Date: 28-03-24  Time: 09:34 am

Author Topic: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner  (Read 2973 times)

stevierst

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Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« on: 28 December 2018, 09:32:21 pm »

Well I’ve used pretty much all the market Oiler’s over the last 20 years, and they all seem to be flawed in one way or another. And being an engineer I decided to make one of my own, ironing out all the faults of previous purchases!
I’ve made an electronic oiler, and it cost me about a tenner! Yes, a tenner! It switches off when the ignition is off, and is infinitely adjustable! I’ve used it for just over a month or so (500 ish miles) and it’s brilliant so far!
I bought an electronic solenoid valve, an aquarium air valve, some clear aquarium tubing, and an old biro! I also used an old scottoiler lube tube which I had laying around as the reservoir, but you can use any old plastic bottle really. It hasn’t leaked, it’s adjustable in the blink of an eye, and my chain has been lubed even in the last months heavy rain!
As the pics show, it takes up almost no room, the reservoir is under the plastics, and the piping is all hidden away.
 1. Shows the aquarium valve
 2. Is the electronic solenoid valve plumbed into an ignition live.
 3. Is the reservoir which can be absolutely any bottle as long as it fits under the fairing.

Stop polishing it and ride the bloody thing!!

stevierst

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #1 on: 28 December 2018, 09:33:37 pm »
Here’s the valve and solenoid from eBay.
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mtread

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #2 on: 28 December 2018, 11:56:44 pm »
Then why are Scottoiler charging about 200 quid? :lol
Presumably you've still got to buy or provide the rest of the tubing and the dispenser? Trying to work out the logic, does it still use gravity to create the flow with the solenoid acting as the shut off? The aquarium valve is the flow control I presume?


On the same subject, why does kit with the word 'motorcycle' attached to it always cost 3 times as much? I bought some very good drybags from the yachting supplier Lomo recently for a fraction of the price of biker versions.

NorthWestern

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #3 on: 29 December 2018, 08:02:11 am »
My scotoiler vacuum diaphragm split in the rmv, £50 for a replacement! I retro fit a pull selonoid £2 that replaced the whole vacume side of the system, works a charm. 
« Last Edit: 29 December 2018, 08:09:49 am by NorthWestern »
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stevierst

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #4 on: 29 December 2018, 10:03:24 am »
It’s one of the simplest, most reliable, and cleanest chain Oiler’s I’ve ever used, and it’s also the cheapest! How scottoiler put a £200 price tag on theirs I’ll never know!
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darrsi

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #5 on: 29 December 2018, 10:59:10 am »



Hey lads, i have this great idea for a new version of a creative old show  :thumbup



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mtread

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #6 on: 29 December 2018, 11:16:40 am »
You ain't getting me up in that plane!

darrsi

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #7 on: 29 December 2018, 12:18:59 pm »
I always used chain lube on my bikes but in the last year have used a paint brush and engine oil instead, and apart from the initial drips which i simply dealt with by putting newspaper down in the garage i must admit the chain looks and even feels in greater nick than ever before.
Every link is completely free when you feel the chain, and the oil seems to clean it rather than gunk it up, it must fling off dirt and debris rather than let it stick to it.
I oil it every 3 or 4 weeks, dependant on rainfall, and it's never been in better shape.
Plus, the oil gets into every part of the chain using the brush when the chain is warm, whereas the spray lube could be a hit and miss and also attracted and held on to grit which is obviously not a good thing.


Nice work with this oiler though stevierst, top marks for creativity. :)
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celticbiker

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #8 on: 29 December 2018, 03:53:44 pm »
I went another way and built a timer circuit that has a variable on time and variable off time and paired it with a 12v peristaltic dosing pump
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stevierst

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #9 on: 29 December 2018, 05:55:04 pm »
I went another way and built a timer circuit that has a variable on time and variable off time and paired it with a 12v peristaltic dosing pump


Paired it with a what? 😳🤔


Sounds complicated to me, I’ll stick with bits of metal and plastic I can identify being only a simple person 😂
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NorthWestern

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #10 on: 30 December 2018, 08:57:17 am »
How much are those velleman kits? I too thought about a pump but as the easiest place to put the bottle is at the seat area might as well let gravity do the work and keep it simple (and cheap)
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celticbiker

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #11 on: 30 December 2018, 11:52:21 am »
Nine quid that one.
Velleman VM136 Interval Timer Module, Multi-Colour https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001IRT4ZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_XclkCb7GGY7SH
But there are others.
« Last Edit: 30 December 2018, 11:53:19 am by celticbiker »
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johnakay

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #12 on: 11 January 2019, 05:53:13 pm »
the flow line control etc.are you able to shut off or is it a continuous flow.
if thats the case would it not saturates the whole back end in oil.
if you turn the flow off this would burnt out the little pump ?
good idea nevertheless still would prefer a switch off etc.

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stevierst

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #13 on: 11 January 2019, 08:18:13 pm »
the flow line control etc.are you able to shut off or is it a continuous flow.
if thats the case would it not saturates the whole back end in oil.
if you turn the flow off this would burnt out the little pump ?
good idea nevertheless still would prefer a switch off etc.


Mine is just gravity/capillary action, and the solenoid closes with the ignition off, so it’s under no pressure and won’t burn out. With the feed nozzle being a scottoiler one with narrow diameter, and the hydraulic lock when the ignition is off, no oil leaks out at all when you don’t want it to. It’s simple and works incredibly well. No need for pumps or adjustable electronics imho, just more to go wrong, however I love their ingenuity! It’s the keep it simple principle which seems to work with most things, especially when I get my hands on em 😂



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johnakay

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #14 on: 11 January 2019, 08:38:56 pm »
I think its brilliant idea.thanks for sharing.
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limax2

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #15 on: 11 January 2019, 09:58:01 pm »
This is what I love about this site, I've been here for years and still get some brilliant ideas being posted.  :)

celticbiker

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Re: Electronic chain oiler for a tenner
« Reply #16 on: 12 January 2019, 11:22:06 am »
The power for the unit comes from any ignition live and the pump is powered via the relays on the board.
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