Home > Other Fun Stuff > Advocacy & Industry News > News

RotaLuber 3D Prints Their Way To Better Chain Lubrication + New eBike Backpedal Tool

16 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

One of our favorite parts of Sea Otter is the ability to discover new products, no matter how small. Prior to the show, I had been talking to James and Allan Cooke about a new brand called RotaLuber. You might already be familiar with at least one of those names – Allan Cooke is an X Games gold medalist in BMX dirt, who has transitioned to mountain biking, working for big names like Santa Cruz and Specialized, and he can also be seen commentating for big events like Crankworx.

As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and Allan’s dad James is just as rad. A former Kawasaki factory motocross rider in the 60s and 70s, James contributed to the development of many dirt bikes as the eventual R&D Testing Department manager at Kawasaki. I can personally attest to the fact that he can still shred on an eMTB, and James also still knows his way around developing a product.

That brings us to the first item from the new brand, the namesake RotaLuber. I’ve tried out a number of different chain lubrication devices over the years, and almost without fail, they tend to over-lubricate the chain, resulting in a mess of a drivetrain.

The Rotaluber is different. Harnessing the power of 3D printing, the RotaLuber has been designed with a series of small orifices on a four-tooth sprocket. The flow of chain lube is controlled through a mixing valve to account for thinner or thicker chain lube, and there is a rubber strip at the bottom of the tool that forces the chain roller to spin, which sucks chain lube into the roller where it’s needed.

The whole device is set up so that it lubricates only where it’s needed on the chain, without wasting a ton of lube. Note that due to the width of the support arm, this is only compatible with 10, 11, and 12 speed chains.

I’ve been a needle applicator guy for years, counting out one drop of lube per roller, but this is the first device that has made me question that technique. I’ve been using it for a few months now, and it seems to do exactly what it claims, all in 60 seconds or less.

Priced at $39.95, which includes a nice rubber stand so it won’t tip over on your workbench, the RotaLuber seems like a worthwhile investment, especially if the claims of using 30% less chain lube, and delivering up to 40% more drivetrain life are true. It’s easy to imagine that it would use quite a bit less chainlube–the chain just isn’t drenched in lube no matter how many times you run it through. And if it’s easier and faster to lubricate your 10, 11, or 12 speed chain without overdoing it, it seems likely that you would see some drivetrain longevity benefits too.

eBike Backpedal Tool

If backpedaling the chain through the RotaLuber a few times is all that’s needed to lubricate your chain, then the tool would also be great for ebikes–as long as you can backpedal your chain. That’s where RotaLuber’s latest tool comes in, the aptly named eBike Backpedal Tool. We saw the newest version of this tool for the first time at Sea Otter, and the idea is simple: it includes a T30 bit that inserts into either 5mm allen or T30 torx chainring bolts, and that bit is held in a 3D printed bit holder that is shaped to wedge against the crank arm. The bit is also adjustable in terms of insertion depth to match various chainring bolt depths.

Because it’s made from 3D printed nylon, the tool won’t mar the crank the way a bare metal tool would. As long as the tool is in place, the crank will backpedal the chain, allowing you to use the RotaLuber to lubricate the chain. The only catch is that the tool is compatible with ebikes that use a spider with chainring bolts, not direct mount chainrings. To use, insert it into the chainring bolt with the lever positioned pointing down, and then rotate it clockwise so it locks the crank arm in place. Then just rotate it counter clockwise to disengage and remove.

Available now, the eBike Backpedal tool sells for $16.95.

rotaluber.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

16 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Brian B
Brian B
1 month ago

Ngl this is a game changer. I’ve struggled to properly live my chain for years.
Gonna get a fresh bottle of tri flow for this baby

seraph
seraph
1 month ago
Reply to  Brian B

I hope you’re joking. Tri Flow isn’t chain lube.

Brian B
Brian B
1 month ago
Reply to  seraph

If you’ve ever worked in a bike shop you’d know I’m joking

TheKaiser
1 month ago
Reply to  Brian B

I worked in a bike shop for several years where we sold Tri-Flow (the original wet variety), no joke. The owner was fully into it and pitched it as a great chain lube to all the customers. If they wanted a spray, he sold them GT-85. Of course, that was in the 90s, so maybe he should be cut some slack.

Last edited 1 month ago by TheKaiser
Matthew
Matthew
1 month ago

$17 is actually a pretty reasonable price. I was fully expecting to see double that. If I can find this at my LBS, I would definitely give it a try.

Dinger
Dinger
1 month ago
Reply to  Matthew

Considering what the really good chain oils cost (not to mention good chains) this device would pay for itself in a few years if it works as advertised.

I always find it interesting how much emphasis is placed on oiling the rollers in articles like this. The primary friction and wear driver is the inner link plates against the pins.

Alan
Alan
1 month ago
Reply to  Matthew

$17 just buys the eBike back pedaller tool ‍♂️

Raj
Raj
1 month ago

How is this different than holding a bottle of oil?

CJ Walker
CJ Walker
1 month ago

I tried using this with squirt wax but it got completely plugged up after one use. I believe the Wax carrier fluid evaporated leaving wax in all the small channels. I think for non wax lubricants it works quite well. I had to soak in warm soapy water and use a pin to clear the channels.

Dinger
Dinger
1 month ago
Reply to  CJ Walker

That’s an unfortunate issue with solubility of the wax particles. They coagulate and if they aren’t thoroughly broken up then they’ll clog. Happens with conventional applicators too.

Izelle
Izelle
1 month ago
Reply to  CJ Walker

Just get yourself a bottle of Smoove lube with the luberetta applicator and your problem is solved

Robin
Robin
1 month ago

It’s not clear from any of the images how this luber is delivering lube where it’s needed instead of putting it on surfaces where it’s not needed.

Dinger
Dinger
1 month ago
Reply to  Robin

There’s a row of three images near the top that illustrate the assembly in detail. If you expand the middle one, you can see the small ports/holes that administer the lube. Because the roller ts toothed it delivers a small amount of lube only to the roller area of each link. Pretty slick.

Robo
Robo
1 month ago

Buying one for the garage and one for the bedroom! No more wasted lube!

Retrorockit
Retrorockit
1 month ago

For Ebike use an 8 speed version would be desirable .It should work on 8,9,10,11s. They’re all the same inside dimension.
The backpedal tool is nice. I went front freewheel on my XC bike so shifting would match the Ebike.

Last edited 1 month ago by Retrorockit
ed llorca
ed llorca
1 month ago

pretty nice but 40 is a bit ouch (more with tax and ship)

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.