No longer a virgin.

[VTRDark]

as for fretting of baldrocks, complete or partial, I would suggest lycra undershorts when running

Don't mention them you will get BigVee all excited

It's all well and good trying to analyse exactly what causes and where exactly how they fail, oiling would just be an added precautionary measure to slow down the corrosion process which then also weakens the spring so therefore it breaks. When someone like Roger says to do this as one of the means to prevent failure, it is wise to take his word for it as there are not many people with as much experience and knowledge with these bikes.

But as has been previously mentioned the best solution is to either do a stop mod on them or take them out completely and fit manuals. At the end of the day they do fail as has been proven on many occasions.

(:-})

[rollingthunderx2]

In which case I would be delighted to know why fretting can be a cause of failure of this part.
and any failures not ocurring where they usually do attributable to rusting:P

As for oiling, yes,like ointment for the inevitable not to happen,
I prefer wrapping the CCT in a page from the bible.

[rollingthunderx2]

its called fretting corrosion where the spring vibrates against itself or the housing in very small amplitude motion , even without moisture the fine iron oxide particles generated are harder than steel, so they accelerate the wear, and the fretting effect also reduces the fatigue life of the spring.

so it becomes a self propagating cycle. only running lubricated would stop / slow it down

Still waiting for a reply about how fretting causes CCt failure.

[AMCQ46]

Yup