Scottoiler
Author
Discussion

dern

Original Poster:

14,055 posts

302 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
quotequote all
Anyone bought and fitted one recently? Are the new ones any good?

I had one ages ago on a thundercat and it was pretty good and then had one fitted to a zx6r which I eventually turned off because I couldn't get the flow right and it either let the chain dry out or put oil all over the wheel and occasionally the tyre.

I'm doing a few more mile now on my commute and am thinking about getting one to fit as I always seem to remember to lube my chain just after I've left home which isn't much use and honda gearchanges are bad enough without a clogged/dry chain.

Any views/pros/cons on the new versions or any alternative gratefully received.

Cheers,

Mark

Mad Dave

7,158 posts

286 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
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I'm told that they are fantastic, and have one on my ZX7R. Actually, I might hijack your thread slightly if I may, and ask how they work - a section of tubing is missing from mine (where it runs along the top of the swingarm) and it doesnt work. It is full of fluid though.

How do these things work? I'd like to fix it.

itchy

243 posts

252 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
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I've never been tempted by a Scottoiler because I believe I would get out of the habit of cleaning my chain (which I do before each new application of lube). The consequence of not cleaning the chain is that debris accumulates on it, thus increasing wear. But I guess it all boils down to priorities and discipline. I suspect a commuter would love it.

(That wasn't much help, was it?)

dern

Original Poster:

14,055 posts

302 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
quotequote all
How long do people find their chains last?

The first chain from new on my blade died at about 14-15k miles without a scottoiler. I don't know how long they lasted on my previous bikes as until I found biking nirvana with my blade I was a habitual chopper and changer of bikes. There was nothing really wrong with my old chain except that it had stretched passed the service limit... would a scottoiler help extend the life in those circumstances?

Dave, check out scottoiler's website as there's tons of info on there including installation instructions.

Mark

outrider

352 posts

268 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
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Get a shaft drive

barry sheene

1,524 posts

306 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
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I've been using one for years on the Tig.

It'll easily get double the mileage out of the chain with it, than without it.

However, if they stop working (usually due to the end drip feeder falling out/getting lost when the tyre is changed) then they are a bugger to fix..Scottoiler are usually very good theough and will send spares foc....

redblade

158 posts

261 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
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I've one fitted to my Blade (it's the one with the dual feeds to the chain rather than just the one side).

I've had no problems and P&H (Crawley) fitted it inside the LHS fairing. It's not as obtrusive and is easier to refill with easy access. Definitely recommend one if you're doing a few miles - I was when it was fitted, and found it easier than me spraying chain lube all over my rear tyre, wheel, fingers, garage floor...

Good luck

Mad Dave

7,158 posts

286 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
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Thanks for the advice guys, ill check out their website and contact them for any bits i'm missing.

Ill stop hijacking the thread now too

jvaughan

6,025 posts

306 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
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Mad Dave said:
Thanks for the advice guys, ill check out their website and contact them for any bits i'm missing.

Ill stop hijacking the thread now too


dave, full instructions available to download.
If not, I have one fitted to my bike .. if you need to see it in action

iguana

7,301 posts

283 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
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I've got one & 20k over few yrs on C&S & only now is it looking like the chain has got a tight spot & the front sprocket teeth are looking a tad worn- rear seems fine.

Chain has taken some abuse over the yrs- the type that knackers rear tyres in 2.5k anyway however I do only have about half your bhp dern so maybe that will even out

I've prob used chain lube on the chain only 4 times or so in that time- like when ive been away from home & noticed ive run out of scot oil & borrowed a mates lube. (the regular reservoir is a tad small i reckon & ive run dry a few other times)

Never cleaned the chain in that time either, other than just the other day to see if a proper clean & lube would cure the noisy chain.


There was another far cheaper option on the market a while back (cant remember the name now tho) didnt use carb vacumm but you gave a little bottle a sqeeze before setting off & then it slowly drained down a long tube during the ride.

It was i recall lots cheaper & if they stil sell it id be tempted to give it a go if i got another bike without a scotoiler fitted.


Mad Dave

7,158 posts

286 months

Thursday 12th May 2005
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Thanks chaps, i've contacted them about spares and looked at the website, which explained why I have a thin black tube running under my tank - its for the vacuum line. It's disconnected, but presumably deliberately, to stop oil pissing all over my rear tyre whilst part of the tubing is missing.

dern

Original Poster:

14,055 posts

302 months

Thursday 12th May 2005
quotequote all
iguana said:
Chain has taken some abuse over the yrs- the type that knackers rear tyres in 2.5k anyway however I do only have about half your bhp dern so maybe that will even out
The problem with the blade (or at least the problem with my ability to change gear smoothly on the blade) is that the gearchanges, especially from 1st to 2nd, is pretty clunky and I imagine that has an effect on the chain. The clunky gearchange is also a bit of a pain in the arse. Keeping the chain lubed regularly does help this to a degree to I'm hoping that constant lubing using a scottoiler will keep the gearchange more consistant as well as extending the life of my chain. It'll also mean I don't have to take a can of lube to france next month.

Anyway, I've order a kit and will let you know how I get on with it.

Cheers,

Mark

catso

15,878 posts

290 months

Thursday 12th May 2005
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I fitted a Scottoiler on the 916 a few years ago.
Originally used the standard pipe (single injector) which looked crap and only oiled the outside - to get sufficient oil I had to turn the flow up and there was always oil everywhere, then I got the dual injector, it is a tight fit but works great.

I always keep on top of bike maintenance, except for the chain which I always either forget to lube or over lube so this solved my problem, the chain stays lubed and clean.

I had one problem though due to fitting the oiler under the seat (it's a tight fit) so that it was not on show, it gets very warm (under seat cans) so the oil flow was too fast. I changed to the thicker high temp oil and with the flow on very low it is just about right, one advantage of the underseat fitting is that Scottoilers typically vary the flow due to the temperature but the temp under my seat (whilst hot) does stay fairly constant, regardless of the weather so the variations are minimal.

I did have to tape the dial in place though due to vibrations moving it.

Since fitting I have replaced the chain and after 2 years or so it is showing no signs of wear and no tight spots.

Mind you about a month ago the chain, which was a bit loose, caught the injector and bit it off, chewed it up and spat it out! (good job it's plastic), the Dual injector is a tight fit on a Ducati as it needs to sit very close to the sprocket and it's a little narrow for a 525 chain so I'm going to make a new bracket to raise it up a little to move it out of the chains way before fitting a new injector.

Overall I rate it highly and my chain is certainly in better nick than it would be without.




Momentofmadness

2,370 posts

264 months

Sunday 15th May 2005
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iguana said:
There was another far cheaper option on the market a while back (cant remember the name now tho) didnt use carb vacumm but you gave a little bottle a sqeeze before setting off & then it slowly drained down a long tube during the ride.

It was i recall lots cheaper & if they stil sell it id be tempted to give it a go if i got another bike without a scotoiler fitted



www.chainoiler.co.uk £18.99

Looks quite tempting (in a basic home made sort of way!)

dern

Original Poster:

14,055 posts

302 months

Thursday 19th May 2005
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Well, I fitted it and it works fine.

It does only oil the outside of the chain but as I understand it the oil works its way to the inside through capilliary action and the inside of the chain never seems dry even though it's not as obviously wet as the outside.

I haven't had any problems with oil getting on the wheel let alone the tyre and setting it to one drip every 45 seconds seems ok at the minute.

Fitting the vacuum feed was dead easy on the blade as you just removed a screw from the engine as per the instructions and screw in the brass thingummy.

I mounted the reservoir behind the number plate because although there's tons of room under the seat on the blade I carry a big chain lock amongst other things in there and didn't want the chain to break the reservoir. I also figured that putting the reservoir in the airflow would keep the oil at a more constant temperature and I wouldn't get the variable flow problems due to temperature as I had on my 6r.

The most difficult bit was mounting the feed nozzle so that it touched the sprocket but didn't move or get tangled up in the chain when I pushed the bike backwards but I got there in the end.

The only thing I don't like is that the routing of the feed pipe along the swing arm isn't very tidy and I'm at a loss at to how to do it any better without getting the pipe fouled on the chain. Also the pipe is now in the way of where I'd normally put the paddock stand but I'll deal with that problem when I come to it.

That's about it.

Cheers,

Mark

cerby4.5

1,643 posts

264 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
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Hi There,

I think the Scottoilers are rubbish! particularly for a sports bike where you are using the entire surface of the tyre tread. It doesn't matter how good the system is, the oil itself is always too thin and will run everywhere and 'fling' no matter how slow it drips out of the feeder pipe. I would recommend ythat you try "Profi Dry Lube" it is the best stuff I have ever found and have used it on my road bike (RRV Blade), and also my race bike (GSXR 1000). It does not fling onto your rims or the tyre, or anywhere else for that matter, and you can buy it in large cans for the garage and smaller ones that will fit under the seat! I guarantee that you will not be disappointed, just make sure that you clean the chain properly with petrol (then wipe it down) before applying it for the first time. The web site is as follows: www.profiproducts.com/home.html
Just in case you are wondering, yes I have seen someone badly injured in an accident as a result of lube etc being flung onto the back wheel and tyre!

dern

Original Poster:

14,055 posts

302 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
cerby4.5 said:
Hi There,

I think the Scottoilers are rubbish! particularly for a sports bike where you are using the entire surface of the tyre tread. It doesn't matter how good the system is, the oil itself is always too thin and will run everywhere and 'fling' no matter how slow it drips out of the feeder pipe. I would recommend ythat you try "Profi Dry Lube" it is the best stuff I have ever found and have used it on my road bike (RRV Blade), and also my race bike (GSXR 1000). It does not fling onto your rims or the tyre, or anywhere else for that matter, and you can buy it in large cans for the garage and smaller ones that will fit under the seat! I guarantee that you will not be disappointed, just make sure that you clean the chain properly with petrol (then wipe it down) before applying it for the first time. The web site is as follows: www.profiproducts.com/home.html
Just in case you are wondering, yes I have seen someone badly injured in an accident as a result of lube etc being flung onto the back wheel and tyre!
A lot depends on the fitting in my experience. The reason for the thread was my reluctance to try the system again after having it fitted to my old zx6r. Before I had the kwak I had a thundercat with a scottoiler already fitted and it worked fine with no oil being flung on to the tyre so I had the dealer fit it to the 6r but I eventually turned it off because I could get the flow right and either ended up with a dry chain or oil on the tyre. If you fit them correctly then they work fine. The one I just fitted on the blade oils the chain such that you can see the oil film and the chain looks slightly 'wet' but does not even fling oil on the rim let alone the wheel. I suspect the secret is keeping the temperature of the oil constant to keep the viscosity of the oil constant and setting up the system correctly in the first place. I have the reservoir mounted on the back of the number plate keeping it in the airflow which keeps the temperature more constant than if you put it under the seat.

Before this install though I would have agreed whole-heartedly with your point of view but now I'm glad I've installed one.

Regards,

Mark

Mad Dave

7,158 posts

286 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
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If youre having problems, call them for advice - Ive just spoken with them about some bits for mine as it didnt work when I got the bike - someone rang me back within half an hour and was very helpful. They didnt even sting me for the bits I needed (£3 for connectors, tubing and conduit - bargain).

Scottoiler : 0141 9551100

cerby4.5

1,643 posts

264 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
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Glad to hear you are getting on with it Mark, Enjoy it! Just too much faffing around for me, so I went for a less labout/trial and error intensive solution!I would try the profi stuff at some point though, as it is extremely good.
I do more track riding than road nowadays and so being on slicks/intermediates do not want even the risk of anything on the tyre!!