Thinking of a DIY auto chain oiler...

So I'm thinking I want a chain oiler. ScottOilers rock, but are darned expensive. I have a hard time justifying a $200.00 chain maintenance device on an $800.00 bike. So I was looking at cheaper solutions... Tutoro, loobman, etc. Looked at some DIY video postings on the net. All look promising really, but I'm lazy and forgetful... I don't want to remember to turn it on and off. I don't want to squeeze a damned bottle. I want to ride my bike (that's the whole point of an auto-oiler, saves maintenance time/costs, more time/money for riding/gas).
So the Scottoiler is really at the top of my list. The e-system is pretty sweet, only oiling when the bike is in motion due to an accelerometer. Too much money, the vacuum system (original) is the next best thing.
Well, why can't I build one cheaper???
So here's the plan. Two Words:
Vacuum Petcock. (Stupid language filter, you all know what I mean!!!)
It works for fuel, why not oil? Looking around the net there are tons of small ones for scooters cheap ($10 CAD Shipped to me).
But I'm thinking, I don't want it oiling while I'm idling, only when I'm riding. So I turn to the very ingenious people on here, any idea what type of vacuum restriction I should be looking at? I think I've got the theory down but the hardware needed I'm unfamiliar with. I suppose measuring how much vacuum is being generated at the manifold at X rpm (probably 3500... idle with choke is 3k, and you really only want to oil while bike is in motion for the centrifugal force to push the oil into the chain.)
Input guys?

 

Vacuum at cruise is pretty close to idle, it is mainly dependent on throttle opening. Lowest vacuum is at full throttle and highest is closed throttle-high rpm (deceleration)

 

small expansion chamber on the vacuum line? it might reduce it enough that it would only open during mid-high vacuum situations. i know it works for steam...

 

Not sure how much electronics knowledge you have, but you might be able to disassemble a bicycle speedometer so that you can have the pulses signal the oiler instead of the speedometer. Or you could create a system like a pitot tube on an airplane and pull vacuum from it, though wind might interfere. Or maybe just put a new gear on the chain that would run the oiler.

Or maybe I'm thinking too simple...

 

Spring loaded flap that is moved when wind velocity is high enough to overcome the spring tension. (Like an old lawn mower governor).

Connect to valve.

Cheap and simple?

 

o-ring chain

 

Saturday morning.
Coffee.
Oil can.
Bike.

If there was a need for a Rube Goldberg Chain Oiler, ... some outfit would have invented it, sold a few, had an overseas interest knock-off the gizmo and sell them 10-bucks cheaper than the inventor.

All you need is a Coffee and an Oil can.
Or some other beverage.
Or no beverage and just an Oil can.

 

Wow. I'm... surprised with the two of you. I was really looking forward to reading your ideas, specifically from the major contributors and mechanical thinkers.
Meaning no offense you guys but I'm really disappointed with you.

Anyways, I was thinking of a simple solution including the vacuum tap. I could just angle the oil container so the outlet was pointed upwards at an angle, such that oil would only drain when pushed back from accelerating. But then it would only oil on accelerating and stop once the oil catches up with the bike at a constant speed (thought of that on the way to work this morning, watching my coffee...).
I was also thinking of an electric pump... washer squirter or water pump out of some junk indoor 'peace & tranquility' crap, that would ramp up pumping with rpms. Anyone have any ideas on how to tap into the coils or something to scale voltage with rpms?

 

There's already an "Auto-Oiler" on the market.

The Cameleon ::: 2 Hundred bucks.
http://2wheelcentral.com/cameleon_oiler.html

Here's the list of everybody I know that has one:
(Nobody)

In the last 46 Years, here's the list of everybody I know who thought they needed one:
(Just you)

I'm sorry your disappointed.
I'm Old School.

If you have a Bike that has a Chain, ... you should be keeping a close eye on the Chain.

That's my 2-cents.

 

Since I put on mostly touring miles and I have no center stand (Yoshimura pipe), I was getting tired of chasing my bike across the parking lot every time I needed to lube the chain. I bought a Tutoro system for @ $30.00 and installed it a few days ago.






I've only put 50 kms on since, but it appears to be doing the job. I'll let you know what I think after a few long rides.

PS At the end of last season I noticed a leak under the bike. I suspected maybe a shift shaft or trans output shaft seal leak. Turns out it was just the new chain lube I had switched to. What a freakin' mess under the countershaft cover. I hope the oiler will keep it a little cleaner.

 

As pointed up by RangerG's post, there ARE good reasons (on occasion) for having an automatic chain oiler.

Old British bikes used to come equipped with them; except that they were fed engine oil. I left the one on my Norton for authenticity but blocked it off.

The problem I've always had with the whole idea is the complication of getting the feed right so it keeps the chain lubed but doesn't overdo it.

I'm interested to see how the Tutoro system works out for you in the long term.

Until then, I'll stick with the cup of coffee and my can of PJ1 (Blue Label.)

 

Personally, I wouldn't spend 200 bucks on a system that simply oils a chain, i'm pretty good aobut doing it every couple a hundred miles. FWIW, my '74 and my '75 H2 triples both came from the factory with chain oilers standard. They are a 4 oz bottle afixed to a rear frame rail and have a plunger on the top which opens and closes the bottle which lets the oil run down a clear tube right above the chain. Very simple little system. I keep the bottles full and actually open and close the valves every once in a while to keep them freed up but still use my spray lube.

jeff

 

Yep,my Sporty had one, adjustable.Capped it off,way too messy.Can't recall if OIF Bonny had one.Oiling and cleaning the chain is part of owning chain drive.

 

Teflon lube - do it every couple thousand miles. No drips, no fling.

 

perry pumps
from the RC airplane world, some work on vibration some on pressure/ vacuum , tower hobbies has them, about 30$