Does anyone here use an auto-oiler?

Motorcycle Mike

Motorcycle Mike

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I've often considered installing an auto-oiler like the Scottoiler on one or both of my bikes as I often forget to lube up, and sometimes it is just a hassle.

On a recent trip with my DRZ my chain stretched a massive amount -- likely due to not lubing it often enough, and now I need to replace it. However, the bike is at 15500km and it appears to be the original chain, so that isn't bad for a dirt bike.

On-the-other-hand, on my Vstrom I likely over lube the chain. It has a centre stand and I typically lube it at the end of every ride or after rain, etc... I use Wurth HSS 2000, have never cleaned the chain, and have 42000km on it and haven't even needed to adjust it yet. I do always have an awful mess on my wheel and swing arm though. And I have gone through about $80 in chain lube since this time last year ($16.99/can, and roughly 4 cans gone since June of 2014).

Anyway, back to the question... who uses an auto chain luber, what is your impression of it, and what sort of mileage are you getting out of a chain since installing an autoluber?

Thanks

Mike
 
I don't use an auto oiler myself, I've thought about it, but... eh. However, if you want to blow $400 on one, apparently the Pro-Oiler got a GPS option last year.
 
Maybe I should be lubing mine more often. I've had to adjust it about as often as I lube it lately. Seems to need adjustment more than once a month and I'm not putting on a lot of km at all.
 
I lube my chain frequently, but wouldn't use an auto oiler. If it goes haywire, it could shoot a load of oil and get onto the tire. I keep changing bikes before chains wear out, but I'm almost at 37K now, chain looks new, never needs adjusting. Dirt doesn't stick to oil.

As for expensive lube, I use 90W gear oil, paint it on with a brush. I've used almost $5 in 100,000 km.
 
The brush idea would certainly save money, going to try that.
As for me I lube my chain as required and I've had the same (large) can of lube for over a year. I try to get it right in the chain joints as opposed to spraying entire chain down.. 15K on bike and chain is 100%
 
mikbusa said:
I lube my chain frequently, but wouldn't use an auto oiler. If it goes haywire, it could shoot a load of oil and get onto the tire. I keep changing bikes before chains wear out, but I'm almost at 37K now, chain looks new, never needs adjusting. Dirt doesn't stick to oil.

As for expensive lube, I use 90W gear oil, paint it on with a brush. I've used almost $5 in 100,000 km.
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I've considered going with gear oil, but how do you carry it and keep it from making a mess when on a tour?
 
Scottoilers were invented back in the days of non O-ring chains that lasted 5000km. Any lube on modern chains is mainly for the outside of the rollers, the actual lube for the pins is sealed in by O-rings.
But if you do a lot of rain riding, or dirt, an auto-luber might do the job, or just be more vigilant.

At 37-45K, I'd be looking at the sprockets, not just the chain.
 
Kid used one for a while but was fiddly - he took it off. I might try and find it for the new Wee as no centre stand and I'm used not oiling with the Burgman ( gear final drive ) so never check.
I think I took some life from the other Wee not lubing enough though we did it a few times over the three weeks.
 
I've considered going with gear oil, but how do you carry it and keep it from making a mess when on a tour?
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I have a small bottle, put some on a rag, and wipe it down. I have one of those stands to get the rear tire off the ground, forget the brand.
 
mikbusa said:
I lube my chain frequently, but wouldn't use an auto oiler. If it goes haywire, it could shoot a load of oil and get onto the tire. I keep changing bikes before chains wear out, but I'm almost at 37K now, chain looks new, never needs adjusting. Dirt doesn't stick to oil.

As for expensive lube, I use 90W gear oil, paint it on with a brush. I've used almost $5 in 100,000 km.
Click to expand...

From what I have read, the Scottoiler is incredibly reliable, not sure how much I would be worried about it going haywire.

The idea of the auto-oiler is pretty good... I just think the ROI is kinda low.

$300+++ buy's a lot of chain lube... and even a couple replacement chain/sprockets.


Mike have you tried using the chain pastes? I mentioned it in another thread.


http://www.amazon.com/Motul-Chain-Lube-Paste-5-7oz/dp/B008KJT2SE

710T8UxZbHL._SL1500_.jpg

it lasts a pretty long time, and there is no mess at all.

Just to give you an idea, when I got home from the trip... the chain paste was still on there, and working well. Chain hasn't stretched/moved at ALL.

I used to use the spray stuff until I had a Yamaha mechanic come out of the shop and basically put it in my hands. He basically said "Please just buy this".

*shrug*

I think the spray chain lubes are just ridiculous, and gets everywhere.
 
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Right now I have a tool tube thing that is mounted to the inside of one of my racks, and in that tube I carry various things including chain lube, a rag, and sometimes a 1.5 litre MSR bottle filled with premium (for an emergency, or if I find another rider who has run out of gas on the side of the road).

Now, what I'd like to find is some leakproof container that is roughly the same size as an oil spray can that I can carry gear oil. Any ideas?

The auto-oiler is more or less off the list now... they are all expensive and the pictures I've seen don't look great to me -- I don't want hoses hanging down zip tied here and there, etc..

Edit... chain paste I have never considered, but I'll think about it. I want something refilleable like in that picture from amazon... a capped brush that I can fill up with gear oil.
 
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unL33T said:
Maybe I should be lubing mine more often. I've had to adjust it about as often as I lube it lately. Seems to need adjustment more than once a month and I'm not putting on a lot of km at all.
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Could your chain be finished and you're in denial?
 
Motul looks good - kid thinks so too....cheaper here

https://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/motul-c5-chain-lube-paste.html

tho shipping costs....someone must stock it.

Here we go

http://townmoto.com/motul-chain-paste

Horrid for us to get to tho :(

Looks like these guys distribute

SPECLUBE
1681 Langstaff Rd, Vaughan, ON L4K 5T3, Canada

That's not bad. $10.50 from them ....there is an off road version as well. Might just swing by and grab a couple.
We had one of the chain brushes with us out west and that worked okay.
Just did not do it enough :-(
 
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TwistedKestrel said:
Could your chain be finished and you're in denial?
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Replaced it last year. Has needed constant adjusting ever since. Old one probably wasn't even bad (only had 10 000 km on it) but the lazy shop I went to with spare parts just replaced everything with the spare parts.
 
MacDoc said:
Motul looks good - kid thinks so too....cheaper here

https://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/motul-c5-chain-lube-paste.html

tho shipping costs....someone must stock it.

Here we go

http://townmoto.com/motul-chain-paste

Horrid for us to get to tho :(

Looks like these guys distribute

SPECLUBE
1681 Langstaff Rd, Vaughan, ON L4K 5T3, Canada

That's not bad. $10.50 from them ....there is an off road version as well. Might just swing by and grab a couple.
We had one of the chain brushes with us out west and that worked okay.
Just did not do it enough :-(
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Anyone that sells Motul products should be able to order some in for you.

If you really want it from Town Moto I could probably swing by on my way home (just take a modified route down the 427, then through downtown to get back north to my place instead of taking Eglinton the whole way). Assuming I could park in front of Town Moto. I work on the west side of the airport and could meet you there after work some day. PM if you're interested.

Of course the DuPont Teflon chain lube seems to usually be the most commonly recommended product and that has the bonus of being available and any Lowes (and I've seen the DuPont Teflon products at a few other hardware stores, as well).
 
I bought a bottle of SAE 90 at Canadian Tire and it comes in a squeeze bottle and fits in my tool tube, so I will give that a shot. Both of my chains have lots of miles on them, so it doesn't hurt to experiment a little now.

If I find the bottle to be too inconvenient when on the road, maybe I'll use the gear oil at home (where I do 80% of my lubing) and then just keep a spray can on the bike for the longer, dustier, wetter trips.
 
I dont think its really worth it unless your chain isnt easy access..or are super forgetful.

I've just started here but i intend on lubing every 500km (unless it rains) and cleaning every 2000km . Im at about 4500km in the season (and on the bike) so lets see how that goes and if itll need adjustment along the way.

I'm using tirox chain cleaner and dupont teflon chain-saver... which is about $20-25 spent.
 
unL33T said:
Replaced it last year. Has needed constant adjusting ever since. Old one probably wasn't even bad (only had 10 000 km on it) but the lazy shop I went to with spare parts just replaced everything with the spare parts.
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Huhm. I don't like it
 
I had a scott oiler on a bike a few years ago (maybe 10 years ago ?) ... it was a great system, I just added oil to it on a regular basis and just gave up lubing the chain or even cleaning it... the oil would just fling most of the dirt off when riding. I got the OEM chain to last about 60k too !
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