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- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 1,023
- Reaction score
- 10
- Location
- Beaumont, Texas
- First Name
- Ken
- Last Name
- Phenix
THIS IS NOT AN OIL THREAD! USE WHATEVER BRAND CHAIN LUBE YOU LIKE. 
Manually lubing a motorcycle chain while on an Iron Butt ride consumes precious time - and even more time with no center stand. Having the ability to lube the chain while in motion makes sense. It is known that automatic chain oilers increase chain life by a factor of 2 or even 3. However, the models I looked at were either expensive, complicated, messy or even unreliable. I sought to find a simpler cheaper more dependable system.
ASSUMPTION #1
I decided to treat a chain lube test found on page 58 of the Winter 2013 issue of Iron Butt Magazine as gospel. The basis was simple: heat is caused by friction. Dupont Teflon, Blue Label PJ-1, WD-40 and Scott Oiler with ATF were compared by taking temperature readings with an infrared thermometer at both sprockets and several points on the chain. Readings were taken at 37 and 73 miles of constant highway speed. The results were surprising. The lowest temperatures measured were a virtual tie between the Scott oiler and WD-40! There was barely 10 degrees separating the field and conditions did not involve dirt or rain. My beloved PJ-1 came in last.
ASSUMPTION #2
I also remembered where an ADV inmate had soaked identical o-rings in popular lubricants for a month and then measured them. The LEAST degradation occurred in the o-ring immersed in, you guessed it, WD-40. PJ-1 was almost as good. Other o-rings were visibly swollen. Thank you klm4755. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345397
Convinced that it was at least not harmful to o-rings, I decided to test the WD-40 on a trip. I wanted a way to quickly lube the chain during a SS2000 from Southeast Texas to the west coast, so I fashioned a pouch on the front of my left pannier to hold the can and I gave the exposed parts of the chain a liberal application at every gas stop. It took seconds and not only did the chain never run dry, it required NO ADJUSTMENT for the entire 4,848 mile trip! And the chain was not new. The EK brand 530zzz x-ring rated at 11,000# had over 10k on it when I started. I carried a can of Blue Label PJ-1 in case I encountered rain.
My criteria for a chain oiler are that it must be: safe, simple, cheap, readily available and above all easy to operate. I decided to incorporate both WD-40 and PJ-1. I fashioned a mount from flat 1" aluminum and hose clamps to hold the cans to the front of my left pannier. I used the smallest weed wacker fuel line to deliver the lube to the chain.
I filed grooves into the end of an aluminum spacer and cut sections of the PJ-1's little red straw to be held in place by a bolt and washer.
I attached the "nozzle" to the front of the bike's chain guard.
I bolted small hinged hasps above each can of lubricant to act as paddles for easy left thumb access while in motion. I need only to push down on the top of the bag.
Then I covered the rig with a small zippered tool pouch so I wouldn't have to explain what I had done to absolutely everybody at every stop.
On my next BBG1500 attempt I plan to give the chain a 2 or 3 second burst as I pull into each fuel stop. I can alternate between the cans and use more PJ-1 in wet conditions. To clean the chain I can soak it with WD-40 before coming to a stop and wipe it down with a rag. Stay tuned for the test.
http://kphenix.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/The...Oiler/i-PZt2BJ7
Manually lubing a motorcycle chain while on an Iron Butt ride consumes precious time - and even more time with no center stand. Having the ability to lube the chain while in motion makes sense. It is known that automatic chain oilers increase chain life by a factor of 2 or even 3. However, the models I looked at were either expensive, complicated, messy or even unreliable. I sought to find a simpler cheaper more dependable system.
ASSUMPTION #1
I decided to treat a chain lube test found on page 58 of the Winter 2013 issue of Iron Butt Magazine as gospel. The basis was simple: heat is caused by friction. Dupont Teflon, Blue Label PJ-1, WD-40 and Scott Oiler with ATF were compared by taking temperature readings with an infrared thermometer at both sprockets and several points on the chain. Readings were taken at 37 and 73 miles of constant highway speed. The results were surprising. The lowest temperatures measured were a virtual tie between the Scott oiler and WD-40! There was barely 10 degrees separating the field and conditions did not involve dirt or rain. My beloved PJ-1 came in last.
ASSUMPTION #2
I also remembered where an ADV inmate had soaked identical o-rings in popular lubricants for a month and then measured them. The LEAST degradation occurred in the o-ring immersed in, you guessed it, WD-40. PJ-1 was almost as good. Other o-rings were visibly swollen. Thank you klm4755. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345397
Convinced that it was at least not harmful to o-rings, I decided to test the WD-40 on a trip. I wanted a way to quickly lube the chain during a SS2000 from Southeast Texas to the west coast, so I fashioned a pouch on the front of my left pannier to hold the can and I gave the exposed parts of the chain a liberal application at every gas stop. It took seconds and not only did the chain never run dry, it required NO ADJUSTMENT for the entire 4,848 mile trip! And the chain was not new. The EK brand 530zzz x-ring rated at 11,000# had over 10k on it when I started. I carried a can of Blue Label PJ-1 in case I encountered rain.
My criteria for a chain oiler are that it must be: safe, simple, cheap, readily available and above all easy to operate. I decided to incorporate both WD-40 and PJ-1. I fashioned a mount from flat 1" aluminum and hose clamps to hold the cans to the front of my left pannier. I used the smallest weed wacker fuel line to deliver the lube to the chain.
I filed grooves into the end of an aluminum spacer and cut sections of the PJ-1's little red straw to be held in place by a bolt and washer.
I attached the "nozzle" to the front of the bike's chain guard.
I bolted small hinged hasps above each can of lubricant to act as paddles for easy left thumb access while in motion. I need only to push down on the top of the bag.
Then I covered the rig with a small zippered tool pouch so I wouldn't have to explain what I had done to absolutely everybody at every stop.
On my next BBG1500 attempt I plan to give the chain a 2 or 3 second burst as I pull into each fuel stop. I can alternate between the cans and use more PJ-1 in wet conditions. To clean the chain I can soak it with WD-40 before coming to a stop and wipe it down with a rag. Stay tuned for the test.
http://kphenix.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/The...Oiler/i-PZt2BJ7
Are both cans connected all the time (manifold?), or do you have to somehow switch between them?
