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What to use on my chain?

Mortifer

Mortifer

Well-known member
Joined
May 14, 2002
Location
SJ
Moto(s)
'26 MT-09 SP
Name
Mike
What do you guys use to clean and lube/protect your chains? I've heard wax, car oil, and lots more, can someone do a poll on this?
 
WD-40 and soft cloth to clean off old gunk, bike on stand engine off transmission in neutral

WD-40 to remove water after riding in rain

Chain wax/synth chain lube to protect and lube (

NO NO's include
gasoline
carb cleaner
brake cleaner
stiff brushes
cleaning the chain with the motor running up on a stand
powerwashers


SAS
 
I've seen pics of a hand that cleaned a chain with the engine running. not good. :eek
Thanks for the info, I never thought to use WD-40 to clean it, but if its safe for the o rings then it sounds good.
 
manual says kerosene to clean and i think any good chain lube will do. heard bel ray was good.

i'm still on my 1st can of chain lube i got w/ my gix. i found a can of WD40 i'm using w/ a shop rag to clean w/ right now.
 
I usually warm the chain up with a short ride before i clean it. I use WD40 to clean it up with a rag. Let it soak for a bit.

Then I use the Bel Ray Chain Lube. I like it the best cause it doesn't fling off and get on your clothes. (I don't have a chain guard :D )
 
kerosine to clean and chain wax to lube. i usually spend about 2 hours on it cause i am very anal about that type of thing
 
have heard mixed reviews re: wd-40, 'specially on o-rings. heard nothing but positive w/ kerosene though. as for lube, ditto on everyone above.
 
Port4mance said:
Your supposed to clean and lube your chain? I usually just tighten mine when it starts to get noisy.
Click to expand...

are you kidding me?
 
WD40 is kerosene.

it should Never be used as a lubricant, only a cleaner.
 
pvd said:
WD40 is kerosene.

it should Never be used as a lubricant, only a cleaner.
Click to expand...

Actually I think it has alcohol has a base solvent. It dries out too quickly to be kero based. However it is a shitty lubricant.

Also the alcohol displaces water (absorbs it) which is what WD40 is about. Kero does not displace or absorb water.
 
Same issue of motorcyclist that had their helmet analysis, they also had an interview of the PJ1 guy... He stated that WD-40 and kerosene will do a decent job of cleaning the chian, as all you need to accomplish is dissolve the old lube that is on there. They said the problem with Kerosene and WD-40 is that it leaves it's own residue on the chain. No surprize, but he recomended his own brand chain cleaner.

He said something interesting abou O-ring chains and chain wax. He mentioned how wax doesn't have a "memory". Once you compress wax, it tends to keep it's new formed shape. This is a problem, as the chain will compress the wax, and then be unlubricated for every thereafter revolution.

To the myth that you do not need to lube o-ring chains, o-ring chains trap the lubrication into the chain. However, you need to lubricate the o-rings themselves. This is why you should use a different lube than your old old chain lube. Make sure that it's o-ring safe. I personally use PJ1 blue lable, however, i've had good results with Maxima (the goldish labled one, called clear? i don't remember).

I also clean my chain with kerosene. It was $5 for a gallon at ace, and i've maybe used 1/5th of it, and i've had it for a year. I just pour it into a spray bottle, put the bike up on the rear stand, spin the wheel by hand, and spray.

I really want to try out Crystal Green... NASA folk use this stuff because supposidly it leaves no residue behind after cleaning...
 
GixxerMan said:
kerosine to clean and chain wax to lube. i usually spend about 2 hours on it cause i am very anal about that type of thing
Click to expand...

Sounds like somebody needs a rear stand....

It used to take me about an hour to get the chain squeeky clean, and then i'd still have to lube it.

I got the rear stand, and now it takes me 20 min. top. and that's if i'm taking my time...
 
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