90 wgt gear oil as chain lube.

Finally got sick of the horrid sticky mess that passes for modern high tech chain lube. As we all know it makes an unholly mess and gets in the most unlikely places when it does eventually "ball" an fling off but worse than that is how it acts like a magnet for road debris eventually making a very effective grinding paste. Time for back to basics. Spent time cleaning up the chain with degreaser then drying it off. I had previously bought a proper old fashioned oil can and some 90 wgt gear oil which I then applied to the chain removing the excess with a rag. Spinning the back wheel by hand the final drive felt much improved but lets see how it goes when ridden. As I tend to use the bike for at least a couple of hours at a time I always check the tyres for foreign bodies after each ride i will at this time apply a few drops of fresh oil. I will report back should I find that in this case older is indeed better.

Geoff.

[Bibio]

clean my chain... hahahahaaaaaaa. 34,000 miles and counting on the OEM chain and i think i have cleaned it 4 times. the bike sits outside in all weather even in the winter without a cover and the chain looks like a rusty mess at the start of each season, a quick once over with chain lube then let the scottoiler do the rest while i ride.

Paraffin is the best chain cleaner money can buy and its reusable once you let it settle out again.

in many years gone by i used to paint on old engine oil after every ride.. spizz that for a game of soldiers, now i just squirt oil into a large touring rez and then keep an eye on it, so far its done 5,000 miles and still has some oil in it.

life is way to short.

[garynortheast]

Yep, Scottoiler or similar properly adjusted is unbeatable.

[Creaky]

The wd range of chain cleaner and lube is the best that I've used

Originally Posted by garynortheast

Yep, Scottoiler or similar properly adjusted is unbeatable.

Yes indeed, I used Scotoilers to great effect when we lived on the Shetlands and believe me that environment was very hard indeed on chains. Tried them again some years later on a modern Triumph and found it impossible to set up but this was probably due to the very low vac available at the recommended take off (read many other similar comments). I have been looking at the Tutoro oiler and it would seem to make perfect sense https://www.tutorochainoiler.com/ has anyone on hear got any first hand knowledge of these ? if so your views would be welcomed.

Geoff.

[John1411]

I've got the automatic TUTORO oiler fitted to my L7. Tie wrapped it to the pillion footrest, which might not work if I was to take a pillion! I've read on the Scottoiler facebook page that with modern O ring etc type chains, that the main gain is from keeping the O rings from drying out, so I've got my oiler turned down quite low, but still get a small amount of splatter on the number plate.

Normally only clean excess muck off the side plates, as if it's oily muck then it's stopping the side plates from corroding.

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by macamxthe1st

Yes indeed, I used Scotoilers to great effect when we lived on the Shetlands and believe me that environment was very hard indeed on chains. Tried them again some years later on a modern Triumph and found it impossible to set up but this was probably due to the very low vac available

i highly doubt it. it takes very very little to move the plunger as you can do it by sucking with your mouth. get a scottoiler they are tried and tested and dont have to be vertical to work.

Originally Posted by John1411

I've read on the Scottoiler facebook page that with modern O ring etc type chains, that the main gain is from keeping the O rings from drying out, so I've got my oiler turned down quite low, but still get a small amount of splatter on the number plate.

Thanks for that, may i ask two further questions please, are you using Tutoro's own oil and even with it turned right down are you getting much "throw" onto the rear tyre ?

Geoff.

[John1411]

Originally Posted by macamxthe1st

Thanks for that, may i ask two further questions please, are you using Tutoro's own oil and even with it turned right down are you getting much "throw" onto the rear tyre ?

Geoff.

I have a stock of the Scottoiler oil, so in the UK have been using their blue oil. I'd say the tyre gets minimal oil throw, though the wheel shows a little.

I like the TUTORO as it's very easy to get at the adjustment, doesn't affect any of the systems on the bike, and if you see it's not working properly, it's a simple tap to turn it off completely. Looking at my bike I do think that a pillion would touch it with their boots.

Thanks John that is really helpful, i will give my "back to basics" a little while but if and when I get sick of the input required will give the Tutoro a try.

Geoff.