There are as you already have found out, severall devices more or less automatic for keeping Your chain lubricated.

If you like cheap, and do not not possess hands with thumbs sticking out in your palms, You could build your own device.

One of the really simple and cheap devices is: LOOBMAN - manual chain lubrication system for all motorcycles with regular, O-Ring and X-Ring chains

 

Money no objest Id have the New Scotoiler E System, some nice points to it like temperature display...great for winter use.

I run the old Scotoiler and ive not had any issues with it. It really does save money on chain and sprockets but mainly im lazy so it does a big job for me.

Can say its better than other plain ones youve listed but its the lacuum control I like over turning the drip on and off every ride idea. Im sure its not that difficult to fit the vacuum bit, I can see the link on the pipe from the side of the bike easily. I didnt though, dealer done it so I cant really comment on fitting the vacuum.

I also run a lube tube for extra mileage and it works a treat too.

 

My 2003 TA came with the old Scottoiler already fitted. Works flawlessly. Would highly recommend it.

Ed

 

None of them are tricky to fit. Some need a vacuum and other 12 volts. Neither of which are too tricky to find. But I have to say why bother? Save your money and get down on your knees every 500-1000 miles and spend 2 minutes max with a paintbrush and some EP90 (as recommended by Honda) and while you are there have a good look at the wheel, tyre and swingarm. It might well save your life one day.

 

Save your money and get down on your knees every 500-1000 miles and spend 2 minutes max with a paintbrush and some EP90 (as recommended by Honda)

What pray tell, is this EP90 ? Would it be non-flingey non-goey non-mess ? I've run Scottoilers for the past fifteen years and they've been great but they've always created a giant mess and the last one has been driving me so demented with air bubbles so I'm thinking of getting rid of entirely.

 

I have had a standard size Scottoiler ( don't know the model) on my bikes for well over 10 years never had any problems with it. On My Varadero i got 32k miles out of it before i changed the chain and sprockets.

The only time it did give me a headache was a few years back when i went down to Valencia. When i filled it up i ran it for a bit as the chain was looking dry, unfortunatly i'm 60 miles south of Plymouth, i rode upto Plymouth got on the ferry it was a night sailing got off, did about 100miles stopped for fuel and then noticed it. Yep it dumped a cylinder full over the chain which had also run down over the tyre.
It wasn't the fault of the Scottoiler it was the t**t that turned it upto 10 for a short run and forgot to turn it back down to about 3.

Lets just say that lefthand turns banked over at speed made my snipper a bit twitchy for a few miles until it burnt off. Didn't tell the wife as she's a worrier and as she was on the back at the time, I couldn't of put up with the fussing, moaning and worrying was easier not to tell her..

 

Thanks for the responses guys.

Money no objest Id have the New Scotoiler E System

I have to say this is the one that tempts me most. Have you see the Motrax equivalent, not as much information supplied to the rider but >£100 cheaper. I'm not sure if I want to know how cold it is on the coldest days of commuting!! I liked the fact that it does not interfere with anyhting on the bike and it tells me how much oil there is left in the system. It seems to be the best system for only oiling when the bike is moving without hacking into electrics. Just a very high initial outlay!

why bother?

I used to (And still to a point) think the same thing. This will be the first time I've changed a chain on a motorcycle because in the past they've always survived the life I've had a bike for looking good when the bike is sold on. This chain failed at <14k miles which is very dissappointing to me. If a chain oiler can improve chain life as is claimed it'll pay for itself quite quickly. I can also take the chain oiler of the bike and put it onto new bikes as and when required so no further cost.
I like fettling with the bike so it will not prevent me chcking it over. I'm a commuter so like the bike to be in good condition during use. I'm not looking at a chain oiler to save me time or energy, purely to save chains and money!

On the XL700, does the attachment on the VSystem scottoiler use a pre-existing join in the vacuum system or would I need to cut into the system myself?

Didn't tell the wife [...] it was easier not to tell her

Sounds like a good call! Surely she must have noticed the back end was a bit twitchy though?!

Thanks for your help again.
cpp01

 

I used to (And still to a point) think the same thing. This will be the first time I've changed a chain on a motorcycle because in the past they've always survived the life I've had a bike for looking good when the bike is sold on. This chain failed at <14k miles which is very dissappointing to me. If a chain oiler can improve chain life as is claimed it'll pay for itself quite quickly.
cpp01

If you lost a chain at 14K then it was either faulty, you failed to maintain it properly or you have no mechanical sympathy. A well maintained chain should be good for at least twice that.

If we take the 3 above scenarios one at a time.

A Faulty chain
No amount of lube will fix that. A faulty chain is a faulty chain.

No mechanical sympathy
as above

So we are left with poor maintenance.
When I had an oiler fitted to a couple of bikes I bought I was always having to adjust them between warm and cold days and unless I gave the chain at least a weekly inspection the chain was either as dry as a bone or swimming in oil to the point that it was dripping on the tyre. Chains then failed early. Had I just spent the time spent inspecting the chain oiling it instead then there wouldn't have been a problem.

My last couple of chain driven bikes neither had a oiler fitted and both the chains were still in the new section of the guide (and neither had needed any adjustment from new) in 20K of all weather riding. And we are talking 1000cc V twins here.

Save your money buy a litre of EP90 and spend the rest on petrol. Much more satisfying I promise you.

 

I have the VSystem Scottoiler on my TA700, like Farky fitted by dealer so don't know exactly where it is connected to the vacuum system but doesn't seem to be too intrusive. Takes a while to find the optimum flow setting to keep it lubed but not coat the rear of the bike in spots of oil, but my chain 4,000 miles on still looks like new.
If you do a lot of long journeys you should consider the lube tube, it is not so much the refilling the thing that is a pain in the a**e but the carrying of the bottle of oil!

 

Wow having looked at the swingarm that Boris displayed I would like to say "Holy Mother of all things Fooked" How did it get like that?? By being a lazy non caring biker. Love your bike & get down on your Knees with a cheap B&Q/Bricolage 1/2 inch brush & some old engine oil on a regular basis. Problem solved me thinks.

 

Wow having looked at the swingarm that Boris displayed I would like to say "Holy Mother of all things Fooked" How did it get like that?? By being a lazy non caring biker.

You have met our very own Dark Lord then?

 

Over 40 years or more I've tried most methods from no chain maintenance at all (in my teenage years) to Scottoiler on my previous bike an XJR 1300. The Scottoiler worked well but was not perfect. I have reverted to aerosol chain wax from Halfords. I spray each time I return home having put the bike on the paddock stand. A tin lasts me a year, it's clean to use and suits me fine. You can buy a lot of tins for the cost of the oiler alone and Scottoil is not cheap. Ok if you go away for a week or two you have to take the tin with you but so would you need to take some Scottoil. All down to personal choice and mine is the chain wax. If you look over the wall opposite The Grosvenor Hotel in Port Erin you will find a tin that I left there last year. Help yourself to a spray.

 

I fitted a PD Oiler 2 years ago and have found it pretty reliable and it seems happy on anything! I run it on a chainsaw/EP90 mix of oils. Very simple to fit, I tapped into the rear light wiring on the TA as I always ride with lights on, seemple! Oh yea the guy who makes them is a nice bloke and made be a BFO unit for a pice of farm machinery too

 

Hi i have tutoro very cheap you do have to remember to turn it on/off but worst thing that can happen is oil puddle on floor been on last 4/5 bikes , if you spend £100 + on chain oiler thats nearly price of new set chain/sprockets so how does that save you money just my two penneth :thumbright:

 

Hey Will Amen to that!

 

Probably my ineptitude, but I struggled keeping the feed from the Tutoro by the sprocket.
I created a bracket on the swinging arm to make it more stable, but still drove me crazy.
So, I've gone back to the tried and tested method of brushing engine oil on the chain, then after the next ride, I spray the chain with wax.
I do this weekly, which means approx. every 300 miles.
When I go abroad, the Trannie has a big enough compartment, so I take chain wax spray and do it each evening.

 

When I go abroad, the Trannie has a big enough compartment, so I take chain wax spray and do it each evening.

Unfortunately the ABS on my TA takes up most of the underseat storage

 

You sound like an ideal candidate for a tool tube.

 

Got one, but not fitted it yet as I have the OEM panniers (the ones not quite as big as a tool tube) which take up the obvious placement opposite the exhaust

 

Don't dismiss the Loobman oiler - if you take care fitting it, it can look very neat and tidy on the Transalp and perform reasonably well. I just give it a quick squeeze every so often and the chain stays well enough lubed.

 

The PD was about 55 quid when I bought it, so reasonable in my opinion. I tend to be hard on chains for some reason, and the sight of a nice moist chain at the end of a ride is strangely satisfying.

I started off many moons ago, boiling a can of linklyfe every fortnight and dunking a chain in it Boy didn't it make the house stink before I was banned and used a camping stove in teh garden.

 

Damn your keen
I used Linklife once and that was enough; I banned myself from the cooker!

 

I found it quite therapeutic in a sad way.... I learnt how to handle chain link connectors at an early age though on numerous odds and sods through the mid-seventies. God, I AM OLD!

 

Always used the "standard" scotty - never had any issues - works a dream and no electronic controllers to go t*ts up on you ! Good mechanical engineering

Iain

 

I think I'm the only Pro-Oiler user here. they have gone up in price though I paid €130 4 years ago.

It did take a lot of setting up and without reading the instructions you would be fooked. I have just recalibrated mine and had to decipher the instructions again.

Fitting was very easy though and everything controlled on the dash and on the move, settings from 1 to 10 so if needed you could put more oil than required to wash the chain after or during a dusty ride.

whether they are worth it depends on your riding, when I first started to ride it was only for the commute to work so every Friday was chain day...easy.
quick scrub and re-oil or grease depending what I could find at work.

Having used the Pro-Oiler I would replace it immediately if it was to pack in, I have broken the dispenser and ordered a new one which was sent out the next day free of charge
so a big UP to Pro-oiler

 

I have the standard scott oiler ( non electric job ) Does the job although I fitted and prefer the dual injector.
I would find it hard to justify the new electronic version though a lot £££
But what type / distance do you do
All year commuter on wet / gritted roads ... Yes
Long touring / holidays ..............................Yes
Wee summer runs ................ I would just lube the chain the old way when you came home ( I was always told apply when hone when chain warm and leaves solvents to evaporate from aerosol type )
Other thing to watch if you take the bike to a tyre fitter for wheel removal some will break a dual injector even if you warn them.

 

I have the escotoiler on the varadero and the v scotoiler on the @
I put the escottoiler in within 30 minutes or so and it is really good.
The digital dash it comes with has a temp gauge which is about 4 degrees adrift but my maths is good enough to work it out. It also has an acceleratometer on it which is of no use (I am usually concentrating on the road when accelerating !)
There is a gauge to let you know how empty the res is and that is pretty accurate
I can remove the escottoiler when I sell the bike easily and put it on the next one.
It was expensive when I got it but as it was one of those gifts from my wife which I had to order and pay for she still thinks it cost £50
You can adjust the flow while riding, say if it starts peeing it down and you can put the bike on the mainstand and put it in first and then prime the pump for 60 seconds which is great for re wetting the chain if you hadn't got the setting right.

The standard scottoiler is also fine but as the res was mounted (not by me) under the left hand side panel it is a pain to adjust and refil - I only know it is empty as the chain is dry!

 

I've got a Tutoro on mine. It can take a little bit of fiddling but once you have the hang of it it works great. I'm using odd bottles of engine oil from bikes/cars I no longer have in it.

As someone else has said the only thing you can do wrong is leave it on and end up with a puddle of oil on the floor. It then needs bleeding when you refill it.

I'd recommend one, dirt cheap and not a lot to go wrong. :thumbup:

 

I'm sure EP90 is fine as chain lube, but just be aware that Hypoid oils (most rear axle/ differential oils seem to be of this type) smell absolutely minging!

 

Hi all,

Having used the search function, I know this topic has been covered in various guises but hopefully I have a slightly new slant on it!

Similar story (tried Search), different slant. Positive reviews are starting to come in for the Tutoro Auto.
Anyone fitted one (ideally to an XL700VA, with pictures)?

 

I have the standard vacuum scottoiler. Best investment I've made bike-wise. Paid for itself many times over. Rememberr to keep it topped up. Priming it from empty is a pain, because, as Jason said, you turn it to prime and instead of backing it off to 1 or 2 after five miles of riding, you continue until its empty again:blob8: