Chain Maintenance - what do YOU do?

Seems like there is an echo in here...JK I couldn't agree more

 

There is! :biggrin:

I just do what Mello Dude taught me with this link...

 

REALLY? .... i dont clean mine alot but about every oil change so 2k miles or so.. and lube once a week..i ride daily.. and i just got 19,500 miles out of this last chain and sprockets, it could probably go longer but dont feel like pushing my luck too far..or end up pushing the heavy VFR

 

Yep I've used that Dupont stuff too, in fact where'd that can go..

 

I use honda white lithium chain lube seems to work good. I check it every other sunday.

 

You found it. I haven't used anything but WD-40 on my chains (street or race bikes) since the early 90's. I keep the chain properly adjusted and clean, and WD-40 it every couple of weeks. I get excellent chain life and no mess.

I forget which one it is, but one of the main chain manufacturers specifically recommends this as the way to properly care for their chains. I want to say it's RK, but I'm not certain (haven't looked in a long time).

 

I tried this as an experiment years ago on my Triumph 1200 Daytona, and I have to say that I only got a marginal difference from my regular clean/lube with WD-40 method. IIRC I got about 13,000 miles out of that chain/sprockets, and my typical life is about 15,000. I guess that's a little more than marginal, but it isn't as big a difference as I was expecting. In fact, it's probably a small enough difference that I can't attribute it all to the neglect...could have ridden more in rain, or who knows.

 

From RK's website

 

Ok, that's not the one then. The one I read (I think I have it saved somewhere from a previous discussion) just says to use WD-40 and that's it. I'll see if I can find it.

 

WD-40 First Hand Knowledge

I put 30,000 miles on a 1993 Honda Nighthawk 750, all on the original chain, using nothing but WD-40 to clean it and to lube it. I would typically spray the chain once every 2 or 3 rides regardless of miles.

I sold it to a friend last spring and he put 1500 miles on it. So at about 31,500 miles it was about to the end of the adjustment range, and it had become a little noisy and he wanted to replace it. I helped him change the chain and sprockets about a month ago, and when I cut the chain off, I cleaned it with Simple Green and really inspected it closely because my entire motorcycle riding life, I've been told that WD-40 will "eat O rings"!

There were no missing O rings. Every single O ring was still in place, and there was absolutely no rust sneaking out from behind any O ring or side plate. I could see no evidence of any damage or wear to the chain or O rings at all. Yes, it had stretched, but after 31,000 miles that is to be expected. (My friend might still have that old chain if anyone local would like to take a look at it).

I have talked to and/or read opinions from countless riders that are positive that WD-40 will "eat" or "destroy" O rings, but I can tell you for a fact that the O rings on a Honda OEM motorcycle chain are just fine in WD-40. Maybe a non-oem chain would use different O rings that might care about WD-40, but the Ebay O ring chain that we put on the Nighthawk will be seeing nothing but WD-40. Until I can physically prove that WD-40 destroys this cheapo chain, I'll believe that it's harmless.

My 2001 VFR is at 17,000 miles - with 15,000 of those being put on by me. I've used nothing but WD-40 since I bought it last spring, and so far the chain looks awesome and has only needed adjustment a few times.

In my opinion, WD-40 is all that's needed to maintain a chain, as long as it is used often enough. If you let it go for 800 miles, I'm sure you're pushing it. I do 400 mile days occasionally, and just spray it before and after the ride. Cleanup is a breeze too - if it gets on the rear wheel, just spray some WD-40 into a rag and wipe it down. It'll look like it was freshly waxed.

Anyway I just wanted to share some first hand experience with anyone who might be interested. I'm not looking to argue, offend, or debate the issue - I'm simply providing hard facts that I gained over a 14 year test of WD-40! :smile:

 

Yeah, I always figured chain lube was more for preventing cosmetic rust on the outside of the links, than anything else. And I'm getting mad surface rust using WD-40 followed by engine oil. I might have to try some pasty/waxy type lube. As for the actual working part of the chain, I don't see why a few drops of regular engine oil every week won't do the trick.

 

I'm not sure why that is...I've never gotten surface rust using just WD-40. Maybe adding the gear oil over it is counter-productive? You don't need it...the WD-40 alone does the trick. My current bike is a 94 CBR1000F and its chain is coming up on 20,000 miles (this is actually better than I usually do miles-wise) and it's not showing any signs of wear. It's never had anything but WD-40 on it since I installed it, and neither has any other chain on any of my bikes since about 1992 or so.

Give it a shot on your next chain.

 

You guy's are just not keeping up here, Check out Fluid film, best stuff for chains EVER.

I have been using for over a year now and man what a difference this stuff makes. I use a third of what I would use with a wax or oil and I only lube every

2 to 3000 kms

You heard right, this stuff is the bomb, google it.