X Ring Chain Lubrication

[Ralphie]

Hi All
I have just had a new X Ring chain fitted as my oem honda lasted only 8500 miles, probably due to me not lubing as often as I should, and not keeping it adjusted correctly. The good news is that the bike feels brand new again. I went for the X Ring in the belief that they last longer.
In order to get decent mileage out of it I have been reading the threads and the web to see if I should fit an auto chain oiler.

Confusion Reigns

Too much oil is a problem, for X & O rings forcing the grease out?

Too litle oil and the chain and sprockets will wear out?

Cleaning the chain with anything abrasive can do the same?

Wax can attract more dust etc and cause greater wear?



So whats the best approach - Scottoiler or similar, regular spraying, or wax?

Cheers

[xrv_jim]

Put a Scottoiler on it.

[DaveS]

I'll second that. I got 28K from memory out of my X ring premium jobbie with a scottoiler on.

[Cie]

+3

[Dilbert]

Scottoiler, or very regular (unlike me too) lubrication with gear oil, you can't put too much oil on this is a falacy, any excess will get thrown off (and ideally take any crap with it) , this can be a problem if its too much, not for your chain but for your rear wheel it will not magically suck the grease out from inside the rollers unless the seals are badly worn in which case it can get in and dilute the grease

What you really, really must not do is use sprays with propellent on any kind of O or X ring chain as they are made out of synthetic rubber and can be dissolved or embrittled by the solvent in the propellent.

Grease isn't the best as it holds grit which can wear the chain, I expect this is the same for wax?

If you don't have seals in your chain then a good graphite grease works wonders (if you can still get it?) but it needs to be cleaned out regularly to stop those pesky grit particles getting inside the rollers.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

I don't like Scottoilers for their complexity and the fact that they need as much attention - possibly more - than just using chain spray. Just look at the other thread about drip rates if you need proof. Chain wax and other modern sprays do not attract dust or cause wear.

In particular I don't believe the "it'll pay for itself" argument for Scottoilers. I posted the following previously in another thread:

Let's say a chain normally lasts 10,000, but is doubled with a Scottoiler (that's generous). Also to keep things simple, let's say a new chain set costs £120 fitted, and a Scottoiler, large reservoir, dual nozzles etc cost £120. (You gotta fanny around fitting it yourself.) Let's assume spray grease and Scottoil costs about the same so they're ignored below.

         ! Without Scottoiler  ! With Scottoiler
0 miles  !   £0                ! £120 plus a lot of your time.
10,000   ! £120                !   £0 (breaking even so far)
20,000   ! £120                ! £120 (still breaking even)
30,000   ! £120                !   £0 (ahead slightly now)
40,000   ! £120                ! £120 (still only slightly ahead)
50,000   ! £120                !   £0 (at last we're making headway)

30,000 miles before you see any advantage and 50,000 miles before you see significant financial gain? And there are all those tubes, and constant checking how many drips-per-minute? No thanks.

[willb]

I think on eadvantage of a Scott Oiler, especially for me, is that once you've set it up once, there's hardly any effprt needed to keep your chain lubed.

I've had mine on for a while now and i must admit that with my general lazyness and haphazard memory it's a much better idea than me having to lube it myself every so often.

Now need to save up for, buy and build up desire to fit the dual delivery thingemebob.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Originally Posted by willb

...i must admit that with my general lazyness and haphazard memory it's a much better idea than me having to lube it myself every so often.

Don't forget to refill the reservoir, then!

I should have added previously that one area where the Scottoiler has an advantage is if you frequently ride in dirty, dusty or muddy conditions. The chain lube takes most of the dirt away on a "total loss" basis.

[Rubberchicken]

Originally Posted by Dee Duble Yuh

Let's say a chain normally lasts 10,000, but is doubled with a Scottoiler (that's generous). Also to keep things simple, let's say a new chain set costs £120 fitted, and a Scottoiler, large reservoir, dual nozzles etc cost £120. (You gotta fanny around fitting it yourself.) Let's assume spray grease and Scottoil costs about the same so they're ignored below.

I have an OSCO oiler on the NX, which is a oil reservoir just like the scottoiler, but with a knob to pull when you want lubrication.

That means you have none of the constant fiddling with too much or too little oil, you just have to remember to pull the knob every now and then.

I fill it with regular gear oil which costs buggerall per liter compared to a can of quality chain grease (I always used belray), but most important it saved me the endless hassle of having to go fetch the spray can from upstairs, which I "forgot" more often than I liked on those dark and dreary december nights when I got home from work.

It would've worked out different if I hadn't been living up a flight of stairs somewhere with the bike parked outside, now that the bike lives in a shed where such cans are readily at hand it's far less of a hassle to spray the chain.

Maybe cans of grease would've been cheaper, maybe not, but that only works out when your time is worthless.
My little oiler cost me 100 euro, and that's a small price to pay for convenience over the years.

[Ralphie]

Hi guys
thanks for the advice.
I think given my laziness and your advice I will fit a scottoiler.
I do appreciate the logic on cost Dee Duble Yuh, and my oem lasted 8000, but are those mileage figures based on Oem, O Ring or X ring - because I hoped that I would get better mielage out of the X ring anyway, even without the scottoiler?

Cheers