Scottoiler opinions wanted

**Frodo** · 21st June 2010, 21:16

I had a Scottoiler on a BMW F650 then swapped it over to my Apriliia. I commute 400km per week and this saves a huge amount of hassle over the more than 80,000km I've had it. Two issues:
- oil spins off from the countershaft sprocket and this drips down on the ground. This is not due to the unit leaking, but due to me setting the unit so it provides a generous amount of oil when it rains a lot (and its been raining a lot). This is not a problem as I have a plastic lid on the ground in my garage to catch the drips. I guess if I set the oil rate lower it wouldn't drip. Note that even at generous rates, I get about 1000km per fill and get bugger all oil on my rear wheel.
- I had a new DID X-ring chain sh*t its X-rings, which I concluded was due to the Scottoil - I posted about this earlier. No problem with other chains though (currently have a Regina)

Overall, very happy

**p.dath** · 21st June 2010, 21:32

Originally Posted by 86GSXR

Are you sure it isn't just oil buildup in the front sprocket? I've had that and it needs a clean now and then.

Positive, because I have no issue when lubing the chain manually. Only happens when I use the Scott Oiler.

Originally Posted by centaurus

Very interesting. I commute every day on it so this would definitely be an issue. Any comments on this from people that have own scottoilers and commute on their bikes? Is this a common thing?

I use my bike around 7 days out of 14. So I would call myself a regular rider.

I gave up using my Scott Oiler after I backed it all the way off to 1 drop every 2 minutes (manufacturer recommends one every 30s to 60s) and still had the issue. I spoke to some others I know and they told me they had exactly the same issue.
So I then had an unfixable problem.

**warewolf** · 21st June 2010, 21:37

Originally Posted by centaurus

As I said, I'm looking for input from people who have owned/own one of these systems for a decent amount of time, as to how practical and worthwhile are they.

Yes, they are practical & worthwhile. Had a Motrax electric luber for 90,000km and eventually got the shits with it spreading oil around and got a Scottie, did another 50,000km before selling the bike (auto-lubes for 11 years). Part of the Motrax problem was poor install by the dealer: no adjuster initially, and located right behind the engine.

For your high mileage, get the High Capacity Reservoir, should be good for 10,000ish km. This also gets the metering unit/oil well away from engine heat for more consistent flow. Went from <30,000km per chain/sprocket set, to 68,000km on one set, and on the next 64,000km and counting. That was just cheap JT/DID VM stuff. I would expect well over 100,000km from quality chain/sprockets, although I would replace the front at 1/2 to 2/3 the expected mileage of the set, as they wear out first then take the chain & rear with them.

Biggest issue I had was getting the damn thing to put oil on the chain not the tyre. Set mine so the nozzle slides against the side of the rear sprocket - that stopped the fling off. Nowadays you can just buy the twin dripper. At home I had a piece of cardboard that was parked under the chain to catch the odd drip - not a lot but adds up if you use the bike every day for years on end.

I can second most of the other comments. Problems would be rare, particularly measured against the big miles Scottie-equipped bikes tend to do.

**sAsLEX** · 21st June 2010, 21:49

I have a custom made oiler from Pixie on the site, uses capillary and gravity action to draw oil out through a brush and on to the chain. There is a solenoid valve in the system which opens when the rear light comes on with the ignition to stop the dribbling problem of P.Dath.

Chain is always clean and nicely lubed and hardly needs adjusting.

Rear of the bike get a bit of spooge flung on it....... function over form I say.

**Gremlin** · 22nd June 2010, 03:49

yep, been great across several bikes. Get it professionally installed, did have a vacuum problem on KTM, because the ecu saw the loss to the scottoiler, but shop swapped to other cylinder.

**jonbuoy** · 22nd June 2010, 08:40

I get zero fling but I have mine set pretty low, I don´t see the point in the oil being on the surface of the chain at all, you wouldn´t oil your engine cases. Its needed inside on the bearings not outside. I get over 4,000 KM on one fill in dry weather. As long as I can see oil on the O rings and the links feel lubed I figure its enough oil. Scottoiler are happy for people to set there´s up nice and high so they can sell more oil.

**Gremlin** · 22nd June 2010, 15:06

oh yeah, on the standard tube, I probably get a little under 6000km to a tube. Depends how responsive I am to temperatures, as it affects the flow rate.

**george formby** · 22nd June 2010, 16:09

I have one on a TDM in the UK. the bike is ridden around town in all weathers & doe's the odd big mileage Euro jaunt. Had zero problems & excellent life span on chain & sprockets. I ended up using chain bar oil to save money which has very little fling when the oiler is adjusted properly. The garage doe's have the odd drip on the floor after the bike is parked up but an old margarine tub sorted that. Saves a fortune in wear & a lot of hassle too.

**kewwig** · 23rd June 2010, 22:14

I have the vacuum one on my GSF1250 bandit and it's really set and forget. I ride every day in rain etc and the chain's always got an oily sheen and I have never had to touch the chain to adjust it in a year or daily riding. Do it.

**Dschubba** · 24th June 2010, 11:28

Have an electronic E System on my ZX14. A few teething problems which Scot Oiler sorted out, the early units weren't quite sensitive enough for the big smooth bikes.
New firmware has sensitivity adjustment.
I commute to work 40+40km most days.
On a ride reservoir lasted Wlg Invercargill and back to Temuka before needing a topup.
A bit of oil spray, but less mess and easier to clean than spray lube.
Can up the rate if you riding in the rain.
Easy to install
Chain seems well lubed
No center stand and most paddock stands dont fit the zx14 so much less hassle
Previous chain went 30000k with spray lube, interested to see how much this one does with the oiler

**oldrider** · 24th June 2010, 11:52

Pro-oiler, the best most accurate easily adjusted chain oiler in the business!

http://www.pro-oiler.com/
Oil measured and pumped precisely onto your chain and sprockets where you want it rather than dripping all over your bike and the environment!

Failing that and for a purely road use bike I would install the model made by KB's own "Pixie". $ value IMHO.

**centaurus** · 24th June 2010, 16:10

Originally Posted by oldrider

Pro-oiler, the best most accurate easily adjusted chain oiler in the business!

http://www.pro-oiler.com/
Oil measured and pumped precisely onto your chain and sprockets where you want it rather than dripping all over your bike and the environment!

Failing that and for a purely road use bike I would install the model made by KB's own "Pixie". $ value IMHO.

This pro-oiler setup looks very good. Do you know if anybody in NZ sells these?

**p.dath** · 24th June 2010, 16:20

Originally Posted by oldrider

Pro-oiler, the best most accurate easily adjusted chain oiler in the business!

http://www.pro-oiler.com/
Oil measured and pumped precisely onto your chain and sprockets where you want it rather than dripping all over your bike and the environment!

They make some interesting claims. They say the O-Rings needs lubrication. I thought the lubricant for the O-Rings was sealed in, so they they didn't need any additional lubricant?

They say that the O-Rings experience degradation from UV light? How would UV light get into the O-Ring, and even if it did, would it really brake down the O-ring?

They talk about distributing oil to the outer plates using their dual nozzle delivery system. Since when did the outer plates need lubricant? Everything I've ever read suggested only the inner pins needed the lubrication.

**sAsLEX** · 24th June 2010, 17:21

Originally Posted by p.dath

They make some interesting claims. They say the O-Rings needs lubrication. I thought the lubricant for the O-Rings was sealed in, so they they didn't need any additional lubricant?

They say that the O-Rings experience degradation from UV light? How would UV light get into the O-Ring, and even if it did, would it really brake down the O-ring?

They talk about distributing oil to the outer plates using their dual nozzle delivery system. Since when did the outer plates need lubricant? Everything I've ever read suggested only the inner pins needed the lubrication.

The system designed by Pixie uses a brush, spreads the oil nicely through the center and side plates of the chain.