I've been searching around the forum about this, and have yet to find a definitive answer...though there probably isn't one, anyway.
Which is a better chain cleaner: WD-40 or kerosene? Or does it really even matter?
Is there really a difference between chain lubricants and waxes? If so, which is recommended?
I have an '05 F, and live in CO. Probably won't be in the rain too much, and it's mostly driving around town. Not too dusty or anything
Also, do I need to ride the bike for a while to warm up the chain before cleaning/lubing?
Although I have seen raging debates (generally on other forums, thankfully!) about WD40 vs kerosene, lube vs wax, I doubt that over the life of a chain there is really that much of a significant difference.
The factor that will definitely make a difference is how regularly you do it! :icon_mrgreen: A clean chain is a happy chain. Leaving a chain for months to rust up is bad regardless of how you cleaned it last time. :icon_rolleyes: :thumb:
Riding the bike warms up the chain more than you'd think. Even a spin around the block gets it close to blood heat. This can only be a good thing when it comes to lubing up your chain - it helps the old stuff to loosen and the new lube to penetrate and coat.
I just did my chain. I do it every 600 miles. Its not hard to do at all. i use wd40 and DuPont All purpose Teflon Lubicant. The lubricant can be bought at lowes or homedepot. Usually right next to big can of wd40.
the fact that you clean and lube your chain...... will help it last longer
if you have an o-ring chain....some chemicals will destroy the rubber...then you no longer have an o-ring chain
I don't spray or soak it with anything.
I soak a rag and wipe it with either kero or wd-40.
Last time I soaked it I shortened the life of my chain.
When it's new you can soak it.
As it gets older the o-rings shrink and get dry.
If you soak the chain at that point I think the kero or wd-40 gets
inside the chain where the grease is and dilutes it.
Best thing is a chain oiler but it's messy as hell.
With the GS you should get 25,000 miles from the chain if
you lube it regularly.
i use maxima chain cleaner, and chain wax. The wax is nice because it doesnt fling all over the back wheel.
WD40 and O ring chains?? :laugh: Everyone has an opnion and like oil and spark-plugs the debate will go on forever.............but this guy has the real answers, no surprise that he is a BMW pilot :laugh:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345397
But you have to consider that WD40 is a penetrant and WILL disolve grease.
i heard wd40 kills the o-rings so kerosene should be used to clean the chain.
"Clean the chain with kerosene." ... that's quoted from the Owner's Manual.
actually below that paragraph in BOLD letters it goes on to say,
"Clean the drive chain with kerosene only."
the manual then recommends to lube the chain use "Suzuki chain lube or an equivalent."
..
..
..
but after a wash or a long-ride, it suggests you lube the chain the MOTOR OIL.
I was surprised but that's what it says in the "Lubrication Points" section.
... motor oil! .. just lather it on my chain?? who does this???
Quote from: philward on August 17, 2008, 07:28:56 PM
Although I have seen raging debates (generally on other forums, thankfully!) about WD40 vs kerosene, lube vs wax, I doubt that over the life of a chain there is really that much of a significant difference.
The factor that will definitely make a difference is how regularly you do it! :icon_mrgreen: A clean chain is a happy chain. Leaving a chain for months to rust up is bad regardless of how you cleaned it last time. :icon_rolleyes: :thumb:
Riding the bike warms up the chain more than you'd think. Even a spin around the block gets it close to blood heat. This can only be a good thing when it comes to lubing up your chain - it helps the old stuff to loosen and the new lube to penetrate and coat.
word ! speak on brotha !
Quote from: 905mike on November 15, 2008, 09:15:56 PM
i heard wd40 kills the o-rings so kerosene should be used to clean the chain.
"Clean the chain with kerosene." ... that's quoted from the Owner's Manual.
actually below that paragraph in BOLD letters it goes on to say,
"Clean the drive chain with kerosene only."
the manual then recommends to lube the chain use "Suzuki chain lube or an equivalent."
..
..
..
but after a wash or a long-ride, it suggests you lube the chain the MOTOR OIL.
I was surprised but that's what it says in the "Lubrication Points" section.
... motor oil! .. just lather it on my chain?? who does this???
i do, kinda. warm up the bike with a short spin, spray on some wd-40, wipe it off. wipe on some 10w40, or whatever is close by, ride for another 300-400 miles.
my first (stock, o-ring) chain lasted 24,000 miles, after i started taking care of it. it was very rusty prior to my ownership :)
i'm on a non o-ring chain now. seems a little noisier, but it's wearing fine. and it's pretty to boot. (liike that matters). think i'll change over to an o-ring type around 35,000 or so. just don't care for how much louder this chain is.
Whatever you do just keep your chain clean and lubed and it will last.
I use WD-40 for cleaning and lubing my chain. I apply it weekly and use it as it doesn't fling and it doesn't hold grit and dirt, and finally it is easy to apply.
WD 40 as a solvent/cleaner then BelRay Chain lube as the lube. I clean and lube with the chian at end of ride temp, let it dry after lubing. But I am new to chain drive again.
prs
I have used motor oil in the past as a chain lube. If it's all you have, then it's the best tool for the job at the time. I also use it for cleaning the chain. I buy the cheapest motor oil I can find, and keep it to use in my oil can.I have no other use for kerosene, so in the interest of keeping the number of chemicals down in the garage, I use the cheap oil instead. If the chain is really bad, I use a brush dipped in mineral spirits to scrub the heavy stuff off the chain, then use the motor oil to finish the job.
good feedback, all. thansk.
i think next season i will:
clean with kerosene (bought a 4L jug this year and barely used it) and lube w/ PJ1 blue every 600 miles.
but in between, i'll just use el cheapo motor oil to lube it as needed to keep things hummin'
kerosene works perfectly, the best...i just cleaned the worst chain ever and now it looks like new after 5 minutes
Quote from: Bluehaze on August 18, 2008, 07:27:57 AM
I just did my chain. I do it every 600 miles. Its not hard to do at all. i use wd40 and DuPont All purpose Teflon Lubicant. The lubricant can be bought at lowes or homedepot. Usually right next to big can of wd40.
there was another thread somewhere about the Dupont Teflon (blue can, cheap, Lowe's) chain wax. after reading a couple of other people using it, i'm giving it a shot.
so far, i've put about 1,000 miles on the bike with it. the chain is much cleaner than using 10w40/20w50 (du huh!) and cleans up very quickly.
we'll so how many trouble free miles i get out of the chain. i'm betting on it wearing out (non o-ring chain) before it shows any signs of kinks/problems.
also tried an oil change with synthetic. i know, i know, it's not needed, doesn't matter, and i've been a proponent of cheap oil, 10w40 forever. just wanted to see if anything felt/worked differently. 150 miles says no difference. can't tell a difference changing gears, idling, etc. - cam float noise is still the same too, if anyone cares ;)
Quote from: ohgood on December 28, 2008, 06:55:15 AM
Quote from: Bluehaze on August 18, 2008, 07:27:57 AM
I just did my chain. I do it every 600 miles. Its not hard to do at all. i use wd40 and DuPont All purpose Teflon Lubicant. The lubricant can be bought at lowes or homedepot. Usually right next to big can of wd40.
also tried an oil change with synthetic. i know, i know, it's not needed, doesn't matter, and i've been a proponent of cheap oil, 10w40 forever. just wanted to see if anything felt/worked differently. 150 miles says no difference. can't tell a difference changing gears, idling, etc. - cam float noise is still the same too, if anyone cares ;)
r u using plain ol' 10w40 motor oil or specific-for-motorcycle formulation?
also , how could you not notice the difference when using synthetic? :dunno_white:
your wallet must feel much lighter! :tongue2:
Quote from: 905mike on December 29, 2008, 09:16:24 AM
Quote from: ohgood on December 28, 2008, 06:55:15 AM
Quote from: Bluehaze on August 18, 2008, 07:27:57 AM
I just did my chain. I do it every 600 miles. Its not hard to do at all. i use wd40 and DuPont All purpose Teflon Lubicant. The lubricant can be bought at lowes or homedepot. Usually right next to big can of wd40.
also tried an oil change with synthetic. i know, i know, it's not needed, doesn't matter, and i've been a proponent of cheap oil, 10w40 forever. just wanted to see if anything felt/worked differently. 150 miles says no difference. can't tell a difference changing gears, idling, etc. - cam float noise is still the same too, if anyone cares ;)
1) r u using plain ol' 10w40 motor oil or specific-for-motorcycle formulation?
also , 2) how could you not notice the difference when using synthetic? :dunno_white:
3) your wallet must feel much lighter! :tongue2:
1) heck ya man. motorcycle specific hasn't been proven to matter
2) i dunno. maybe my bike is so worn there isn't a noticable difference to be had ? ;)
3) ya, it was almost exactly twice the cost to use synthetic for one oil change. my wallet was over-ruled by my curiosity this one time. :D
I just use Stihl bar oil without any precleaning. I simply apply with a toothbrush, and then ride. The chain quickly becomes clean (excess oil flies off along with the crud) leaving a nice shiny, oily chain. The only downside that I've found is that it will drip black-greasy-oil the first time you park it, but that's usually somewhere other than home, right? If not, put down some newspaper, and be happy that you skipped the WD-40 / Kerosene step. The bar oil seems to stick to the chain pretty well, and there's always lots of residual oil on the chain when I reapply 600 miles later.
Over the years I've noticed anything in a spray can tends to be filled with lots of solvent to make it sprayable, those solvents work their way past the o-rings and disolve some of the grease and my chain actually ends up wearing quicker. I've had OEM chains go in as little as 15,000 with regular cleaning and maintenance using spray like Maxima Chain Wax. Then I heard from some biker friends that plain old gear oil works just fine, like the above Eric_in_OR just uses bar oil, I myself like to add some stickiness to the oil by mixing synthetic gear oil and Bardhal's no smoke. I mix it 50/50 and brush it on generously and let the excess fling off, with a centerstand it's easy so I usually oil every 500 miles or so. Sure my wheel get's a little oily but darn if all my chains don't last at least 25,000 miles! And so far I've got 8000 miles on my current chain and only needed to adjust it twice, from the wear it looks like it'll last 30,000, this is only a cheap KMC O-ring chain from ebay that I got for 40 bucks too so I like oil only, no solvents for me.