► Chains, oilers, sprockets

[Ferret55]

Had Scottoilers on several bikes and wouldn't be without one. Just about to have one fitted by the boys ay Bristol BMW on my new-to-me 650GS for £149 which sound quite good. CW wanted about £200.

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

I have one fitted to my 990 ADV.
Fit it well, Adjust it properly and have a chain thats always 'just right'

I have the dual injector addition. Great bit of kit. Mine will do 12-1400 miles between fill ups.

Those that criticise them for not working or being too messy have not followed my two simple instructions above. simple as that.

 

[martin c s]

Hi Chapperz,

Welcome by the way, I fitted my own scotoiler, not too difficult, I find if it is set too high you don't get oil on the back wheel I just look at the back of the number plate for specks of oil which helps you know its working. I also found when going round Spain on my old Dakar you have to turn it down when the weather gets hotter. I lost a whole reservoir in about 200 miles when the temperature went up to 30+ degrees!

 

[everywherevirtually]

I've got one but I'm not that impressed with it. As Greggers says it lubes the centre of the chain but again it did not stop it failing and it flings oil all over your luggage, lights, plate, wheel. It's either turned up too much or too little. The oil is also expensive to keep refilling. I'm now personally happy lubing the chain with a can that I keep in the panniers at all times. That way I can focus on the side plates and keep the oil on the chain and not all over the bike and me.

 

[Lucky dog]

Got a Osco ( one second chain oiler) oiler It’s easy to put on the bike you can oil the chain if you want to, if you ride a lot in the rain you oil it more regular. Normal you oil it every time you refuel . Don’t know if you get it in the U.K. Think it’s great.

 

[sijohnston]

wouldn't have the gift of one!

 

[divelandy]

I've had one on the last couple of bikes and it appears to be working well on the F800. Done 10k miles in a year and only needed to adjust the chain once (and maybe at the service intervals). ATM I've found a flow rate which works with my riding at the moment. I increast if i'm only doing short work runs and reduce if i'm doing a lot of riding... I'm hoping my chain is after the bad batch as it's still the original one...

 

[WoodWorks]

It's seems the auto-oilers (Scotoiler, Lubeman, etc.) are much more popular on your side of the pond than here in the colonies. I don't know why. But I've never seen one on a bike here, and have only heard of a few people who've mounted them.

So this is just an opinion from someone who has never seriously considered one. But I don't understand the need for a chain oiler. I give the chain a brief squirt after the odometer passes 500 miles, or after a particularly dirty or rainy ride, and this gives me a chance to give it a cursory inspection as well. I never have to worry about lube splashing on anything but my chain, it gets applied exactly where it's needed, and of all of the chores involved in maintaining a bike, it's about the least onerous. Takes all of thirty seconds every 500 miles.

I admit that I've never tried one, but automatic oilers seem to me to be finicky, messy, and ultimately more trouble than they're worth.

David

 

[Dean]

Hi all,
Just wanted some advice.My F800gs is going in to Woollastons for its 1st 600 mile service soon & i am thinking of gettin a scotoiler fitted.Would be interested to hear of the for & against of havin one fitted. Does the oil fly all over your back wheel for instance? Not doin big mileage really, about 3-5K a year.Would appreciate some feedback, especially reading the horror stories about chains on this forum.Thanks.

Hello and Welcome,

a good first post


I had my scottoiler fitted when I bought the bike new in 08.
I have it set for 1 drop per min, which gives up to 1000 miles. (the magnum kit gives 4-8K)
A lot of peeps think its set low and its not so check it, it will out put oil on your wheel which will be in the form of spots which you turn up the flow rate and you will get more fast moving chain and dripping oil on it no suprise there but they say it will not effect the running surface of your tyre

In turn it will reduce the, wear on your chain and sprockets, which means your chain should last longer and you should have less adjusting to do

But dont leave it at that obviously your oiling continuously and gaining dust etc so I keep a check on mine. Having the Gold DiD heavy duty replacement and when the gold dulls down it gets TLC a good clean and shines as good as new. (in general look after your chain and it will look after you)

As others have said its easy to refill and if theres an airlock you see it in the clear tube, switch it to prime and push it through, peice of cake

They Say " -Which Scottoil should I use - blue Scottoil or red High Temperature Oil?
For riding in the UK use blue Scottoil. Please note that our Original Scottoil was previously red in colour but to avoid confusion with our High Temperature Scottoil we have changed it to blue.

The red High Temperature oil is ideal for touring abroad, but was developed specifically for Singapore, Australia and Parts of America that are on average in excess of 30 degrees. It is in a red labeled bottle and is red in colour. Because of the increased viscosity this oil is also better suited for use with older Scottoiler kits or with faster flowing oilers"



Yep would not be with out mine unless I had a shaft drive of course.

 

[Jon Seddon]

I had a Scotoiler with the twin head oiler on my f650gs Dakar and in about 5,000 miles it needed about 1/2 a flat chain adjustment, also fitted on to my Hayabusa.

You just need to be careful with the adjustment otherwise you end up with too much oil on the chain and a little puddle under the bike.

I'd go with it - I had the number plate large reservior

Jon

 

[colint]

Hi all,
Just wanted some advice.My F800gs is going in to Woollastons for its 1st 600 mile service soon & i am thinking of gettin a scotoiler fitted.Would be interested to hear of the for & against of havin one fitted. Does the oil fly all over your back wheel for instance? Not doin big mileage really, about 3-5K a year.Would appreciate some feedback, especially reading the horror stories about chains on this forum.Thanks.

I bought my F880GS second hand with around 700 miles on the clock first registered June 2008 I bought it in December 2008 I fitted a scottoiler myself straight away, a straightforward job. I have just changed my OE chain and sprockets having done 15,500 miles on them (I have now fitted DID X ring). I ride through the winter and I think that the extended time that salt and S**t has been on the roads this winter was the final nail in the coffin for the chain but as the other posts set the flow rate right and it works fine and not too messy stops the rear spokes rusting

 

[v8legend]

Hi all,
Just wanted some advice.My F800gs is going in to Woollastons for its 1st 600 mile service soon & i am thinking of gettin a scotoiler fitted.Would be interested to hear of the for & against of havin one fitted. Does the oil fly all over your back wheel for instance? Not doin big mileage really, about 3-5K a year.Would appreciate some feedback, especially reading the horror stories about chains on this forum.Thanks.

Hi Chapperz. I'm just about to fit the Acumen CL10 Electronic Chain Oiler to mine, and IMHO seems to be better than the Scotoiler. The oil cans are pressurised, and don't rely on gravity or need a vacuum take off. So can be mounted anyway up. The adjustment is via the control on your handlebars, and can be done whilst riding. The only possible downside is that it needs a speedo pulse signal, but as BMW supply this in the Canbus plug by the battery, then no problem on an F800GS. Acumen adverise it at £175, but I'm fairly sure Busters sell them for around £100. I'll report back soon when it is fitted.

 

[GunZenBomZ]

I'm still yet to take the plunge with the scottoiler sceniro. As with everyones reply's there's lots of things to weigh up. I'd recommend the dual-injector unit into your package.

I'm probably going to go with the E-system scottoiler, but use Chain-saw oil instead of their oil, just as much viscosity.

Have you had a quote from wollaston for fitting it? I'd think it was cheaper to go with your local motorbike outfit rather than bmw-motorrad hour rate

 

[sijohnston]

maybe i should say why...

if you're doing any off road the chain collects all the crap of the day when it's wet, particularly if you're riding in sand. if you're riding in a warm dusty country, then profi dry lube as sold in hein gericke is better. these aren't a big deal in the US because most guys on these sorts of bikes are riding trails and fire roads etc. if you're just plodding motorways and tarmac, then by all means, fit it up. i'll stick with the can of putolene DX and a quick squirt every 350 miles)...so no oilers for me thanks.

 

[mikebarr]

Waxoyl

Have to agree with si on this one - I have been using this stuff:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_196239_langId_-1_categoryId_165594

on all my bikes for the last 10 years or thereabouts. It helps to rust proof the chain and it goes on like sticky grease so there's very little fling-off.

Quick application every few hundred miles - i do it just after cleaning the bike and my chains last forever

At £8 a can, which lasts for months, it'll take you a LONG time to add up to the cost of a Scotoiler!

Mb

 

[Chapperz]

Still not sure!

I'm still yet to take the plunge with the scottoiler sceniro. As with everyones reply's there's lots of things to weigh up. I'd recommend the dual-injector unit into your package.

I'm probably going to go with the E-system scottoiler, but use Chain-saw oil instead of their oil, just as much viscosity.

Have you had a quote from wollaston for fitting it? I'd think it was cheaper to go with your local motorbike outfit rather than bmw-motorrad hour rate

Hi Gunzenbomz,
Thanks to you & all for the advice.Woollastons quoted me £150.00 to supply & fit the Scotoiler!Still not sure yet.Might try the Dry-Lube from Hein Gerick first, as recommended.

 

[Micky]

Horses for courses... each to they're own

Of course

But for me, 38,000+ miles on my F800GS I wouldn't bother

As said, the original chain is chocolate, forget it, fit a DID and ride

The Scottoiler thingy, in my book (and experience) takes some setting up. If it works then great, but those I know of either dump oil all over the rear wheel, panniers, tyres etc. or none at all

It's a thin oil so goes e v e r y w h e r e

I use a good quality chain spray, buy it while I'm in Wunderbar Deutschland

Chain Spray can be bought at €3.00 a can, but the Polo stuff I use is €8.00 and worth every penny. Gets all the accolades from Motorrad Touren Fahren mags, and others etc. It doesn't fling off, and the back of my 'bike would do credit to a shaft drive

Now done 13,000 miles on the DID HD including an overland through Iran and to the Karakorum Highway in northern Pakistan.... and it aint been adjusted once!

I repeat ... aint been adjusted at all

Just spray it when I feel it wants it, every couple of days or so, and if going through crap unmade roads, or sand ... I dunt spray it at all

 

[GunZenBomZ]

Bought myself an e-system scottoiler & dual injector.

*Awaits arrival*

 

[Greggers]

Plug'n'Play .. You'll be a happy chappie!

 

[Dave Ett]

Not doin big mileage really, about 3-5K a year

Then save your money. Your chain and one can of lube will last you at least the next five years.

That £150 will pay for six months fuel at the rate you use it!