Page 1 of 2

Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:20 am
by Jamz
We all know a Scottoiler is the way to go as far as automatic chain lubers are concerned, but they're about £40 for the kit and then another £20 for the double-lubey-thingy, plus they can be a bugger to fit tapping into the carbs and stuff.

I saw this link the other day for something called a Loobman, which does the same job but a hell of a lot easier:

http://www.chainoiler.co.uk/

And it's £17.95 inc. P&P, and they give great discounts for bulk buys!

I'm interested, and I'll be asking around my mates, so thought I'd let you lot in on it as well - if we get enough interest maybe Baz can organise further discounts, or we can even go the trade route if it's over 10 units.

I'm not interested in making a profit - I want to just split the cost evenly so we get them nice and cheap!

Anyone ever used one, or want to give it a go?

This is the blurb from the site that interests me:
We have not been able to wear out a chain on a complete mileage test since,

A new chain on an FZ600 Yamaha using a D.S.D. system reached 40,000 miles before the bike was involved in an accident. However the chain was still in excellent condition and showing very little sign of wear. We at Loobman now firmly believe that a chain can live to see you 'round the clock' if properly cared for.

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:34 am
by Gemini
dont these chain oilers leave the rear wheel caked up to toad though?

gem

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:42 am
by masterofinsanity
did you not have a scottoiler on your zxr jamz? and did you not moan about the mess all the time?

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:54 am
by Jamz
'Tis not I!

I bought one years ago but never got around to fitting it (to my first VFR, I think?) because it's a right toadstool to fit to a V4!

I think that how much it cakes your back wheel is down to how you set the flow rate.

These Loobmans don't have a flow rate - you just squeeze the bottle and get 2 ml of oil dripped onto your chain. That's much less than you'd put on with a spray can, plus even if it does go on your wheel it's just wipe-off oil, rather than sticky chain wax.

The better you keep your chain lubed, the longer it will last. This takes about 3 seconds to lube your chain, and you can even do it when you're riding!

From what I've heard you don't even have to buy oil - as long as your old engine oil doesn't have chunks of ZX9R valves in it, you cna shove that in the bottle and recycle it! :smt002

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:57 am
by masterofinsanity
i've sent them a mail anyway mate.

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:59 am
by Jamz
Good man!

Lubing my chain has been easy for the last few years because I've had a centre stand - now I'm back to a sidestand it's a right pisser to do, and being a lazy git this sounds good to me! :smt003

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:06 am
by masterofinsanity
have you not got a rear paddock stand?

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:19 am
by Jamz
Not at my house.

Even if it was I wouldn't use it for lubing the chain!

I did buy something off Ebay once wityh big bearings on it, and you put it under your back wheel and it lets you turn the wheel. Dunno where that's got to... :smt017

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:28 am
by deviant
It's like some total loss lubrication system off a pre-war bike where you had to give the oil reservoir a couple of pumps every now and then!

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:45 am
by rene
yeah but wasnt that to actually pump the oil AROUND your engine lol

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:07 am
by Jamz
deviant wrote:It's like some total loss lubrication system off a pre-war bike where you had to give the oil reservoir a couple of pumps every now and then!
Spending 5 minutes coating your chain in spray lube is a total loss system, too! And the can method is much more primitive, when you look at it like that! :smt003

I don't know how long you'd have to go between giving it a squeeze because I've never used engine oil to lube my chains - but I should imagine we're still talking 100 miles here?

Actually, ,in theory you could use exactly the same oil that you use in spray cans in this system, if you can get hold of it.

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:18 am
by masterofinsanity
can't see why you couldn't just rig an aerosol can up to the system, but then the oil would be pressurized and thinner so it would probably dump it all in one go.

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:03 pm
by rene
my dad uses engine oil on his chain recons it works well.

Engine oil has kept my TL's chain in perfect condition (Clutch push rod seal went and been leaking engine oil directly on the chain..) engine oil is piss easy to get off the wheel comapired to wax as well.

Could be tempted by one to put on a hack but my good would it look ungly on a sports bike!

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:06 pm
by masterofinsanity
anyone want to buy some used engine oil? i've got about 10 litres :smt003

Re: Anyone Want To Get 40,000 Miles From A Chain?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:09 pm
by Caz
which brings me back to my preferred chain lub - engine oil.

I keep a small bottle under my seat (200ml or so) and when i go out for a ride, i put a couple of drops on - keeps your chain lovely and clean. yes, it does make your rear wheel filthy, but it is easy to clean.