Chain lubrication

JTHSPACE · 05-31-2015, 04:34 AM

So, what are people's favourite lube method.

Options are

automatic oilers,
manual oilers,
chain lube oil spray or
chain lube wax spray?

I used to take chains off, pop them into a big round tin of chain lube (looked like a very big can of Johnson's shoe polish) and gently heat on the stove to melt it, take the chain out and let it drain and wait for the lube to cool and go hard. Then run very fast as my Mum came in, saw the mess, smelt the hot wax and chased me out of the kitchen.

She never forgave me for heating a crankcase in the oven and freezing the roller bearings so they would just "pop in". She claimed her pies tasted of Duckhams oil for months . . . .

Jeff

Mudflap · 05-31-2015, 08:14 AM

I use O-ring chains and spray them once in a while with teflon lube. They last many times longer than non O-ring chains.

**cheesy** · 05-31-2015, 11:05 AM

What are these chains you speak of?

Smartassery aside, I've always done a dip in chainsaw Bar and Chain oil. My chainsaws see more abuse than most bike chains ever do, so if it keeps my saws happy, I'm happy.

JTHSPACE · 05-31-2015, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesy

What are these chains you speak of?

I feel I have been shafted . . . .

Weldangrind · 05-31-2015, 12:34 PM

Maxima Chain Wax. Good for cables as well.

MICRider · 05-31-2015, 12:37 PM

Usually I clean the crud off with either WD-40 or some kerosene. If I use WD-40 I'll sometimes just leave it like that (clean, O ring chains) or I'll spray some chain wax on it and let it tack up before I ride. In the oldy days when I didn't have o ring chains I'd clean them up with solvent (kerosene or diesel) and then gruel some engine oil or Bel Ray spray lube on them... Lots of fling up! Lol

SpudRider · 05-31-2015, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudflap

I use O-ring chains and spray them once in a while with teflon lube. They last many times longer than non O-ring chains.

I second the vote for O-ring drive chains.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MICRider

Usually I clean the crud off with either WD-40 or some kerosene. If I use WD-40 I'll sometimes just leave it like that (clean, O ring chains) or I'll spray some chain wax on it and let it tack up before I ride. In the oldy days when I didn't have o ring chains I'd clean them up with solvent (kerosene or diesel) and then gruel some engine oil or Bel Ray spray lube on them... Lots of fling up! Lol

I also second the vote for cleaning the drive chain with WD-40.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesy

...I've always done a dip in chainsaw Bar and Chain oil. My chainsaws see more abuse than most bike chains ever do, so if it keeps my saws happy, I'm happy.

I cast another vote for bar and chain oil.

After wiping the excess WD-40 from the chain with paper towels, I lube only the rollers with wither 90W gear oil, or bar and chain oil.

JTHSPACE · 06-01-2015, 01:42 AM

THanks for all the suggestions / options. I dont know what type of chain I have, other than I have read on here that Chinese chains stretch so for the moment I will assume I have the cheapest possible factory fit. I will wax this one, I think. It is certainly waxed at the moment.

Krasi_BG · 06-01-2015, 05:41 AM

It's not O-ring, I can tell you that

JTHSPACE · 06-01-2015, 03:32 PM

I had that feeling . . .

ripcuda · 06-01-2015, 04:01 PM

O-ring chains are nice... and they tend to last longer... but they tend to be a tad wider and have increased friction due to O(or X)-rings. Good chain maintenance will get you a good life out of a non-ring'ed chain. But many folks don't like to get greasy.

Cheers!

Krasi_BG · 06-02-2015, 02:48 PM

Here you go:
http://chinariders.net/showpost.php?...9&postcount=29

JTHSPACE · 06-03-2015, 12:12 AM

Interesting,

Jeff

pete · 06-04-2015, 06:15 AM

castrol spray on chain lube at home or what ever is the cheapest on the day...& carry a small twist top mustard bottle of gear oil for on the trail...

Weldangrind · 06-04-2015, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MICRider

Lots of fling up! Lol

Exactly the reason why I like Chain Wax; no fling up.

05-31-2015, 04:34 AM	#1
JTHSPACE Join Date: May 2015 Location: Cambridge, England Posts: 140	Chain lubrication So, what are people's favourite lube method. Options are automatic oilers, manual oilers, chain lube oil spray or chain lube wax spray? I used to take chains off, pop them into a big round tin of chain lube (looked like a very big can of Johnson's shoe polish) and gently heat on the stove to melt it, take the chain out and let it drain and wait for the lube to cool and go hard. Then run very fast as my Mum came in, saw the mess, smelt the hot wax and chased me out of the kitchen. She never forgave me for heating a crankcase in the oven and freezing the roller bearings so they would just "pop in". She claimed her pies tasted of Duckhams oil for months . . . . Jeff __________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Riding bikes for over 40 years Honda C50 / SS50 / CB125 / CB250 Velocettes (various) Piaggio's / Honda's / Yamaha's Raptor . . . . the List Goes On . . . . Last edited by JTHSPACE; 05-31-2015 at 04:36 AM. Reason: Added picture
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05-31-2015, 11:05 AM	#3
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,779	What are these chains you speak of? Smartassery aside, I've always done a dip in chainsaw Bar and Chain oil. My chainsaws see more abuse than most bike chains ever do, so if it keeps my saws happy, I'm happy. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
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05-31-2015, 12:34 PM	#5
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Maxima Chain Wax. Good for cables as well. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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06-01-2015, 01:42 AM	#8
JTHSPACE Join Date: May 2015 Location: Cambridge, England Posts: 140	THanks for all the suggestions / options. I dont know what type of chain I have, other than I have read on here that Chinese chains stretch so for the moment I will assume I have the cheapest possible factory fit. I will wax this one, I think. It is certainly waxed at the moment. __________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Riding bikes for over 40 years Honda C50 / SS50 / CB125 / CB250 Velocettes (various) Piaggio's / Honda's / Yamaha's Raptor . . . . the List Goes On . . . .
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06-01-2015, 03:32 PM	#10
JTHSPACE Join Date: May 2015 Location: Cambridge, England Posts: 140	I had that feeling . . . __________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Riding bikes for over 40 years Honda C50 / SS50 / CB125 / CB250 Velocettes (various) Piaggio's / Honda's / Yamaha's Raptor . . . . the List Goes On . . . .
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05-31-2015, 08:14 AM	#2
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,870	I use O-ring chains and spray them once in a while with teflon lube. They last many times longer than non O-ring chains.
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05-31-2015, 12:37 PM	#6
MICRider Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,274	Usually I clean the crud off with either WD-40 or some kerosene. If I use WD-40 I'll sometimes just leave it like that (clean, O ring chains) or I'll spray some chain wax on it and let it tack up before I ride. In the oldy days when I didn't have o ring chains I'd clean them up with solvent (kerosene or diesel) and then gruel some engine oil or Bel Ray spray lube on them... Lots of fling up! Lol
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06-01-2015, 05:41 AM	#9
Krasi_BG Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sofia, Bulgaria Posts: 436	It's not O-ring, I can tell you that
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06-01-2015, 04:01 PM	#11
ripcuda Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 253	O-ring chains are nice... and they tend to last longer... but they tend to be a tad wider and have increased friction due to O(or X)-rings. Good chain maintenance will get you a good life out of a non-ring'ed chain. But many folks don't like to get greasy. Cheers! __________________ '20 TaoTao Hellcat 125 "grommet" '04 Yamaha TTR-125LE '00 Yamaha TTR-90 '07 Kinroad XT200GY Runmaster (sold) '07 KMD GY6 150cc ATV (sold) '07 Kangchao 250cc ATV Monster (sold) Baja Moto DB-30 "Doodlebugs"(x3) (sold) '06 Hi-Bird 200 parts bike (sold)
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06-02-2015, 02:48 PM	#12
Krasi_BG Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sofia, Bulgaria Posts: 436	Here you go: http://chinariders.net/showpost.php?...9&postcount=29
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06-03-2015, 12:12 AM	#13
JTHSPACE Join Date: May 2015 Location: Cambridge, England Posts: 140	Interesting, Jeff __________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Riding bikes for over 40 years Honda C50 / SS50 / CB125 / CB250 Velocettes (various) Piaggio's / Honda's / Yamaha's Raptor . . . . the List Goes On . . . .
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06-04-2015, 06:15 AM	#14
pete Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: ChCh , NZ Posts: 2,261	castrol spray on chain lube at home or what ever is the cheapest on the day...& carry a small twist top mustard bottle of gear oil for on the trail... __________________ 09 XT660R ... 06 TTR250 ... 80 Montesa H6 125 Enduro... 77 Montesa Cota 348 MRR "Malcom Rathnell Replica"... Current resto projects.. 81 Honda CT110... 80 Kawasaki KL250A1... 11 Husaburg TE125 enduro... "sold" along with another 31... Lifan 125 Pitbike.. "stolen" ... KIWI BIKER FORUM...... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/content.php All the best offroad rides in NZ... http://www.remotemoto.com/ E-mail... xtpete1@gmail.com
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