Chain Oiling

Originally Posted by krhall

While I am still thinking about a Scottoiler, can anyone recommend what I need to oil my chain?

How?

And how often?

I think that the scottoiler might become a victim of Christmas!

I just cleaned my chain. Castrol chain cleaner first with brushing to get the crap all off and then, after the cleaner evaporated, Castrol chain wax spray. I use a sheet of thin ply to save the wheel and tyre. Let the propelant in the wax spray evaporate before riding. I'm not recommending this because it;s the first time I've done it. I just followed the directions.

Won't ordinary engine oil get flung off the chain pretty rapid? When I first got the bike (last month) I cleaned the chain with parafin and then used engine oil - bloody messy and lots of fling.

JohnH

If it were me,I'd be looking to leak it to soak in paraffin then soak in engine oil too. Haven't used engine oil before but have been meaning to. Should really get round to fitting the scottoiler I have.

Originally Posted by ejohnh

Won't ordinary engine oil get flung off the chain pretty rapid? ...
JohnH

Yes and that is where oil is superior to lube .... it takes the muck away from the chain, rather than forming a grinding paste!! Which in certain conditions is probably worse than not lubeing it!! The beauty of a scott oiler is that it replaces the oil continually, so the chain is always clean and well lubed. but yes if you don't have an oiler then you need to apply it pretty often. for me and my millage I can get away with once a week and it still looks to have some lube, if it rains you do need to reapply more often.

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

Yes and that is where oil is superior to lube .... it takes the muck away from the chain, rather than forming a grinding paste!! Which in certain conditions is probably worse than not lubeing it!! The beauty of a scott oiler is that it replaces the oil continually, so the chain is always clean and well lubed. but yes if you don't have an oiler then you need to apply it pretty often. for me and my millage I can get away with once a week and it still looks to have some lube, if it rains you do need to reapply more often.

Its also the recommend lube for chains from most manufacturers. Check the manuals.

[Biker Biggles]

I'm not sure they suggest using old used car engine oil.
But that's what I do too and it works for me.

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

I'm not sure they suggest using old used car engine oil.
But that's what I do too and it works for me.

Nope, pretty sure its 10/40w motor oil. Doubt they say used.

I use PJ1 Blue label i think it is called. I lube the chain every 400 miles and do it directly after a ride. The lube will dry quicker that way and there is very lil fling. I suppose as it is winter i will have to lube the chain more often though ....

A Scottoiler gets my vote. Coupled with a lube tube (extra capacity resevoir) if you're doing reasonable distance.

Only bike I'd not have one on would be an offroader/trackbike/show special/shaft drive one. Even on a weekend toy I would probably have a standard one fitted.

I got a scott oiler when I worked out I should be spraying my chain bi-daily basis with teh milage I was doing.

Oiler was not expensive, and the oil in it is far, far cheaper than spray I was using. So far I haven't had an issue except during the coldest months where it doesn't seem to want to drip onto the chain (but we are talking about -3 to -5 here so not a regula occurance. Hopefully)

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

I just use old engine oil.

how do you apply the engine oil to the chain, cos i'm thinking about starting to use engine oil, but not sure of the best way to apply it?

cheers