Maintenance Reminder + Poll: Chain Lubrication

[RedShift]

Thought I'd ask this question since I noticed I handn't cleaned and lubricated my chain for a while.  Checked my records and it had been a good 1250 miles since I'd last done it.   

It really doesn't take too long to do -- for me it's 15 minutes.  There are many web sites if you need tips.  Apart from GSTwins and a search for Chain, you can try How To Lube a Motorcycle Chain.

Of course you'll need the raw materials, such as WD-40, SAE 90 gear oil and/or Chain Wax, newspaper (to catch drips, spills and overspray), paper towels or shop rags, and rubber, shop or disposable gloves (to save you dirty fingers and whatever happens to petroleum distillates if absorbed into the skin).

Not rocket science.  Just common sense.  So if you haven't done it within the recommended 600 miles, treat your GS500 with some TLC.  Your chain and sprockets will thank you by providing long life.

PS.  Check your chain slack while you're at it.  Should be 20-30mm (or 0.8-1.2 inches).

[annguyen1981]

I can't remember WHO does this, but I am now following his lead...  (OMW maybe???)

I only use WD-0 to clean the chain.  I don't put the chain lube on anymore.  The chain is in GREAT condition, and there's no ugly gunk on it.

[banner]

I have a question about the slack i've always wondered about. Should the slack be .8-1.2 inches loose or .8-1.2 inches if your really tugging at it?

Thanks

[RedShift]

As I understand it, the measurement is taken in the return leg of the chain (bottom run) in the middle of the length.  Pust the chain up.  The distance it moves is the distance you measure. 

If over 1.2 inches of movement, you need to tighten.

[LimaXray]

I can't remember WHO does this, but I am now following his lead...  (OMW maybe???)

I only use WD-0 to clean the chain.  I don't put the chain lube on anymore.  The chain is in GREAT condition, and there's no ugly gunk on it.

I think WD-40 is really bad for the o-rings... I'm pretty sure it attacks plastics and rubbers... I could be wrong 

but yeah, I do it every time I hit a multiple of 600 miles, so far I've been really good (aka anal) about, I scrub it down real well with a tooth brush and what not...but we'll see if that changes

[rangerbrown]

i clean and lube every weekend, i have to. dirt road i live on, is over two miles.

[TragicImage]

lubed and cleaned every time I wash and wax it... which is at least once a week.

[pandy]

I *try* to do it every 600 miles, but I think this last time, it's closer to 800 since my bf  did it for me.... We checked it today, and it still looks pretty darned clean, though! 

[Rema1000]

I use the "minimum maintenance" method: every time the the chain looks shiny, I put about 4 drops of biodegradeable bar&chain oil on the rear sprocket, then take off.  Think of it as the "LoobMan" method, except without mounting the oil bottle to the bike.  I do get chain fling on my rear wheel and left pantleg of my riding suit (helps waterproof the suit ).

[banner]

Hmm...but is that 1.2 inches of hard pulling/pushing or just total one finger lift up slack?

[TragicImage]

uhm, single finger.... don't be yankin hard on that chain to get the measurement.... nice and gentle.


If you think your gonna be over the 1.2 by yanking on it real hard and holding it there, creep the back wheel out a tad... just to be on the safe side, cause apparently, you're allittle worried about this...

[CirclesCenter]

WD-40 is bad for o-rings.

I clean it using the stuff that came with my degreaser brush and then a quick lap around the block and then chain WAX. I like the wax, it likes me.

[seaheifer]

Walmart sells a chain lube...is that ok after cleaning with wd40, I think it might be a genaric brand for like 5 bucks

[GeeP]

I put a label on the bottom of my tach with the mileage of the next required maintenance event.  All I have to do is wait for the numbers to match, then pull out the logbook to see what I need to do.  It's an airplane thing...   

[galahs]

I spray mine with a good amount of kero.

then with the bike on its centre stand and in Neutural

I then hose the chain with with my garden hose, as I slowly rotate the rear wheel with my other hand to blast off all the grit.

I then spray my chain with more kero and let it dry in the air.

I then oil it with a light coating of chain oil.

[Ed89]

I hardly ever lube the chain, and don't remember ever cleaning the chain.  Too busy and don't have a place to work on.  Really.    I figure it will have half the life of well-lubed chain, and I just have to pay the price of changing the chain more often.  Which is about once every 10,000 miles of so.

[rangerbrown]

its ok to clean it with wd-40, but dotn use it as the lube.

i use brake parts cleaner or carb cleaner and a steel brush to clean mine looks new all the time, and has 15,000miles on it now, still pleanty of ajustment for it.

[Old Mr. Wilson]

Nope. OMW uses chain wax. Every 600 miles. I have yet to clean the chain because I keep the bike under lock and key (plus covered) and it has only 1695 miles on it. Bought it "in the crate from Japan" (I ordered it) in April of 2000. I know.........I know.............300 miles a year. But it's always there in case I "need" it.

[scratch]

Chain slack needs to measured in both directions, up and down, 1.2" total slack.  I have measured my thumb for a 1" distance, I have found that to one crease, just before the first knuckle to be 1" from the end of my thumb.  I use this to measure, eye a spot just beyond the tip of my thumb and press up on the chain with one finger.  If the chain goes beyond that spot, it's too loose, because if I press down I routinely get some slack, add the two together to see if it's within spec.  Pictures this week.

[arkanoid]

Thought I'd ask this question since I noticed I handn't cleaned and lubricated my chain for a while.  Checked my records and it had been a good 1250 miles since I'd last done it.   

It really doesn't take too long to do -- for me it's 15 minutes.  There are many web sites if you need tips.  Apart from GSTwins and a search for Chain, you can try How To Lube a Motorcycle Chain.

Of course you'll need the raw materials, such as WD-40, SAE 90 gear oil and/or Chain Wax, newspaper (to catch drips, spills and overspray), paper towels or shop rags, and rubber, shop or disposable gloves (to save you dirty fingers and whatever happens to petroleum distillates if absorbed into the skin).

Not rocket science.  Just common sense.  So if you haven't done it within the recommended 600 miles, treat your GS500 with some TLC.  Your chain and sprockets will thank you by providing long life.

PS.  Check your chain slack while you're at it.  Should be 20-30mm (or 0.8-1.2 inches).

I usually check the chain every 300-500 km, maybe something more, but so. If the chain is in a good shape (minor fouling), if it's almost flexible and it's not dry, then I do nothing. If that's the case of clean up, normally I take a piece of material of about 1 meter, I wet it with some gasoline, than standing aside the bike and turning the material behing the chain I start a push-pull while I slowly turn the back wheel with a foot (...yeah...I'm definitevely a wizard ) until it's completely clean, than I proceed cleaning the rear gear.
When it's cleared, than I spray the chain with some O-Ring compatible spray grease running the rear tyre backwards (please solve me this quest: what's the difference between tyre and tire? I suppose only different typing....).
Actually I'm at 4.000 km and it seems new.