► Chains, oilers, sprockets

[Tim Cullis]

Scottoilers seem to be either fully on or fully off, with nothing inbetween.

I can't help wondering if people who have spent a lot of money on them and/or having them fitted are trying to convince themselves that it was worth it by ignoring the fact they don't seem to actually work very well

I have a Scottoiler and certainly won't try to defend it. Total waste of money, it either pumps out too much or not enough, the back end of the bike gets covered with oil, the reservoir capacity is ludicrously small (I would have had to fill it twice on the 909 mile 'day trip' from Poland last week), and I'm fed up with the messy job of filling it and storing oil when travelling.

I no longer use it and rely instead on spray stuff which is sooo much easier and cleaner. I'm just glad I didn't pay some mechanic £75 or so to fit the Scottoiler.

 

[freeloader]

I've now just passed 5000 miles on my 800, and fitted a Scottoiler in the first week of ownership. My chain's been adjusted about 3 times, but has never needed much adjustment.

I did think I was starting to feel tight spots, and the bike was getting its steering head bearings adjusted last week, so I asked for a verdict on the chain too. The technician, who I trust implicitly, reckons the chain's fine - which, given that the amount of stretch has been minimal anyway, I'm happy to believe.

However, I don't think 5000 miles should be anything like a lifetime for a chain, and would expect a few thousand more miles before replacement.

What's the longest lasting F800GS chain so far? Anyone done megamileage on the original?

 

[Blobby]

.....I'm just glad I didn't pay some mechanic £75 or so to fit the Scottoiler.

Tim - What chain oil do you know use of do you chop & change?

 

[fishburger]

F800 gs, 17teeth front sprocket

Hi
When in Germany last week I had a chance to ride an f800gs with 17\42 gearing,drove it on the autobahn it was like getting an extra gear on the bike.
You loose the fast accleration,but bike feels much better on paved roads,both high and low speed and less noice due to lower rpm.


I am considering a change to 17\42,anyone done this yet? Will you loose any garanty on the engine if you do this?

fishburger

 

[sijohnston]

hmm, good if you like autobahns, but would surely make the bike less capable off-road, which i maybe mistakenly understood them as being built for??? i think the front needs less teeth, not more.

Hi
When in Germany last week I had a chance to ride an f800gs with 17\42 gearing,drove it on the autobahn it was like getting an extra gear on the bike.
You loose the fast accleration,but bike feels much better on paved roads,both high and low speed and less noice due to lower rpm.


I am considering a change to 17\42,anyone done this yet? Will you loose any garanty on the engine if you do this?

fishburger

 

[Chris G]

Hi team,
As my mag 800 is supremely faster than the yeller version, could this be the reason why the chain is shagg*d at 5k?- covered in castrol wax every couple of hundred miles !

- As a side note, has anyone managed a chain and sprockets warranty claim?

 

[twisticles]

Hi team,
As my mag 800 is supremely faster than the yeller version, could this be the reason why the chain is shagg*d at 5k?- covered in castrol wax every couple of hundred miles !

- As a side note, has anyone managed a chain and sprockets warranty claim?

Yeah my chain and sprockets were replaced at 2.5k under warranty. I think Gipsy on here also, and maybe Timbo from memory.

I had a scottoiler fitted and maintained properly, so its not down to 'laziness'.

It seems there were a few early models (March 2008) where they were shipped with duff chains.

 

[Towneh]

South London Motorrad just quoted me £200 for a purchase and fitting of a Scottoiler system for my F800GS.

Just no.

 

[Zundapp]

I've Scottoilers fitted to two of my bikes and they work fine. No problems and no mess.

For doing distances on my Vara I've also got one of those Scottoil 'snake' things which act as an additional reservoir. Lasts around 900 miles before it needs refilled.

Just like everything else on your bike, if a Scottoiler's not working properly, there's something needs fixing.

 

[Greggers]

^+1 ..

I fitted one last night - will post pics later, but it wasn't any real challenge. There's enough space under the RHS of the saddle for a lube-tube so there's plenty of scope for extra oil ... the principle of the Scottoiler is good as long as it's adjusted properly.

Greg

 

[Blobby]

- As a side note, has anyone managed a chain and sprockets warranty claim?

Yes. My original chain snapped on my Jan 09 F800GS at 2k miles. I was charged by a BMW dealer for a non-BMW replacement chain to get me on the road again (took 5 days to fix). After a number of phone calls and emails, BMW Customer Services arranged a credit note for the chain and today, at 4k miles, I had a new BMW chain and two sprockets replaced under warranty together with a loan bike while mine was in. I will be very interested to see how this new chain wears.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Hi
When in Germany last week I had a chance to ride an f800gs with 17\42 gearing,drove it on the autobahn it was like getting an extra gear on the bike.
You loose the fast accleration,but bike feels much better on paved roads,both high and low speed and less noice due to lower rpm.

You would have thought that with six ratios to play with, BMW would have managed to provide both a walking-speed ratio for first gear and an 'overdrive' gearing for sixth.

Why the hell did they fit a close ratio gearbox on a dual sport bike?

Tim

 

[everywherevirtually]

I hope you got your chain fitted OK Jon. Don't forget the sprockets though if they have done more than a couple of thou. If you get a decent Jap chain like the ones you mention you will never need spare links, trust me.

Hi Lunchbox, yeah I had the new sprockets for some time, ready and waiting. Some good friends of mine who are in the know about these things helped me out. As it happens on the day we didnt have a rivet tool so they had a spare 525 link with a clip. It was meant as a temporary measure but you know what. It actually seems fine.

Jon -
TBH you're better off buying a 116 link chain, and asking for a couple of extra spring-clip links, that way (and assuming of course you've got a chain tool with you) if you have a problem you can squeeze off the buggered link and replace it quickly and easily with a spring-clip link.
The 'rivetting' links have a soft head on the pins that you can mushroom over with a tool or a small hammer, but AFAIK you won't be able to re-fit a normal link once it's been pushed apart.

Greg

I got the 116 in the end Greg. I've now got the spring clip in place of the rivet link. Same manufacturer and size but just a spring instead of a rivet.

 

[shag]

My chain SNAPPED late last night in the dark and all i can say is shiiiiite me
Left the bike overnight and returned this morning and no sign of the chain
Where it landed is anyones guess. The back tyre was flat as a ducks foot HOW?????????(new Tyres)
Right now i am ready to bin this bike. Its is due in monday for a new chain and sprocks and also new drive bushes so what the dealer is going to say i have no idea!

At this rate i wont make the manx ferry let alone morrocco....BMW ASSIST

This rant is only just starting...

















i know dont drink and type

 

[shag]

follow up of rant 1


Why Bmw put a 116 link chain on when i cant find anyone selling a 116 link chain.. only 114 to short or 118 to long (yup i can take links out but why should i) and for the sprockets..............no way.............only touratackie anodised aluminium........I WANT BLACK............i can go to the dealer but at the mo they can stuff it............

I need help to find a sprocket & chain set
i need less rum

Can i fit a split link or go with rivets....

yellow pages for a honda dealer

Linky http://chain-guide.com/

 

[Chris G]

follow up of rant 1


Why Bmw put a 116 link chain on when i cant find anyone selling a 116 link chain.. only 114 to short or 118 to long (yup i can take links out but why should i) and for the sprockets..............no way.............only touratackie anodised aluminium........I WANT BLACK............i can go to the dealer but at the mo they can stuff it............

I need help to find a sprocket & chain set
i need less rum

Can i fit a split link or go with rivets....

yellow pages for a honda dealer

Linky http://chain-guide.com/

hi matey,

my chain is stretching like a good un at 5K, so did a bit of ringing round,
dealer says it is only warrenty if it snapps..... so you should be okay- if I were you i would insist on new chain and sprocket from the dealer, then go home and fit a good DID or IRIS chain- keeping the CZ/ BMW one as emergency spare.

I have just bought [but not yet fitted] Heavy duty IRIS o ring chain and sprockets for £90.00 from my local offroad dealer

 

[shag]

Chris
You are right, i am going to replace the chain with an O-ring DID but not to sure to get a split-ring or a soft rivet type. I get one with 120 links so i have spares.
That realy shook me up, i have never had this problem before
Took the front sprock of this morning and i can see only a few teeth slightly bent, so i gather thats where the tight spot was. There was a bit of grinding noise from the chain just before it snapped and flung its self into a hedge or tree
Going to replace sprocks with BuMW ones but if anyone has a better idea that be great.
It just puts a real downer on the bike..

PS i have had a scotoiler thingy fitted. so well lube

 

[Chris G]

Chris
You are right, i am going to replace the chain with an O-ring DID but not to sure to get a split-ring or a soft rivet type. I get one with 120 links so i have spares.
That realy shook me up, i have never had this problem before
Took the front sprock of this morning and i can see only a few teeth slightly bent, so i gather thats where the tight spot was. There was a bit of grinding noise from the chain just before it snapped and flung its self into a hedge or tree
Going to replace sprocks with BuMW ones but if anyone has a better idea that be great.
It just puts a real downer on the bike..

PS i have had a scotoiler thingy fitted. so well lube

Hi.
The cogs that I have just bought were 32£, rather than 70£ odd that the dealer charges, aparantly the front is a aprillia type ( rotax engine! ) not sure about the back cog yet.

 

[Globerider]

another broken 800 chain !!!

Didn't even notice mine had a crack in it until I carefully removed it! having only really just been bedded in (so you'd think!!) @ 2200 miles, with a biggish ride to China coming up & hearing a few horror stories of dodgy Czech chains I thought I might as well just replace it regardless. Plan was to keep it as a spare, since it theory it's had virtually no real wear! After removal, observations;
1. looks a generally shoddy thin chain
2. lots of wear signs on the rollers, even though it hasn't been far enough to ever get close to running dry!
3. At least one cracked side plate which would be very difficult to spot with it on the bike, but would definitely have disintegrated within the next few hundred miles (if I was lucky!!!!)

Replaced with a new DID - instantly looks & feels 10 x the quality, but in reality would probably only cost BMW another €20 / bike to fit something of this standard. With BMW's reputation for 'final drives' shaft drive, I can't believe that they'll be happy to rack up a bad reputation in this department!!??

I'll be taking this up further with 1st a dealer & then customer (care . . . we'll see) In this instance I guess that I've potentially saved them a warranty claim for a much bigger bill. End of the day, it's great that you guys on here have spotted problems, warned others & we all continue to; a./ spread the word, b./ feedback to BMW

Outcome; well I certainly don't want them to replace it under warranty with another 2000 mile lifespan Czech chain!! so guess it's just one of those things that we put down to experience & hope they improve for future owners.

 

[chrisjk]

Where do folk buy their aftermarket chains and sprockets? I am looking to replace mine soon and also want to try a couple of different sized front sprockets - going up and down a tooth.