Ducati Monster Forum

my chain is waxed now, but i dont like it. Collets crap.

whats a good product to buy to clean and lube your chain without the wax?

I asked this question at my local shop and they suggested Chain Wax from Maxima Racing Oils.  I know it is still a wax, but it doesn't collect to much junk.  Because I ride in bad weather, I clean the chain every 400 to 500 miles religiously.  I start out by riding until the chain warms up.  Then I clean it with WD40 and a chain brush.  I wipe the chain off and then apply the Chain Wax.  I let it sit for a while and then wipe off the excess.  I also give it a quick wiping before my next ride.  No problems with wax fling on my bike.  I have about 3000 miles on this chain and it still looks good.  Just letting you know what works for me.

PJ1 Blue Label.
I spritz it on the links and scrub side plates and top/bottom with a rag.  Any really nasty spots between links I floss with same rag.

Andy

I clean with kerosene (way cheap, especially compared to wd40) and then use Dupont teflon spray to lube... Dries super qwik and doesn't collect crap...

I use kerosene to clean the chain.  Works great.  Started using dupont teflon multipurpose lubricant, llke it, but it's kind of wax-like.

okay i cleaned my chain and went out and got the PJ1 blue label lube.  How often do you have to apply this stuff? i mean how many miles before reapplying?

(http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/036121/036121191570md.jpg)

No fling, and chain has lasted a long time with no stretch.

get it at lowes for $6

I use ATF on mine.  Wax just collects grit and sand, eventually turning into a gooey kind of sandpaper.

I have switched to this stuff and it is great.  I have converted a few other people to it and they will not go back to what they were using before.

I use motorex.  The secret to not accumulating a lot of crap is wipe off the excess, regardless of what product you use.

I do mine every 300-400 miles.  300/600/900 is an easy interval for me to remember.  I'm sure everyone has a different interval they swear by.

I use some stuff called crystal clear, it's a motocross /offroad product I think its a maxima prod, I'd have to go look.

But sounds like you have found something you like.

reapplication really depends on the environment and the chain lube.  Teh same stuff in 2 different conditions will have different application cycles.  Water, wash schedule, heat, dryness, etc all play into it.  Just don't let the chain dry out.

Kero and Maxima..every 300/400 miles.

+1

Good stuff and no mess.

Maxima wax is the best (every 200 - 300 mi.). I went to it right off the bat when I got the first s4r with white wheels. I am the worst at cleaning - almost never do it (kero works well). I change out chains and sprockets every 15K or so miles and there's life left in them then.

LA

yeah, I watched Chris's (from CA) instructional video on chain maintanence and grabbed Maxima...and would agree with his statement about how it cleans the old gunk off, lubricates and very little fling form what I can see.

300 miles / 500km between light applications and scrubbed with a rag...once she was up to 'pristine' condition she didn't take much to keep in great condition - moral of all maintenance really!

Yep, best stuff out there.

As it goes on, the propellent base acts like a solvent getting rid of anything that "may" be on there. Then dries quickly to protect with a thin layer of film...

I use White Kerosene to clean with and Maxima chain wax every 500 miles. Virtually no fling and my chain has not stratched at all . The White Kerosene I got at a Gas station . I got a 1/4 gallon from the pump for about $2.00 and have done my chain 4 times and there is alot of the stuff left. When I apply the Chain wax I take a piece of cardboard and put it behind and under the chain so that the wax I spray doesn't get on anything except the chain.

I use Silkolene, but do get some fling.  :-\

Part of this might be beacuse I leave more of it on the chain + should be wiping more of it off. It works good though. Cleaning the rear rim can be a bit of a PITA though, so I might try your method, DoubleEagle. I'll let ya know how it works out for me.  :)

I am a Maxima guy,  but when I saw a fellow monster riders chain with the Dupont stuff I instantly became a convert.  If you think Maxima if fling free, try Dupont and you'll be amazed how much cleaner it is IMHO.  Looks like the neighbor up the street just scored a brand new can of Maxima. ;)

Another big +1 for the dupont [thumbsup]  Stuff is great 6000+ miles and the chain still looks new and even better is my rim is easy to clean since there is like zero spin off. All I use to clean it is S100 when washing the bike, spray it on and hose it off.  Suprised by the results every time, chain shines like new.

Motul Cahni Lube; its not a wax and was recomended to protect in wet weather; so It should work the best for most situations; it goes on thin; cleans the dirt off with the overspray off then i wipe off the excess with the heavy duty shop towels.

Also I do notice the chain is quiter; I just put on a very nice X ring DID 520 goldlink ( last chain had 20K miles; it was time for an upgrade) looks great and works even better.

Cheers DD  [moto]

Cheapest & most economically effective way to clean ............... KEROSENE [thumbsup]

For lubrication ....... I use MAXIMA Chain Wax .......... So far, that's the best for me

i cleaned off my chain with WD40....let me guess the wrong thing to use.....???

It was recomended by the local triumph dealership i happen to go into.

WD
40 is OK as long as you don't drench the chain.

Why would it matter if you drench the chain?  WD-40 is mostly a type of kerosene and it doesn't matter whether you soak a chain in kerosene or not.  It's not likely to harm the o-rings, and the o-rings are the important part on a chain.  Kerosene, and by extension WD-40, is a good solvent for chains, but it completely evaporates pretty quickly, so it's best to follow up with a real lubricant.  I haven't checked the chainmakers sites in a long time, but many used to recommend 90W gear oil.

Another +1 for Dupont. 

i cleaned it off with WD40, but put a chain lube on afterwards.

Alright already.  I've been hearing about that Dupont stuff for years, so I'll give it a try.   [thumbsup]

;D

+1 for the maxima, then  ;D


well, that's actually what I use, so...

WD-40 is part Stoddard solvent and part kerosene.  It is aIt is very thin, designed as a water dispersant and penetrant and can (not will) get past O rings, diluting the lube that is inside the chain if you drench it. 

I use Motorex Chain lube to clean and lube (same method Chris Kelley uses).  My last chain lived past the 22K mile mark.  At that point rust from the pins was just starting.

maxima chain wax the chris kelly way from teh videos.

easy and simple to use, ever 200-350 miles as in the video.

cleaning and lubing your chaing isn't some sort of "black magic voodoo" or anything like that, just do it the simple way the ca-cycleworks video shows and if you keep up with it, within 2 applications like this your chain will be clean all the time.  keep up with doing it every 300 miles or so and the chain never gets very dirty and is clean after every chain wax application.

Is kerosene O-ring safe? 

Will it damage the o-rings?  No, it shouldn't.  The o-rings are made to be immersed in petroleum products (grease).

Will it ignite if you insist on smoking or doing other flammable activities while using it?  Yes, so use normal care as when handling any flammable liquid.

I've been wanting to try kerosene myself, but have also been afraid it's too harsh.

I have been using either Dawn or Simple Green to clean, which works, but takes time and a lot of scrubbing. Then I lube with PJ1 Black Label, which I found on the top of some recommended lube list. But I actually am not very happy with it. Even when I wipe off the excess I still gets lots of sling, and dirt seems to stick to the chain a little too well. I'm ready to try something diff. 

I use dupont and I agree for maintenance it is the best product. BUT for those who say it doesnt fling, you must not have white wheels. Everything I have used flings a bit. Dupont will fling as well though I have to say its reduced. Finding a no fling lube/wax is impossible. I you guys want proof I can take a picture of my rear wheel.

It may take a little while to get all the old lube off the chain.  When I switched to the DuPont stuff I would get some fling but it was the old lube that was still on the chain.  After a couple of cleanings with the DuPont stuff I don't see any fling.

Actually, it's the Dawn and Simple Green that are too harsh for this application.  Both are emulsifiers and surfactants.  That means they're meant to break down the barrier that prevents oil and water from mixing.  Getting any water based solution past the o-rings is not a good thing.  Stick with petro based chemicals to clean your chain.

Dammit!  [bang]
Hedgehog, your right. I just checked my Duc manual it does say to use petroleum based cleaners. I only have 2500 miles on the bike. Hopefully the chain is still good. On my way to hardware store for some kerosene.

Just a followup on the logic behind this.  You're not trying to clean the chain down to squeaky clean and then lube it.  What you want to do is just displace dirty lubricant with clean lubricant.

No, not squeaky clean. But the PJ1 Black Label really traps dirt, and to get it off takes effort. Unfortunately spraying fresh PJ1 Black Label lube doesn't displace old dirty lube very well. I'm definitely going to try another product soon.

I always follow the old saying. A clean chain is better than a dirty lubed chain. Use a  good cleaning solution. I have heard kerosene is good. I use Motrax Chain Clean. Followed by Dupont Wax. Sometimes, like after a wash, I let the chain dry out by riding it around for a couple of miles before I wax.

One good thing about the dupont is that nothing beats it at keeping the chain looking like new.

Another +1 on kerosene and dupont.  I have white wheels and no problems with fling.  I also wipe the dupont on while spraying.