmkkeqU9yJvv09yGcVgsnTuGpwebJFH8NWLBv2fg%2540mail.gmail.com&amp;data=04%7C01%7Crick%40motionpro.com%7C23aeb7b3c017403c50f908d969778ee4%7C4bc14e2a4c8540b2984b3dce5d2e6c40%7C0%7C0%7C637656784494882121%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=JKTIitorvl1zzykYkka9SaZYGCqzsy97Gl50P%2FrbKEM%3D&amp;reserved=0.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Guzzi Singles" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to guzzi-single...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroups.google.com%2Fd%2Fmsgid%2Fguzzi-singles%2F78A393A7-F3C6-4C55-90ED-30841DE6A952%2540gmail.com&amp;data=04%7C01%7Crick%40motionpro.com%7C23aeb7b3c017403c50f908d969778ee4%7C4bc14e2a4c8540b2984b3dce5d2e6c40%7C0%7C0%7C637656784494882121%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=foxOgkZCH%2BU6AwIXZnLR5M3Eq6ELpsv8S5%2BFP8Zxt8c%3D&amp;reserved=0.

Mac Dennis

unread,
Aug 31, 2021, 2:33:55 PM8/31/21
to Guzzi Singles
Many people running around on old light weight 2T bikes. Have you been to a Giro lately?
Most that I have talk to run modern synthetics at 40:1 and some 50:1. I use 40:1 in my Guzzino, Benelli, Motobi and Kreidler.

Mac
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/guzzi-singles/78A393A7-F3C6-4C55-90ED-30841DE6A952%40gmail.com.
>


--
Mac Dennis
capr...@fastmail.fm

Andrew Nahum

unread,
Aug 31, 2021, 7:16:25 PM8/31/21
to guzzi-...@googlegroups.com

> I have not done giros on the Guzzino although I have enjoyed some equivalent runs organised by the English cyclemotor club on wonderful back roads.
> But a bigger test is that I used it for many miles for an entire winter and most of a year for commuting through central London. Yes I was probably crazy. Though it was only 5 miles each way - but back in the dark - it was a test of the quality of the Guzzino. I even fitted a solid state regulator to stop the alternator popping the light bulbs when I revved the nuts off it to stay with the traffic flow - cos slower is often more dangerous.
> I’m not asserting that a 30:1 oil ratio is perfect. It works for me so why should I experiment with less oil and risk a rebuild, a cylinder hone to clean the fused-on aluminium off the bore, new rings etc etc? I possibly have more miles experience on a Guzzino than any occasional giro rider !! Or maybe even anyone on this list. But I don’t know the answers !!!
>
> I attach pictures. The Guzzino is a brilliant design that should have gone round the world like the Honda 50 did later. When I stop with it in biker places people are drawn to it magically by its charm and ignore megabucks Harleys and “Broughs”.
>
> PS
> I used to use outboard motor oil because it is formulated to mop up water and combustion toxins. However. I have found in an agricultural store sealed snap cap capsules of 100 mls synthetic two-stroke oil for Stihl chainsaws or similar so that’s what I’m using now so I don’t have to measure oil out into little bottles.
>
image0.png
image1.jpeg

jerry atric

unread,
Sep 2, 2021, 3:39:41 PM9/2/21
to Guzzi Singles

I think commuting 5 miles each way through London qualifies you for a medal. I did it back in the '70s on a Triumph twin and that was hairy enough then as an immortal 20 year old! 

jerry atric

unread,
Sep 2, 2021, 3:42:13 PM9/2/21
to Guzzi Singles
I have to admit that I own this Cardellino through accident of sorts. Its not something that interests me, so if anyone is in the market for one, I'm the bloke to ask🙂

briana...@gmail.com

unread,
Sep 3, 2021, 10:04:03 AM9/3/21
to Guzzi Singles
Where are you in the UK?

jerry atric

unread,
Sep 4, 2021, 3:59:27 AM9/4/21
to Guzzi Singles
Apologies, I hadn't been back to the forum. I'm in Wiltshire.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages