As per title whats a good one. Are Scotoilers still availbale and are they any good???

Silkolene is about the only thing that I'll buy in the way of a spray on chain lubricant.

Yes, Scotoilers are still available (in many different guises), a great addition if you're going to be using the bike regularly or racking up the miles.

G

The bike wont be used on a regular basis but when the suns shining it will definatley get used. I think I'll stick with the spray lube for the time being and thanks for suggesting the Silkolene I'll pick some up tonight.

PJ 1. Clear. Sticks like sh*t to a blanket.

No probs with any of the chains/sprokets on my bikes.

Castrol stuff is decent as well.

Castrol stuff is decent as well.
Was going to say the same..

I use a scott oiler but occasionally run out of oil and have a can of the castrol spray chanin grease in the garge for then.. it seems to go on like grease and just melt with the heat and so sticks to the chain and is only used when needed.

Sorry, forgot to mention earlier (was typing in a hurry)...

Equally important to correctly lubricating and tensioning your chain is occasionally giving it a good clean.

Road dirt, salt and general crud will collect on the chain. A good clean before re-lubing is not a bad idea, on say a monthly basis...

G

Never had a scotoiler and am doing 2000 miles a month currently come rain or shine and think it maybe time to get one, having to constantly put the gixer up on the paddock stand and lube it. How do they work though in terms of dripping out the oil? I don't want it dripping all night long while parked in the garage. Does it use some system where its only working while the ignition is on as far as I know they are just a bottle of oil with a pipe that hangs above the chain!

And where is best to get one price wise and what type?

As for chain lube I currently use the Castrol one. However I have heard some people say wax is the only thing worth using. I have also used the Silolene lube as well but none of it does any good if it rains all the time, I still end up with a bone dry chain :rolleyes:

I think the oilers work using one of the vacuum lines in the engine so they release oil based on engine running so you don't get a big pool in the morning :D

camk thinks correctly :)

If you're going to do it, Bob, get one with a touring reservoir as well. It bolts in behind the number plate and means you only have to refill it once every few weeks instead of every few days.

They're sods to get working properly but when you do you'll wonder how you ever got by before...

SB

Cheers guys, will have to look into it more and see if one of the guys at work will help me fit it as they have them on their r1's.

I love my scottoiler - and if you do a lot of miles (I don't!) then they are supposed to pay for themselves as chain/sprocket lasts longer.

This is just what I was told mind - though it does make sense. There are also claims that as it's an oil and less sticky than wax there is less chance of dirt sticking to it and making a very nasty grinding paste.

The flow is adjustable too - don't go too mad or (as I have found) the oil can find it's way onto the back tyre lol - not good!

Economical too - after about 7000 miles i'm still using the original (500ml i think - about £5) oil that came with my 1st one.

Sounds good, although oil on the back wheel doesn't and its exactly the reason why I have never had one in 11 years biking.

I've used castrol chain wax for the past 2 years. Best to put it on when you've returned from a ride and the bikes still warm and then put the bike away. Creates less flinging that way.

The fling is not a big deal, it comes off with a bit of dry kitchen towel and a can of Mr Sheen (Furniture polish from any supermarket for less than a quid ;) ).

As for the Wax, its a magnet for grit and doesn't keep the o-rings as wet as they need to be to stop them from prematurely wearing out (in my experience).

I've got a www.loobman.com chainoiler, costs £17 delivered (as opposed to £60-£70 for a scottoiler) and does the job just as well with normal engine oil or EP80-EP90 Gear oil.
I have adjusted the chain once in 5000 miles (and that was just the initial stretch after about 300 miles)

Designed and marketed by a man who IMO really has got to grips with the problem and come up with a cheap and reliable solution.

I've got a sealed x-ring chain so it doesn't matter about the wax getting to them. As for fling, doesn't matter to me either, with polished rims it just wipes off easily, but to alot of bikers how much the wax or oil flings is an important factor. As for being a magnet for grit, any wax or oil will trap it to a certain extent, but my bike is kept clean including the chain so it's never been a problem. Totally agree it's more effort than something like a scottsoiler which is more of an install it and forget it method.

I had a scotoiler on my GPX750 (77,000 miles in 5 years :D )- managed 28,000 miles on one set of chain & sprockets ;) - they were well knackered by then... LOL (poor student at the time :D)

Don't use engine oil - the proper scotoil stuff is quite a different consistency much 'stringier' ;) - I'm not sure whether engine oil is compatible with high durability for the 'O' rings... - need to be careful...

£60 - 70 seems a bit pricy though!

Cheers

Mick

I've got a sealed x-ring chain so it doesn't matter about the wax getting to them. As for fling, doesn't matter to me either, with polished rims it just wipes off easily, but to alot of bikers how much the wax or oil flings is an important factor. As for being a magnet for grit, any wax or oil will trap it to a certain extent, but my bike is kept clean including the chain so it's never been a problem. Totally agree it's more effort than something like a scottsoiler which is more of an install it and forget it method.


Most bikes have X-rings or o-rings nowadays, Its only a difference in the profile of the ring itself X = 2 contact points on the profiled seal, O-ring= single round rubber profile.
The reason why chains wear out is because the X-rings dry and the resulting friction between the sideplates wears these rubber seals thin.

Greasing a modern chain isn't neccessary as you rightly say that it is self contained, but if the rings aren't kept wet 10,0000 miles is all you can expect from a chain. Scottoilers & Loobman do this, they arent there to lube the link pins as the sealed in grease does this adequately.

This is why I said that Chainwax is a waste of time - on a modern o-ring chain it can't penetrate to the part of the link which its needed. Its just a gimic ;)

Look at the tech info on the Loobman site, he explains it far easier than me !.

Ash

In the past I have found that lube sticks to the chain and therefore things stick to the lube, the advantage of a Scottoiler is that it is a free flowing oil that isn't sticky so therefore the road crud doesn't stick to it.
VFR VTEC with 40k miles in 2 years still on the same chain/sprockets with plenty of life left, scottoiled since new.
Every bike I ever own will have one of these on it.