havent owned a chain drive bike in a few years, whats the best way to maintain the chain?
Quote from: corvtt1969 on May 26, 2008, 07:31:06 AM
havent owned a chain drive bike in a few years, whats the best way to maintain the chain?
Clean it after every ride with WD 40. If you store the bike indoors, it is my opinion that this is all you need to do. If you store the bike outdoors or commute in all types of weather, you may want to use a chain wax or o-ring lube. I find the name "lube" to be a misnomer because all it does is protect the chain, it doesn't actually lube it. I have tried both methods with nearly identical results, as far as longevity goes. The WD 40 method is a lot less messy than the wax/lube method. With a top of the line DID X ring chain, I get 12-15K hard miles out of a chain. With a cheaper o-ring chain, I get approx. 6K. Botton line; use a lube/wax if you want, but most importantly, keep it clean!
haha..nearly identical replies from me and Tim at nearly the same time. ;D [thumbsup]
When cleaning with WD-40, be sure that you spray it on a cloth and use the cloth on the chain. Just blasting the solvent in there can damage some parts of the chain. You'll know it's definitely time to replace the chain when the links no longer lie flat or "kink".
Personally I like the Dupont telfon spray for chains. The folks at Web Bike World turned me on to it and everyone else who's tried it is a fan. Once it's dry, it's really dry like a wax so it doesn't pick up grime, dust etc like a lot of stuff. And since it doesn't move (the fling factor) a good coating will keep the rust off. My bike has to live outside and I've never got a rusty chain.
Bonus - you can get it at places like Lowes/Home Depot
http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm
WD40 is fine to spray directly on the chain, it is a VERY weak solvent. Both Tsubaki and RK chains recommend using WD40.
Spray the WD40 on and soak it good. You are just floating off the crud.
Dry it by hand with a bunch of paper towels. Having a rear stand helps a lot to move it. I usually let mine sit overnight to drip it all off.
Then spray a bit of Chain Wax over the entire chain. You don't need to soak it, just give it a light coat.
The factory chain is an o-ring chain and has grease inside the rollers. You are just cleaning off the crap on the outside and lubing the o-rings and outside.
I will dig up the links where Tsubaki and RK both say to use WD40 directly on the chain..
Maxima Chain wax! I forget who, but years ago somebody on TOB (maybe as far back as when it was an e-mail list) posted this technique. I've copied it and it gives me 15K per chain:
Generally every 500 miles (if I go for a 1,000 mile weekend I wait until I get back), spray the entire chain generously with Maxima while rotating the wheel slowly. Rotating the wheel again, rub off the chain wax with a lint free cloth. Rotate the wheel once more, applying a light coat of Maxima to the chain. Let the bike sit for 2 minutes and then go ride. Your chain will look brand new and Maxima does not fling. It's called a wax, but its appearance is more petroleum-like. It does not leave a white gunky residue like Belray or similar products.
Quote from: potomacduc on May 29, 2008, 05:57:06 AM
Maxima Chain wax! I forget who, but years ago somebody on TOB (maybe as far back as when it was an e-mail list) posted this technique. I've copied it and it gives me 15K per chain:
Generally every 500 miles (if I go for a 1,000 mile weekend I wait until I get back), spray the entire chain generously with Maxima while rotating the wheel slowly. Rotating the wheel again, rub off the chain wax with a lint free cloth. Rotate the wheel once more, applying a light coat of Maxima to the chain. Let the bike sit for 2 minutes and then go ride. Your chain will look brand new and Maxima does not fling. It's called a wax, but its appearance is more petroleum-like. It does not leave a white gunky residue like Belray or similar products.
http://www.ducatitech.com/info/chain.html
If I still used chain lube, it would be Maxima Chain wax.
I use the WD-40 method.
we all differ in what we do and have different performance....
while my chain is warm to hot range after even just a quick ride.....I clean my chain with brake clean and a brass grunge brush and then let it dry a lil bit and then apply PJ-1 Blue.... and call it a day.....good for 300-500 miles without a problem....
Quote from: zooom on May 29, 2008, 07:30:11 AM
we all differ in what we do and have different performance....
while my chain is warm to hot range after even just a quick ride.....I clean my chain with brake clean and a brass grunge brush and then let it dry a lil bit and then apply PJ-1 Blue.... and call it a day.....good for 300-500 miles without a problem....
Both the brake clean and brass brush seem like they would be particularly harsh on o-rings. But like you say, everybody has a different method.
I can say for sure, the WD 40 method is gentle and your chain will last a long time.
And of course careful getting any of this crap on you brake rotor or pads.
Quote from: zooom on May 29, 2008, 07:30:11 AM
we all differ in what we do and have different performance....
while my chain is warm to hot range after even just a quick ride.....I clean my chain with brake clean and a brass grunge brush and then let it dry a lil bit and then apply PJ-1 Blue.... and call it a day.....good for 300-500 miles without a problem....
i have to say that is a scary method to me. brake parts cleaner is a harsh solvent. i doubt any chain manufacturer would sanction that practice -- have you tried emailing any of them and ask them if that is an ok method? I owuld be curious the response.
both Tsubaki and RK have said using WD40 is ok because it is a very weak solvent and it floats off the dirt without removing any lube or hurting the o-rings.
brake parts cleaner would literally eat grease if it gets inside an oring, which is possible due to the high solvent properties.
Quote from: ducatizzzz on May 29, 2008, 09:27:39 AM
i have to say that is a scary method to me. brake parts cleaner is a harsh solvent. i doubt any chain manufacturer would sanction that practice -- have you tried emailing any of them and ask them if that is an ok method? I owuld be curious the response.
both Tsubaki and RK have said using WD40 is ok because it is a very weak solvent and it floats off the dirt without removing any lube or hurting the o-rings.
brake parts cleaner would literally eat grease if it gets inside an oring, which is possible due to the high solvent properties.
not so true with the non-chlorinated newer aerosoled brake cleaner formulas....they aren't the same caustic drying out formulas of old...they penetrate the grime and grunge and filth without drying out everything like the formulas of old...so that is why I follow with a rag to wipe off excess and allow it some drying time....not much, but enough to do what needs to be done...and the brass brushes I use mostly on the outer plates to get what isn't being peeled off chemically or on the outsides of the rollers barely to break off scunge and heavier stuff....I haven't had a problem with getting at least 12K out of a chain by using this method....and I use DID X-ring chains...
Quote from: zooom on May 29, 2008, 07:30:11 AM
we all differ in what we do and have different performance....
while my chain is warm to hot range after even just a quick ride.....I clean my chain with brake clean and a brass grunge brush and then let it dry a lil bit and then apply PJ-1 Blue.... and call it a day.....good for 300-500 miles without a problem....
Yes we all differ, but only my method works!! ;D All other methods are wrong and will cause your chain to fail instantly and you might die. I knew a guy who knew a guy who it happened to once. [roll]
In the end, as long as your using one of the 4-5 main methods mentioned here and doing it frequently, you should be able to get an easy 10K miles out of a chain and maybe get 15K or more. There certainly are plenty of ways that give acceptable results....but mine is still the best! [cheeky]
Damn you mean you don't replace them when they get dirty? Great, more money for beer and mods! Just kidding, all the methods work, I like to clean my chain because I do a bit of riding and the chain collects a lot of crud from the roads. So when I get back from a trip on one of my Ducs the chain gets cleaned. If I haven't taken one of the Ducs on a trip for awhile I keep an eye on it and when it starts looking bad I will clean it, my theory being that all the buildup is atracting crap from the road which may be unfriendly to chain wear. I use to be absolutely anal about lubing my chain at the end of the day, usually about 400-500 miles. Tried an experiment on the ST3 never lubed it on a trip, just when I got back 1000 - 1500 miles, got the same chain wear, about 12K. So not sure lubing it frequently is a must. At first I did not like the look of those new gold color chains, little too blingy - but now I have one on the ST3 and the M900, much easier to tell when the chain is dirty - me like. I use Motul chain clean and Chain Lube. - Gene
You're right about it being a little easier to tell when the gold chains are nice and clean. Oddly, they also seem to stay a little cleaner. The frst time I got a gold chain it was because that was what was in stock in the size I needed. Now, it's my first choice.
Quote from: twolanefun on May 29, 2008, 08:32:07 PM
I use to be absolutely anal about lubing my chain at the end of the day, usually about 400-500 miles.
Sorry, I can't resist interrupting a really great thread ... but Gene your choice of words included "anal" and "lubing" in the same sentence. :o Who's the Freudian freak boy, now? No more proctologist-related funning from you is allowed.
Quote from: jetpuff716 on May 30, 2008, 01:53:56 PM
Sorry, I can't resist interrupting a really great thread ... but Gene your choice of words included "anal" and "lubing" in the same sentence. :o Who's the Freudian freak boy, now? No more proctologist-related funning from you is allowed.
Dude, I think your punctuation is off - shouldn't there be a
colon in there somewhere?
Quote from: Tocino on May 30, 2008, 03:00:10 PM
Dude, I think your punctuation is off - shouldn't there be a colon in there somewhere?
(http://thecraptastics.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/fail.jpg)
One factor I have not seen mentioned in this thread is the crap that builds up around the front sprocket. I clean my chain every 500 miles with Motorex or Motul Chain Cleaner and a rag and then lube the chain with either Motorex 622 or Motul synthetic chain lube. When I clean / lube the chain I also remove the front sprocket cover and clear the build up there away with chain cleaner. If you have never cleaned behind the front sprocket cover and have few thousand miles on your bike, you may have a rude surprise waiting for you.
Bill
Quote from: 944sssp on June 05, 2008, 07:24:41 PM
One factor I have not seen mentioned in this thread is the crap that builds up around the front sprocket. I clean my chain every 500 miles with Motorex or Motul Chain Cleaner and a rag and then lube the chain with either Motorex 622 or Motul synthetic chain lube. When I clean / lube the chain I also remove the front sprocket cover and clear the build up there away with chain cleaner. If you have never cleaned behind the front sprocket cover and have few thousand miles on your bike, you may have a rude surprise waiting for you.
Bill
Congrats on your first post! [thumbsup]
Quote from: 944sssp on June 05, 2008, 07:24:41 PM
One factor I have not seen mentioned in this thread is the crap that builds up around the front sprocket. I clean my chain every 500 miles with Motorex or Motul Chain Cleaner and a rag and then lube the chain with either Motorex 622 or Motul synthetic chain lube. When I clean / lube the chain I also remove the front sprocket cover and clear the build up there away with chain cleaner. If you have never cleaned behind the front sprocket cover and have few thousand miles on your bike, you may have a rude surprise waiting for you.
Bill
Totally agree with you Bill, my mistake for not mentioning it. I always take off the front sprocket cover and clean behind there, flooding it with chain clean until it's nice and shiny again. Sometimes I have to take a long thin screwdriver - that I've had for about 20 years - and cover the tip with a rag and use it like a qtip. - Gene
yes, it's legit. google around and you can find it referenced on quite a few sites. i had another link to an e-zine that called up the writer to confirm it -- and he did.
(http://www.belome.com/images/tsubakiletter.jpg)
Quote from: ducatizzzz on June 06, 2008, 05:36:08 AM
yes, it's legit. google around and you can find it referenced on quite a few sites. i had another link to an e-zine that called up the writer to confirm it -- and he did.
(http://www.belome.com/images/tsubakiletter.jpg)
I understand that the rollers are sealed, but the plates themselves rub together and they are not sealed. It seems that they could use some lubing as they rub together.
Finally, Chain companies exist to sell more chains so I am not sure they would tell you how to make their product last forever.
Quote from: potomacduc on June 06, 2008, 09:03:55 AM
I understand that the rollers are sealed, but the plates themselves rub together and they are not sealed. It seems that they could use some lubing as they rub together.
Finally, Chain companies exist to sell more chains so I am not sure they would tell you how to make their product last forever.
he is saying to CLEAN the chain with WD40 and then LUBE the chain with PJ1 Blue etc.
Not just clean with WD40.
Hmmm, I read that to say that your chain would stay cleaner if you didn't use PJ1 ot other tacky lubes. Did I mention that Maxima is the best and everything else stinks? [cheeky]
Quote from: potomacduc on June 06, 2008, 09:47:32 AM
Hmmm, I read that to say that your chain would stay cleaner if you didn't use PJ1 ot other tacky lubes. Did I mention that Maxima is the best and everything else stinks? [cheeky]
you're right, i just pulled the name out when i replied.
but wd40 is only for cleaning, you still need to lube for the outer plates. point of the letter is that wd40 is ok to clean o-ring chains
WD 40 cleans, but also leaves a thin layer of protection. Chain "lube" only adds protection from rust, doesn't actually "lube" the chain.
If you use WD often and store your bike indoors, you don't need anything else. Trust me. [evil] :P
Quote from: ducatizzzz on June 06, 2008, 09:49:37 AM
you're right, i just pulled the name out when i replied.
but wd40 is only for cleaning, you still need to lube for the outer plates. point of the letter is that wd40 is ok to clean o-ring chains
Got it, thanks. But the two stage Maxima method is still #1! [thumbsup]
Quote from: mdubya on June 06, 2008, 11:23:38 AM
If you use WD often and store your bike indoors, you don't need anything else. Trust me. [evil] :P
give me a written full replacement warranty and i will..
Quote from: mdubya on June 06, 2008, 11:23:38 AM
WD 40 cleans, but also leaves a thin layer of protection. Chain "lube" only adds protection from rust, doesn't actually "lube" the chain.
If you use WD often and store your bike indoors, you don't need anything else. Trust me. [evil] :P
i have to trust Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Hunt with their WD40 recommendation since they have so many miles on so many bikes. I have seen their bikes and know them to be well maintained.
Eric