Chain Lube..what do you use?

[Detroit Diesel Man]

I replaced my chain tonite..had 7,000 miles on it and it was shot...non-oring and should have been done last year but didnt get around to it..I now have a brand new o-ring chain..all installed and ready for this week-ends ride..my question is...what do you all use for chain lube..I'm pretty picky about my stuff and religously pulled my old chain off cleaned it in solvent dried it and lubed it every 500 miles or so..have been using Maxima Chain Wax...doesnt fling off and seems to be a good lube...says its good for o-ring chains as well..just looking for opinions and info on caring for my new o-ring chain..(always had non o-ring) any tips would be great..Thanks.


DDM

 

[sharpy]

Maxima Chain Wax. last DID 630 o-ring chain did 50,000klms and thats with burnout and wheelies.

 

[GabrielGoes]

I'd say Bel Ray Super clean is by far the best. it sprays on white and hardens, makes the chain look factory. and i like the way sharpy thinks

 

[KRyder13]

I use Dupont Multi-Use Lubricant (Teflon) on my chain. Zero fling once dry. Get it at Lowes for 5 bucks.
Ken

 

[FiremanBob]

Another vote for DuPont Multi-Use Teflon here.

 

[bonanzadave]

PJ1


(thats all I really wanted to post but it was too short)

 

[niclpnut]

PJ1


(thats all I really wanted to post but it was too short)

bah, quote was too short!

 

[Guest]

I use chain wax myself

 

[tkent02]

WD 40. All it does is clean the dirt off and keep the O rings in good shape. The lube is sealed inside.

If there's no O rings, I don't oil them at all. Hopefully it will wear out sooner and be replaced by an O ring chain.

 

[Steve]

The only lube I have used on any of my chains for over 30 years has been 10w-40 engine oil.


But, then, my only chans have been cam chains, inside the engine.

.

 

[Rudeman]

I replaced my chain tonite..had 7,000 miles on it and it was shot...non-oring and should have been done last year but didnt get around to it..I now have a brand new o-ring chain..all installed and ready for this week-ends ride..my question is...what do you all use for chain lube..I'm pretty picky about my stuff and religously pulled my old chain off cleaned it in solvent dried it and lubed it every 500 miles or so..have been using Maxima Chain Wax...doesnt fling off and seems to be a good lube...says its good for o-ring chains as well..just looking for opinions and info on caring for my new o-ring chain..(always had non o-ring) any tips would be great..Thanks.


DDM

Clean it with WD-40 and lube it with chain wax. The rollers on O-ring chains don't need the lube but the chain to spocket contact areas do.

 

[Souske]

Also using the maxima chain wax

 

[Nessism]

Chain wax is less messy, but the wax doesn't lube for crap compared to an oil based lube (learned that using wax on bicycle chains which wear quickly).

As far as not needing lube, yea, the chain doesn't need anything on the inside but the outside of the rollers and the chain rings need lube.

 

[850 Combat]

So what do you recommend?

I'm using Maxima on my RD400, PJ1 on an old XT250, and Honda chain lube on the Skunk and misc. dual sports on OR. The different lubes are in diffreent states, and each is the one that cought my eye when I was shopping. I don't no what to get either.

Chain wax is less messy, but the wax doesn't lube for crap compared to an oil based lube (learned that using wax on bicycle chains which wear quickly).

As far as not needing lube, yea, the chain doesn't need anything on the inside but the outside of the rollers and the chain rings need lube.

 

[Rudeman]

Chain wax is less messy, but the wax doesn't lube for crap compared to an oil based lube (learned that using wax on bicycle chains which wear quickly).

As far as not needing lube, yea, the chain doesn't need anything on the inside but the outside of the rollers and the chain rings need lube.

Now that Kal-Gard makes a clear formulation of Chain-Kote I'm going to give it a try. I liked the original but it was messy; looked like I was using black spray paint. But it stayed put; you just needed to let the carrier evaproate before you hit the road (or trail).

@Ed - The wax probably didn't penetrate into the roller pins before it hardened. I use 3-in-1 or motor oil on a bicycle chain; sparingly of course.

 

[Nessism]

Don't take me wrong guys, I've used both wax and PJ1 Blue Label, which I think is a superior lubricant, but more messy. If you want to maximize life of the parts, use the real chain lube. For less mess, wax.

 

[tkent02]

The rollers on O-ring chains don't need the lube but the chain to spocket contact areas do.

I bet that stays on at least a quarter mile or so.

 

[salty_monk]

I don't know if it's the same with motorcycles but on my mountain bikes the transmission is noticeably noiser with wax. I've not used wax on a motorcycle, always used the PJ1 blue.
I've read some reports lately about very long life of O ring chains being achieved with just regular application of WD40 - one report was a guy doing back to back with chain lube V WD40 & the WD40 won.

I think doing it regularly is probably the most important thing...

 

[koolaid_kid]

What ever you do DO NOT USE WD-40. WD-40 is a penetrant. It is about the only thing that can wash the sealed lube from inside your o-rings on your o-ring chain. Once gone, it cannot be replaced. When you clean the chain prior to lubing it, use kerosene. See my sig for a discussion on the subject.

 

[tkent02]

I've read some reports lately about very long life of O ring chains being achieved with just regular application of WD40 - one report was a guy doing back to back with chain lube V WD40 & the WD40 won.

I think doing it regularly is probably the most important thing...

There was a guy named Cary who was one of the big Gurus over on a KLR 650 forum, kept very good records on his bikes. He rode a lot, and tested WD 40 against all the real chain lubes. On O ring chains, the WD 40 won.
He got something like 30,000 miles on a chain, this was dirt and street riding both. It works for me. Clean and easy, and it works. Oh yeah, it's cheap too.
Maybe some super duper expensive gooey stuff gets an extra thousand or so miles out of a chain, or maybe it's all hype. I don't really give a hoot.