Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Scottoiler install pics

I got my Scottoiler yesterday and promptly proceeded to clean up my work area so I could make a mess again. Here are some pics of the installed unit.

RMV installed behind passenger peg location. I used the provided bracket and wound up cutting down the bolt that was provided for a more of a non-obtrusive look. I may spray the silver bits black for a more stealth look.

Dual injector installed using provided mounts. This was much easier than I expected. I had to cut down a bolt here as well.

The overall finished product.

Good work Zdenko . I put mine in exactly the same place believe it or not but I have the older type peg holder.

I'll send some pics when I get a chance.

Does anyone else have one they have been using for a while, if so, how well does it work...is it it worth doing.
Thanks for the pics BTW

dave,
I did a search last night for Scottoiler to see how others have mounted theirs. I got quite a few results and read plenty of comments and saw a few installs.

I did not find a single bad review on the performance of the Scottoiler. There was a mention of a small leak but I beleive that post may have been from as far back as 05'.

I also found a best price at kneeDraggers $135 for the universal kit and $40 for the dual injector.

I havent ridden with it yet but I sure and glad to know I dont have to lube that cahin the old way anymore. No more drips of nasty sticky chain lube and according to other comments I read, less flung around lube.

I have been running mine since early last year. I consider it one of the most time saving and effective little mods you can make.

Prior to that I performed a once a week chain cleaning and lubing ritual.

I find the Scottoiler to be a most effective yet simple answer to the question of keeping our chains lubed and clean.

My chain is now never "dry" always kept just perfectly lubed.

When you use the spray on stuff the chain seems to be dry and lacking lubrication 100 miles later.

As to whether the Scottoiler really adds significant life to our chains is up for question. I run a 530 chain and I hope to get at least five thousand more miles that the first chain. (That would be 25K) I have not heard of anyone getting much more than 20K out of a stock chain yet.

Even if the Scottoiler does not extend the mileage on a chain it takes the need to do a ritual chain lube once a week if you ride a lot or if you are touring on a daily basis.

My Father had tried a auto oiling system once but didn't like it cause it made a mess of the bike and tire (not sure what brand it was though). But he found a "dry" spray on lube that I believe that was from AMSOIL and is only needed when we do a regular maintenance/washing, best part about it, no oil streaks on the tire and and metal parts stay shiny.

Next time I'm in the garage I will double check on the product name and brand.

Sorry for not posting the pics yet cos I haven't forgotten (well sort of not) but I've been busy doing other mods and I'm just about finished. Anyway, one of the other things I've done is put on a lube tube which whilst it looks like a big schlong (settle girls) more importantly it extends the time between filling up from 100's of k's to 1000's, so I'll now take pics of that as well promise.

I've looked at Z's setup and I like it alot.

I'm giving it serious consideration to be my next "upgrade".

I also saw this on the main Scott Oiler UK web site: Slipperblock system

Cool, it cleans and lubricates the chain!!!

Look like the slipperblock arrgt. replaces the dual injector setup. Not sure what size chain I have. Anyone know?

Why do you lube a sealed chain? Lube can't get out so how does it get in? I have 16k on mine and am still on my first can of wax from 2005.

I am confused I guess. I just cannot understand how you get oil inside a sealed chain that by design will not let lube out. Makes me think of not driving in water so as not to get any water inside my tire. I just don't know.

The chain is lubed inside the links and sealed with o-rings which need to be kept clean and lubricated to keep them intact.

I keep reading that Chy. Thanks for the info. I keep it kinda clean, don't ride in sand or mud as its a street bike and its at 16k. So how long should it last? Tension is good, doesn't pull from the rear of the sprocket and is not over stretched.

The only reason I ask is it appears this oiler is the price of a chain. I would expect it then to double the life of a chain to be worth the purchase.

Even though you don't ride in sand or mud, there is a lot of grit on the road as well. Otherwise, car washes would go out of business...
A chain will last as long as you keep the grease inside each link and keep contaminants out of that grease. The o-rings (or x-rings, if you have them) are the seals that do that. They only work if they remain pliable. Chain lube, whether it be oil, wax or some dry film lubricant is meant to do that. It also keeps water out of those links. A chain heats up when you ride, and cools down afterwards. Besides things expanding and contracting accordingly, you've got rain and condensation to deal with. Pliable seals keep that moisture out, and the right chain lube will keep the chain from rusting. Rust is abrasive too, and if it forms where the seals ride it will degrade them eventually.

Now I'm not trying to turn this into the old "favorite chain lube" thread again but... any chain lube that you put on will "hold" onto the contaminants that land on the chain. If not cleaned on a regular basis, this will become a grinding compound that will not only wear away the seals, but will also wear on the outside of the rollers and the sprockets.
So cleaning your chain is just as important as lubing it, if you want to get the most out of it and the sprockets.
An oiling system is a good thing for lubing the chain, but you still have to clean it regularly for best results.

Or, you can be like me and just spend the money and replace all every 15-20k miles...

16k is pretty good for a chain actually.. I got about 20 or so out of my first one. The thing is that chains don't wear evenly, when inspecting your chain you should check the tension in different positions on the chain. Too tight here.. too loose there, it's time for replacement. Also the teeth on your sprockets will wear into a hook over a period of time.. another wear point to watch.
The biggest advantage of a Scottoiler is not having to jack up your bike (or chase it across the driveway) to lube your chain..every 500 miles, it's already being done. I get on the bike, check the tension and roll... that to me is worth the cost.

Thanks, I will get 10 expert opinions on it in May. I have visions of everybody screaming " You are not riding that thing one more mile!"

I am still wondering if I will get any significant bonus mileage out of my second chain and sprocket using the Scottoiler. I am running a 530 chain so that may give me some extra mileage but then again maybe not.

I got like most people 20K on the original chain. I'd be happy to go 25K on the second one.

Has anyone out there seen an exended lifetime on our bikes chains since running a scottoiler?

From the Tech Vault:

Stock Chain Size
DID 525 VM (112 link)

Apologies for the delay in posting these pics guys but photopost has and still out of commission and I've been away riding.

Anyway, heres a photo of where I have placed my reservoir which I've found is the best spot for me and others are much the same basically because it's easy to access for re-filling, it's partially hidden and protected and it's a good location for ease of anchoring to the frame.



This next pic shows I only have the single applicator for my chain (others have 2) but my chain is still equally lubed from one side to the other so I found it easier just to use the one.




So overall I would highly recommend these scottoilers to anyone who was sick of the old "lubing the chain" routine. The other bonus is that the area around my wheel rims do not have nearly as much muck and oil thrown onto it from the chain as had been the case before. On the other hand though, I have found that a fair bit of scottoil seems to accumulate when flung off the counter sprocket where it then leaks down by gravity and finds itself underneath my motor where it leaks on the ground.

Is this a problem? Well not really cos I find that every now and then, if I wipe the excess off where it accumulates underneath the counter sprocket cover, it then doesn't have a chance to continue it travel to underneath. This may sound worse than it is, but I find whilst I didn't expect it, it is still much easier cleaning this small area than it is the wheel rims and hubs.

Mind you, it does take a little while to get the perfect amound of oil dialed on the reservoir (the say 1 to 2 drops per minute) and maybe if I get it dialed to 1.5 drops per minute I will have less excess oil flung off here and hence less wiping required. Anyway, it's not a prob but I did need to mention it.

Having the scottoiler was brilliant when I travelled north cos not having access to something to raise my wheel off the ground, I didn't have to try and lube my chain the hard way, ie spraying a bit of lube on then moving my bike forward, spraying etc. All I had to do was top up my reservoir once in 3000klm's. In fact after doing approx 1500k's my reservoir was about half full so I may even been fine for the whole trip. I didn't find it an issue topping it up though cos it's a simple process.

Finally, I did mention in a previous post about the lube tube. This thing acts as a larger reservoir thereby allowing one to travel 3 times further without topping up. Well I hooked mine up fine but the small reservoir began leaking from the dialling cap. Well I ended up taking it off cos of the mess and have just used the original setup since.

I did however email the distributor about this and he sent me a new reservoir as there should not have been a leak from the original one. Anyway, I haven't as yet swapped them over and put the lube tube back just because everything is working fine at the moment but I may swap them and put back the lube tube later when I feel like it.

So I've found the scott oiler a very good buy albeit I had some dramas with the lube tube, however I'm of the understanding I was just unlucky there. All in all it's a winner no doubt.

Stacka,
I appreciate your info. Thanks mate!

Staffo....where is your oiler set? Looks like between 9 and 8?

That's a good question Zdenko. It does look like it is doesn't it. I'll have another look later this arvo before I ride home from work, but from memory I was dialed to be about 7 or so. So I'll see if it has adjusted itself with vibration or something just to make sure. Mind you I not sure what oil I have at the moment which will make a difference cos of the viscosity etc.

One thing I didn't mention before was that you can buy different viscosity oils that suit the ambient temps of where we ride. For instance in Aus, we can enjoy more warmer weather than some of our Northern Hemisphere cousins meaning I should use a different oil (eg I got a blue oil which I think is for colder temps) with my original purchase but when I bought lube tube I got a red oil.

Anyway, what I am saying is that someone with a scottoiler will have to keep an eye on where they are dialed, cos different temps and oils will determine how quickly or slowly the drips from the applicator are applied eg my travelling 1500k north required a different setting as it was warmer, and because I initially got the blue oil and I was using it here in Australia's summer meant something or rather I can't remember but whatever, just as long as it's dialed to give 1 - 2 drips per second is what's important.

OK, stooopid question here but I have to ask. I am getting more interested in this scottoiler, especially the new slipperblock feature. How do you determine the 1-2 drips/second when you are cruising down the road?
Steve

I did mone while it was on the jack and sat and watched it for a while...I then backed it up a spot or two cause when your at crusing speed theres more vaccume.
I also check the chain on occasion and make sure it not too sloppy but also not dry.

ha ha. I meant per minute and btw, my setting at about 8 was fine as the oiler was delivering about 1 drip per 45 seconds. I've got no idea if it is the best setting or not cos the instructions say between 1 to 2 drips per minute. Like what does that mean? I wish they would say about 1 drip per 45 seconds or something but there is a big diff between what they ask and who knows which is the best one.

One further thing, the delivery of oil is not determined by vacuum but by gravity. All the vacuum does is open a valve to let gravity take over

Safe riding my friends

Zdenko, regarding how oil delivered is determined by gravity, here is an answer to a "frequently asked question" Scottoiler used in it's instructions.

Quote:

---

Q: Why won't my Scottoiler deliver oil even when my reservoir is full?

A: "The Scottoiler is not a pump it is a gravity system, and relies on a head of Pressure between the reservoir and the end of the dispenser tube to work properly. This means the delivery tubing MUST be full of oil with no air bubbles, with the reservoir approx' 30cm higher than the nib for normal operation".

---

So this would probably explain why I may be dialed at a different setting to you for instance as I've just measured how much higher my Rmv (reservoir) is to the nib (chain oil applicator) and it measures 160mm above. Now 300mm above would have been ideal and I could imagine if that was the case my dial would probably be about 5 or so. Unfortuately I was restricted due to my wanting to hide most of the Rmv behind my rear peg holder. In any case it works fine regardless which is 1 - 2 drips etc etc.

So there you go matie, it is definitely a gravity system but for interest, as I have to top my rmv up later today, I will see for myself if by increasing revs it has any effect on whether more oil is delivered or not. I doubt it though just because the system doesn't work that way.

BTW when I put on my oiler, I also changed my final drive setup by changing to a top quality 530 size chain and sprockets and also put in a TBS rubber cush drive. Not that the cush would make much difference I don't think but it will be interesting to see how long the chain and sprockets last now with the scottoiler compared to before when manually oiling the chain.

Got a reply from Mark at Scottoiler...good info to have and know.
I feel like a bozo but he gave agreat way to set it too...read on.


Hi Zdenko,
The use of a vacuum source on our kits is obviously what makes it
"automatic". This is simple an on-off switch and the flow rate is
controlled with the adjuster dial. On a given setting, the flow rate
remains the same from idle to full throttle. More oil delivered at high
speeds would simply be flung off the chain and sprockets, making a big
mess.
Temperature has an effect on the flow rate, slowing down on a given
setting in winter when the oil thickens and speeding up as it thins in
the summer. This is why we offer a more viscous (red) "High Temp" oil (
code SA-0004)for hotter climates which is less temperature sensitive
although it struggles to flow much below 2 degrees Centigrade.

Rather than setting the flow rate in a cool garage and going out into
blazing sunshine, it's best to stop at the side of the road after 10
miles or so and, with the engine idling, pull the injector nib away from
the sprocket face and turn the adjuster to the "Prime" setting. It will
flow too fast like this but slowly dial the adjuster back anti-clockwise
until you get roughly 1 drop per minute. This will give you a setting
which do for most of the year.

With its lumpy power pulses at low revs, the Bonneville is one bike that
it pretty hard on chains and really benefits from a chain oiler.... but
you guys knew that already! I'm glad to hear you all like it.

Regards, Mark.

Mark Celino
Technical Support

funny...he assumes it warm here...LOL

I like the idea of the slipperblock too. Do you have to use both - the dual lubrication unit and the slipperblock or just the block? Where does the block get it's lubricant?

If I look at the slipperblock instal guide I answer my own questions. It looks like the slipperblock connects to the MK7 kit.

Seems like the slipperblock is a great way to go. Anyone useing one yet?

When I contacted Scottoiler, they said you use the MK7 Universal Kit together with the Slipperblock.

I've ordered the Slipperblock from Scottoiler over in Scotland and the MK7 Universal from Kneedraggers. I should have it all installed within a few weeks. I'm not the most proficient mechanic these days, but I'll try to do y'all proud.

thanks Zdenko. Nothing better than hearing it from the tech dept. I really liked how he explained was the best way to set it up as well, including that 1 drop per minute was fine. Thanks for passing on the info.

Now the slipperblock. I never knew there was such as thing until you guys mentioned it and doesn't look bad at all.

I'll wait though until one of you guys work the thing out and hopefully let us know how you go before I look at it myself. Hopefully all the hard work will be done in selecting the best location for mounting etc. Oh, and pictures would be much appreciated.

cheers

Z,
About US$58 including shipping.

In British pounds:
Subtotal: £19.95
Shipping Charges: £9.50
=====================
Total: £29.45

Maybe, since you know how to install the MK7 Universal Kit, I could come over to your place (after I get everything in) and you can help me install the whole thing. That way you can look more closely at the Slipperblock itself.

Here is the location i put mine thought i would try and make it a bit of a feature point, the hose goes down below the battery, looks ok there still haven't tried it working yet, have to wait for the rest of the bike first