How to Make a Chain Oiler

Cut the Oiler Parts

• 1

  Use the scissors to cut a 20-inch length of the oil tubing. Hold one end at the base of the intended location of the oil bottle. This may be a point in the air under the seat or other location requiring you to subsequently build a wire structure or nest to support it. Extend the tubing down to the chain until it touches it and cut off the excess.

• 2

  Cut a 10-inch piece of the copper wire with the tin snips, for final placement bending. Cut a 2-inch piece of the plastic tubing with the tin snips to provide top-end structure for the oil tubing.

• 3

  Cut 2-inch ends off two cable ties with scissors. Sand their width with sandpaper to a tight fit inside the oil tubing. Sand them to a blunt point. Dress shirt collar stays also work well in this situation. Cut a 1-inch piece of the copper wire as the funnel pin to hold the inserted cable ties apart.

Assemble the Oiler

• 4

  Drill a 1/8-inch hole in the center of the bottle cap. Apply epoxy around the hole and snap one end of the tube joiner into it.

• 5

  Snap the other end of the tube joiner into one end of the plastic tubing, without epoxy, so you can change dimensions of the oiler later. Insert the other end of the plastic tubing into one end of the oil tubing. It will fit tightly so no epoxy is needed. Cut the oil tubing with scissors two inches downstream from the inserted end of the plastic tubing.

• 6

  Insert one of the shut-off valves into the parent end of the oil tubing where you just cut. Insert the other end of the shut-off valve into the other cut end. Repeat this process two inches further down the oil tubing line to insert the second, double-connected valve. This valve regulates the pressure in the line.

• 7

  Insert the copper wire into the opposite end of the oil tubing. Work it up inside the tubing until its bottom extension is two inches above the end of the tubing.

• 8

  Insert the two cable tie pieces -- back end first -- into the end of the oil tubing. Work them up an inch into tubing, with an inch outside the tubing. Insert the small piece of copper wire between the cable tie pieces and well up into the tubing. This produces the dual-drip capability that is necessary for motorcycle chains. Hold these dual nipples against your chain and manipulate the tubing end components with pliers so one of the nipples is above each side of the sprocket.

• 9

  Attach the oil reservoir bottle to the superstructure of the bicycle or motorcycle. This location should be as near, vertically, as possible to the point where the drip end should reside. If necessary, create a nest to hold the bottle using a coat hanger. Use the clip strip to hold the bottle or bottle nest upright and securely against the nearest structure above the chain.

• 10

  Attach the lower end of the oil tubing to adjacent structure so the tubing end is firmly held. Bending the inserted copper wire will make this task easier. You may need to use additional sections of clip strip or coat hanger wire to accomplish this. The ending location of the tip of the oiler must be precisely over the chain.

• 11

  Fill the bottle with chain oil and tighten the cap. Test the oiler in a downstream series of tests. First, squeeze the bottle and test the seal and flow control of the upper shut off valve. Once you have verified you have good shutoff operation test the lower shut off value. Open the upper value fully open and the lower shut-off valve to 45 degree angle to the line. Apply pressure to the bottle for several minutes to work the oil down the line and out the end. Adjust the flow angle of the lower shut-off valve until you have two or three drops per minute flowing.