Chain Replacement... To Remove Packing Grease or Not?

I am about to do my First Chain and Sprocket replacement. I have heard conflicting information on cleaning the packing grease from the New chain before installing it. Looking for more thoughts and information. The new chain is a DID 50VM X-Ring chain going onto my 2000 VFR-800.

Thanks

 

I would be very interested in this as well. I'm not quite there yet, but I don't know how to remove the lock-screws from the chain guard so I can clean all the old lube and gunk out of the path.

 

Wiping off the excess with a clean rag would be an acceptable course of action, but I wouldn't actually "clean" a new chain. Whatever the manufacturer put on it is obviously good for the chain, plus you wouldn't wanna run the risk of getting soap and or solvent past the o-rings/x-rings and disturbing the inside grease.

 

what lock screws??

 

Don't clean the chain... The lube from the manufacturer is great, they do tend to layer it on there a little thick to prevent oxidization (rust) while it shits on the shelf, so I'd take a towel and wipe the excess off. Either way, the first time your chain heats up, it's going to fling the remaining excess all over the rear wheel, so be prepared to spend a little extra time cleaning up the bike after that first ride.

 

Do not put the chain into any kind of solvent to clean it.
The coating on the outside is cosmoline. It is used when ever a steel part is shipped like a bearing or other steel parts. Then they put it in a waxed paper wrapping or plastic bag.

Just wipe the outside of a chain with a cloth. Do not use acetone because then the chain will be so clean that it will get rusty.

 

There is no such thing as a lock screw. There are only locking devices like cotter pins, lock washers, safety wire,
lock tabs, lock nuts including the boeing type locknut, nylock lock nuts or castulated nuts with cotter keys, and thread lock products.

You could use a screw to lock something into place, but then you would have to lock the screw into place to keep IT from coming out, since there is no such thing as a lock screw.

And it is called a screw if it is 1/4 inch or smaller. If it is larger than 1/4, inch, it is a bolt.

 

I left the grease on mine when I did the chain replacment 2 years ago. Then I just cleaned and lubed it at normal 500mile or so intervals. I did not have a problem with the grease slinging off really bad, it was actually cleaner then the gear oil I would normally use to lube with. I've since switched to chain wax though which doesn't sling at all. SO far I've got about 10,000 miles on the new chain and it still looks new.

 

Ok, whatever. My terminology may be wrong, but hopefully my description will be sufficient. On my '07, there are two hex screws on the side of the swing arm that hold the black plastic chain guard. On the top, there are (at least two) philips screws. These are the screws in question. They only seem to turn 1/4 rotation and I thought they might pop out after this turn similar to some fairing fasteners. They are in a tight spot, so only a stub driver (available in my arsenal) will fit to loosen them.

Here are a set of pics showing the item in question. pic #4 seems to show the best view of the tabs that help hold the guard to the swing arm.
HONDA VFR800 INTERCEPTOR SINGLE SIDED SWINGARM: eBay Motors (item 290320582157 end time Jul-22-10 17:38:54 PDT)

 

Let me google that for you

:crazy:

 

Let me google that for you

I use the ones with nylon inserts all the time.

:crazy:

 

I use self locking screws all the time. They have nylon inserts near the end of them.
Let me google that for you

:crazy:

 

They sell chain lube at the motorcycle store that you spray on and leave over night. It soaks in the rollers and coagulates and does not fly off.

 

Do you mean the steel nuts with nylon inserts?

 

I stand corrected. I did click on your link and read all about the self locking screws.
i was the "R" word ....wrong. oops sorry.

 

What about Coach Screws?. They're bigger than 1/4 inch?

 

Sorry about the triple post. There was some kind of glitch in the system that made me think it wasn't working.

 

Yeah, I now use chain wax. Its a lot nicer then the gear oil.

 

Should be chain wax on new chains, not grease. Leave it and think of it as a free first time chain lube job.

 

Lets ask the manufacturer about that stuff
on the outside of the chain, and really learn something important.
The lubricant has to get inside the rollers between the pins and roller sleeve to do any good.