The purpose of this article is to detail one method of installing the Scottoiler on the Kawasaki KLR650. This method is not the only way one could install the Scottoiler but seems to this author to be one that is easy and works!
Please take note that it is not the intention of this author to go through the detailed instructions that accompany the Scottoiler. Rather, this article is intended to highlight installation procedures specific to the KLR650. This article will cover three basic areas considered during installation:
1. Location and fitting
of the small reservoir to the KLR650.
2. Connecting the vacuum source to the reservoir.
3. Fitting and attaching the "drip" or injector tube to the
KLR650.
Location and fitting of the small reservoir to the KLR650
When determining the location for mounting the reservoir, one must consider a number of factors.
1. Ease of filling
the reservoir and observing the oil level.
2. Proximity to the vacuum source and ease of running the oil supply line.
3. Some degree of protection from road hazards to the reservoir.
4. Proximity to engine heat.
I chose to locate the reservoir on the left side frame tube. This provided an easy access location that allowed easy refilling as well as monitoring of the fluid level.
Note the top of the reservoir is in close proximity to the vacuum source from the fuel valve and the bottom of the reservoir provides a direct path to the chain oiler via the supply tube show filled with red oil.
There are three mounts provided with the kit for different mounting applications. The mount shown here is the one that uses "Loc Ties" as the mounting mechanism. The reservoir itself is the clear round plastic nestled into the black plastic mounting bracket securing the entire assembly to the frame tube.
I chose this mount over the more permanent glue on plastic mounts (picture to follow) as I wanted to test the entire concept on a 3,600 mile ride out to the Moab99 rally and back June 1999. A detailed report and review will follow in June of 1999.
Shown
in this picture is the entire assembly, the yellow arrow pointing out
the reservoir assembly attached to the frame tube and the lower yellow
arrow showing the oil supply tube to the rear sprocket and chain.
Note the oil supply line is positioned well away from any possible chain interaction. Use tape, glue or part of one glue on rubber mounts (supplied) as tube guides. You can see here I used one rubber mount (black, to the left of the lower yellow arrow) to secure the tube to the swing arm and the other mount is glued under the swing arm just to the right of the lower yellow arrow.
Be sure to leave a little slack in the tubing where the swing arm attaches to the frame to allow for swing arm movement.
This
picture shows the other, more permanent "glue on" reservoir holders.
The kit provides a tube of Super Glue for gluing these holders to the frame
tube (or any other location you might choose on the bike). Once glued in
place, the reservoir would slide into these two mounts. The reservoir could
still easily be removed from the plastic mounts but the mounts themselves
would be somewhat permanently secured in place. The Super Glue is very strong
and I doubt if one could remove the plastic mounts with out damaging them.
(I glued two fingers together using this glue! Be careful!)
Connecting the vacuum source to the reservoir
The
Scottoiler kit comes with many (I mean many!) adapters to accommodate
just about any vacuum source on just about any motorcycle in the world!
Fortunately, the KLR650 is a very easy bike to find and take off a vacuum source! The red arrow is pointing to the vacuum line that runs from the carburetor assembly to the top part of the fuel valve. The fuel valve on the KLR has two tubes (lines) running to it. The large line shown in this picture with the fuel filter "in line" is the fuel line (duh) The line above it is the vacuum line. Simply cut about 1/4 " out of the middle of the vacuum line and insert the provided " T " adapter joining back the vacuum line. The vacuum line running from the top of the reservoir is now connected to the bottom of the " T " providing the required vacuum to operate the Scottoiler! The instructions provided with the Scottoiler will guide you through this step - I will not duplicate those instructions here - this step will take about five minutes!
Fitting and attaching the "drip" or injector tube to the KLR650
Shown here is the method
used to attach the drip line to the KLR chain guard (White plastic guard).
The Scottoiler kit comes with two black rubber glue on mounts shown here
by the red arrow. I used one complete mount and half of the second mount.
(The other half mount was cut into two pieces and used as oil line guides
from the bottom of the reservoir along and under the swing arm - shown in
the picture above with two yellow arrows).
Clean the white plastic guide to rid it of oil, scuff it up with sandpaper (provided) and use the Super Glue (follow the instructions). After determining the correct position for placing the drip tube above the chain, glue the mounts in place. The oil supply line (shown here as the white plastic line) will slide into the black rubber mounts with the help of some oil to facilitate it's sliding through and position it so the drip tube (shown here as smaller black tube protruding out of the white plastic tube) is about 2mm above the inner chain link. If positioned correctly, the black drip tube will be about 1mm from the sprocket and 2mm above the link. The heavy white plastic tube in the black rubber mount can be shaped by using heat from an electric hair dryer and gently pressed into shape using your fingers. Once in place it is held securely by the black rubber mounts.
At this point the mechanical mounting is complete! Now, follow the instructions for filling the reservoir, purging the reservoir, and setting the desired flow (drip) rate. I set my drip rate at one drop per minute. Remember, the motor must be running in order to set and monitor the drip rate (requires vacuum to operate!) Also, confirm the oil drip tube is positioned correctly to deliver oil to the chain.
On a test ride of the bike you must ride at least one hour to begin to notice that the chain is becoming moist with oil. If too wet, reduce the drip rate. Confirm again that the oil drip tube is in place above the chain (2mm).
NOTE: Scott oil is a special oil developed for this application. But, this is not the only oil that will work! Automotive automatic transmission fluid (gear oil) will work just as well and be much less expensive to buy as well as being readily available on the road. Many people also use chain saw oil.
This author would like to hear from others who have installed the Scottoiler using other methods. Also, the number of miles (hours) between required refilling would be of interest.
Please email me at: whaycoc@ibm.net