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Author Topic: Chain questions...  (Read 1272 times)

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Offline M.Brane

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Re: Chain questions...
« Reply #30 on: May 08, 2014, 11:04:03 PM »
Quote from: Dan K on May 08, 2014, 12:59:38 PM
Quote from: Wesley on May 08, 2014, 08:45:12 AM
Quote from: redbandit14 on May 07, 2014, 02:10:52 PM
Quote from: chornbe on April 22, 2014, 09:04:30 AM
Quote from: M.Brane on April 21, 2014, 08:52:28 PM
Never, ever, clean your chain with anything other than a rag soaked with some mild cleaner. Spraying your chain with anything other than lubricant ( hint: WD40 is NOT a lubricant ) or soaking it in kerosine ( really? ) will accelerate it's demise.


+1

Simple Green (or other appropriate cleaner) to clean

Proper chain lube (pick your fave from a plethora) to lube.

As noted, WD-40 is not a lubricant, not is it strictly a cleaner, though it has *some* properties of both.
meh  , I've never used anything but kerosene and I've never had unusually short chain life.

And for some reason I LOVE chain maintenance not as much on trips of course :) but it just seems to keep me focused.

My results are similar to redbandit14's.  I soak my chain in kerosene for a good, deep cleaning each spring, and use chain lube/wax as needed througout the year.  I got 20k+ miles out of my last chain--granted, I'm not abusive on my motorcycle and most of those were commuting miles.   :rolleyes:

Warming up a chain is only be necessary for applying chain lube or chain wax.

Got it. So I can use the Kerosene (just a gallon can) to clean the chain, cold or not. Sometimes I just take some motor oil in a shop rag and with the back wheel lifted I just spin the wheel by hand and wipe the chain with the rag. I'll likely do that after the kerosene, then after another few hundred miles I'll just hit it with some spray lube.

 Nearly 40K out of my last chain & sprockets. The only reason I changed it was the hooked front. The chain itself, and the rear sprocket had life left.. Continue soaking in kerosine if you wish.
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Online mugwump

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Re: Chain questions...
« Reply #31 on: May 09, 2014, 04:39:30 AM »
I've had good results with kerosene as a cleaning agent using this http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/kettenmax-chain-cleaner/. My commuter would do 400 miles a week with a weekly cleaning ect.... aprox 15K a year and a chain would last all season probably more but maintenance is the reason we have winter.

That said I do have one bike with a shaft and wouldn't mind one with a belt either. Cleaning a chain isn't one of the reasons I like to ride.

The only chain I've soaked in kero is a non "O" ring chain before waxing, when my knees were good enough to ride a bicycle :'(
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Offline redbandit14

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Re: Chain questions...
« Reply #32 on: June 11, 2014, 11:38:16 AM »
Quote from: M.Brane on May 08, 2014, 11:04:03 PM


 Nearly 40K out of my last chain & sprockets. The only reason I changed it was the hooked front. The chain itself, and the rear sprocket had life left.. Continue soaking in kerosine if you wish.
Ok maybe I have had unusually short  chain life then.... 40K Miles is impressive. I usually get around 40k Km's and consider that normal.

One thing i just noticed is you said never soak your chain in Kerosene , I've never actually done that i clean it on the bike with a soft brush. Maybe that 's what you meant  ?

Anyway I may have to think about this chain cleaning thing.
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Online viffergyrl

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Re: Chain questions...
« Reply #33 on: June 11, 2014, 03:02:04 PM »
Quote from: redbandit14 on June 11, 2014, 11:38:16 AM
Quote from: M.Brane on May 08, 2014, 11:04:03 PM


 Nearly 40K out of my last chain & sprockets. The only reason I changed it was the hooked front. The chain itself, and the rear sprocket had life left.. Continue soaking in kerosine if you wish.
Ok maybe I have had unusually short  chain life then.... 40K Miles is impressive. I usually get around 40k Km's and consider that normal.

One thing i just noticed is you said never soak your chain in Kerosene , I've never actually done that i clean it on the bike with a soft brush. Maybe that 's what you meant  ?

Anyway I may have to think about this chain cleaning thing.

M.Brane may chime in later, but nothing touches our chains except the lube - no kerosene, no brushes, no rags.... Brushes just work the dirt into the O-rings. Just let the lube do its thing. We are keeping data on how long our chains last but you all may have to wait a while.... we have three bikes in the ride rotation.  :lol:
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Offline Black Hills

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Re: Chain questions...
« Reply #34 on: June 11, 2014, 03:13:50 PM »
my chains seem to last 10-15k no matter what I do?  I have tried all types of lube from wax to no fling sticky crap to bell rays (?) new "clean lube" but finally settled on exactly what the manufacturers all recommend, 80/90 gear oil. bought a pump oil can and plugged the end with a big nylon washer and nut, then drill two holed in the tub to allow the oil to run out right on the top of each side plate. works well. 
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Offline M.Brane

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Re: Chain questions...
« Reply #35 on: June 12, 2014, 12:51:48 AM »
Quote from: Black Hills on June 11, 2014, 03:13:50 PM
my chains seem to last 10-15k no matter what I do?  I have tried all types of lube from wax to no fling sticky crap to bell rays (?) new "clean lube" but finally settled on exactly what the manufacturers all recommend, 80/90 gear oil. bought a pump oil can and plugged the end with a big nylon washer and nut, then drill two holed in the tub to allow the oil to run out right on the top of each side plate. works well.


This is what I've been using. Tried the chain saver stuff, but it's too messy IMHO. Still cleaner than gear oil, but gear oil is a good chain lube if you don't mind the fling.

Quote from: viffergyrl on June 11, 2014, 03:02:04 PM
no rags....


 Actually I do clean chains occasionally with a WD40 soaked rag, but that's to do a close inspection not to prolong life.
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Online CLAY

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Re: Chain questions...
« Reply #36 on: June 15, 2014, 09:17:40 PM »
I use a pro-oiler on my B12:
http://www.pro-oiler.net/
The thing is awesome.  I just fill the reservoir and call it good.  I see he now has a GPS unit to read speed.  Sweet!
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"Most accidents happen when the meek meet the douchebags."  -Viffergyrl

Offline redbandit14

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Re: Chain questions...
« Reply #37 on: June 20, 2014, 08:32:55 AM »
Not sure just how much to put into it but my factory service manual does say use Kerosene to clean the chain.

One thing when i said brush I'm talking a soft paint brush. If that's enough pressure to push dirt into the o-rings they are not very effective at all.

I still haven't cleaned mine though lol   
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Offline bomber

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Re: Chain questions...
« Reply #38 on: June 20, 2014, 03:22:39 PM »
kerosene works well . . . . . . .

IO just can't bring myself to have to stock yet ANOTHER single use chemical in the Entropy Lab . . . . .


Now, if I had one of those Diesel KLRs . . . . .
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