Chain lube!

[corksil]

So here we go again with chain-drama.

I received my replacement in the mail today and if I can stop riding long enough to swap it onto the bike, I will have it installed today or tomorrow.

After that, begging the question of proper lube.

It seems that my last chain wore funny due to being too tight and not lubed correctly. It only made it a few thousand miles.

Hernan was recommending a 90% ATF, 10% gear oil mixture, with lube every 200 miles. Whatever I go with, I will be sure to do it every 200 miles.

I have three options before me.

Maxima chain wax (sprocketcenter highly recommended against chain 'wax')
A nice big bottle of beck arnley ATF (for type z1), and a bottle of 75w90 gear oil
Or finally, PJ1 blue label chain lube (that sprocketcenter included w/new chain for free.)

What would you go with? I'm liking the ATV/gear oil idea if I can get some more positive feedback, because I always have ATF and gear oil around the shop. Becoming a repetitive specialized-chain-lube customer sounds expensive and I don't want to be running out and have to go buy a bottle of 'that special stuff' all the time at the local stealership @ 20 bucks a can..

What do you recommend? Am I good with ATF/gear oil?

I'm going to lube the chain for the first time today or tomorrow, and would like to break it in with the stuff I plan on sticking with.

I'm aware that you're supposed to clean chains cold, before lube, and lube them when hot.

Thanks!

[Motofool]

[corksil]

Heh heh.

[broken neck]

I love the Maxima chain wax...

At first, I just add some over the existing one, so my chain stayed lube, but it was kind of very sticky and I had a bad time trying to get the sprocket cover off this past winter...

Now, I use a rag to remove the most dust, grim, etc... that's sitting on the chain, then I spay the chain... The wax stays there even in the worst thunderstorm and heavy rain I rode through... And by cleaning it before, the chain is way cleaner and the inside of the sprocket cover is still nice looking.

I do around every 600 km (around 400 miles, I would guesstimate the conversion) more or less.

[Hossua]

I usually use Synergyn Chain and Cable lube, but my uncle sells it so .

[ninjamunky85]

I now use Kawasaki synthetic chain lube cause I got a big 'ol can of it for cheap. $$$



Before that I used to use gear oil, seemed to work just fine, but the chain lube is a little less messy. Just remember a little goes a long way. Over lubing your chain just causes it to attract more dirt and grime.

[corksil]

Okay so far ATF/gear oil is winning the discussion.

And the sub-text being "use what you've got, and can get for cheap.'' Frequency is more important than the product.

[flitecontrol]

ATF/gear oil is going to attract dirt, shorten chain life, sling off, and make a mess. It's what was used to lube motorcycle chains 50 years ago! Modern O or X ring chains, which are internally lubed, only need lubricant on the contact portions of the chain rollers and sockets and to condition the rubber rings. There are numerous products that contain Teflon and other ingredients specifically designed to do just that.

[nickjpass]

I hate bel-ray flicks off every time I use it.

I've heard good things about maxima.



I'll let you know when I use it, next week maybe?

[EternalNewb]

I've had fling-off issues with Motul Road Chain Lube, though I may have been overzealous in its initial application. Pictures are in the "What Did You Do To Your Ninjette Today" thread. I have heard nice things about PJ1 Blue Label, but have yet to try it.

[Skullz]

Tried the kawa chain lube and it made such a mess over time along with slinging that stuff all over the bike and me, i said screw it and got the maxima chain wax and love it, won't go back to a chain lube.

[Desmoluci]

+1 on the PJ-1 blue or black.

I never use "wax."

[Rifleman]

Originally Posted by corksil

Okay so far ATF/gear oil is winning the discussion.

And the sub-text being "use what you've got, and can get for cheap.'' Frequency is more important than the product.

make sure it is easy to do, so you do it often... I just use the standard Farm & Fleet white lithium grease in a spray can... super easy to center stand it, and give it a spray every Monday night when i get home from work.

[InvisiBill]

Originally Posted by flitecontrol

ATF/gear oil is going to attract dirt, shorten chain life, sling off, and make a mess. It's what was used to lube motorcycle chains 50 years ago! Modern O or X ring chains, which are internally lubed, only need lubricant on the contact portions of the chain rollers and sockets and to condition the rubber rings. There are numerous products that contain Teflon and other ingredients specifically designed to do just that.

This is my understanding as well.


Some (not all) Walmarts carry the DuPont products, which is what I've used in the past.

DuPont Motorcycle Degreaser, 11 oz
DuPont Teflon Chain Saver, 11 oz

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/dupon...ain-lube-2012/ discusses some (possible) formula changes to it.

I also picked up some Original Bike Spirits Chain Lube but haven't tried it yet. Semi-related, but I've heard that the discontinued Pro Honda Spray Cleaner & Polish that people loved has been resurrected as OBS Spray Cleaner and Polish, after Amrep bought the formula. Advance Auto has OBS products and coupon codes galore.


I sure do miss the shaft-drive VN700 every time I have to do chain maintenance...

[Ralgha]

Originally Posted by InvisiBill

I also picked up some Original Bike Spirits Chain Lube but haven't tried it yet.

I use this, no complaints. Doesn't fling off at all.

[Ninjinsky]

Originally Posted by InvisiBill

I sure do miss the shaft-drive VN700 every time I have to do chain maintenance...

Cars haven't used chain since 1908 or whatever
I love shafties Ive had a beemer and a CX500. You don't realize how much you worry about a chain till you don't have one.
If they can make these step through shafties economically

darn sure they could make a 250

[cadd]

200 miles? That's so frequent! Is that the proper interval? I lube mine every 500-700 miles.

I normally clean chain with diesel fuel and a rag. Then spray on a little bit of Dupont chain saver lube and call it a day. It literally takes me 10 min from start to finish. No fling. No clumpy black grime.

On my bicycles, I lube every 200 miles (about every 2 weeks for me if I commute by bike). Same process. Takes me 5 mins for a bicycle since I can manhandle it and don't have to put it up on stands.

[Flying]

I spray on used motor oil whenever the o-rings look dry.

[InvisiBill]

Originally Posted by cadd

200 miles? That's so frequent! Is that the proper interval? I lube mine every 500-700 miles.

I normally clean chain with diesel fuel and a rag. Then spray on a little bit of Dupont chain saver lube and call it a day. It literally takes me 10 min from start to finish. No fling. No clumpy black grime.

The '12 manual says it should be lubed every 400 miles and slack should be checked every 600. I know a lot of people will just add more lube, and go a few intervals before thoroughly cleaning it. The DuPont Chain Saver actually says it has a formula to shed the dirt off, so simply adding more lube most of the time may work quite well in that situation (if the chain is cleaning itself somewhat during normal operation and you're just replacing the lube that gets shed).

[nickjpass]

or if it rains...don't forget that.

[SmithSwede]

Nobody will like my answer.

Get a quart of cheap marine gear oil from Walmart.
Get a cheap 50 cent painters brush from Walmart. Put oil in screw top container. Put brush in zip lock bag.

Apply gear oil to chain with brush. I do this carefully with engine running on paddock stand.

Use the oil sparingly. But apply it frequently (especially after riding in the rain). Most people lube too infrequently, but when they do, they use WAY too much. Little but often beats a lot infrequently. Every couple hundred miles is good.

The point is to make the process quick and easy so you do it often and as a matter of routine. I do it after every other commute (200 mi) on a hot chain -- takes only a couple minutes while I'm already geared up anyway.

Don't waste time "cleaning" your chain. If it is lubed frequently (but sparingly) it will stay very clean. Cleaning is an utter waste of time and counterproductive.

[Brother Michigan]

Originally Posted by corksil

Becoming a repetitive specialized-chain-lube customer sounds expensive and I don't want to be running out and have to go buy a bottle of 'that special stuff' all the time at the local stealership @ 20 bucks a can..

Get a greaseninja and you'll be amazed at how far a can of lube can go!

[corksil]

Thanks again guys!

[caltony]

Im still only using silicone spray on my x ring chains with excellant results. I lube the orings just before a ride..every ride.
I use the teflon spray on my non o ring chain on my kdx. Surprisingly, with all the things that my dupont teflon spray can says the spray can lube it doesn t say it can lube rubber.

The advantage of using what most chain lubes that list themselves as oring compatible is that they wont distroy the orings. I guess thats what they mean by compatable. Few say they will actually lube and protect the oring.

Tony

[InvisiBill]

Originally Posted by Brother Michigan

Get a greaseninja and you'll be amazed at how far a can of lube can go!

I hadn't seen the GreaseNinja before, but I ordered one this morning. Thanks!

[corksil]

Yeah I just looked it up and it looks like a clever device.

Apparently directs the lubricant to the specific spots that require it, instead of spray and pray.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by SmithSwede

.......... Use the oil sparingly. But apply it frequently (especially after riding in the rain). Most people lube too infrequently, but when they do, they use WAY too much. Little but often beats a lot infrequently. Every couple hundred miles is good...........

Pictures or vids? ................. that explanation about Walmart brushes, screw top containers and zip-lock bags was too much for my slow speed.

[Brother Michigan]

Originally Posted by InvisiBill

I hadn't seen the GreaseNinja before, but I ordered one this morning. Thanks!

Originally Posted by corksil

Yeah I just looked it up and it looks like a clever device.

Apparently directs the lubricant to the specific spots that require it, instead of spray and pray.

Makes chain cleaning a breeze, too! Glad I could enlighten a few more people!