Just wondering... I'm back to riding after a 20 year hiatus. I used to use spray on moly but that was before O-ring chains. I sprayed mine with WD-40 today and it cleaned it up nice, do I need to oil it too? Whats the point of O-rings (supposedly sealing in the lube) if you STILL have to oil the chain? I figured that if I just keep it clean and rust free it should be fine. Am I wrong here?
I've done little more than you describe above, and have never had a problem.
Anyone else care to give their thoughts?
Quote from: joerockerJust wondering... I'm back to riding after a 20 year hiatus. I used to use spray on moly but that was before O-ring chains. I sprayed mine with WD-40 today and it cleaned it up nice, do I need to oil it too? Whats the point of O-rings (supposedly sealing in the lube) if you STILL have to oil the chain? I figured that if I just keep it clean and rust free it should be fine. Am I wrong here?
The chain lube is mostly for the benefit of the sprockets, the sealed in lube is adequate for the chain itself with a good o-ring chain. The chain will run smoother and quiter with some lube on it. The seals do become worn as the chain gets older and can still kink up without some lube.
I lube my chains when the rollers get shiney and have never replaced a rear sprocket. Front sprocket still needs replaced every couple of chains or so. Put 80k miles on a CB750, 96k on a CM400, and about 80k on the 97 GS wiothout replacing a rear sprocket. They never appeared worn like the front sprocket does after awhile.
so wd40 is ok to use?
Quote from: jdiggityso wd40 is ok to use?
No, I use chain lube. I used the PJ1 blue for years and just tried the Maxxim Chain Wax. Think I like it. The WD40 is great for cleaning up the rust in the spring, but doesn't last long at all as a lubricant.
I am new to motorcycles but have been competing in downhill mountain biking races for quite a few years now. For my mountain bike I use 'Finish Line-Wet-Cross country-Synthetic bicycle lubricant' Do you think i can use this on my GS ?
I clean the chain with WD-40 then apply HP chainlube. Usually about every 500miles or so. It seems to have really extended to life of my chain compared to other friends who don't use lube. Though I do see a few rust spots now after about 5,500 miles. Perhaps I could lube a little more often.
ASLAM.
I bought a scottoiler, never cleaned the chain ever or oiled it manually, and its shiney new, and the back wheel is easier to clean!!!!!
:cheers:
WD-40 is kind of an expensive chain cleaner although very convenient in a spray can. Kerosene is cheaper and does a great job although not as tidy as the WD in the spray can.
As others have stated, lubing an O-ring chain is more about helping the chain interface with the sprockets. The most important point of long chain life is keeping it clean. Keeping it adjusted helps longevity as well.
So let me get this straight...
The rollers are lubricated internally and it's kept there by the o-rings.
The lube WE put on is for the sprocket and where the chain meets it?
That doesn't make sense to me since after just a few revolutions all the oil has been pushed away. Where the chain and the sprocket meet there will be no oil left after just a few miles. Am I correct here?
To me the ONLY thing that COULD EVER keep the chain oiled is an oiler like that scottoiler talked about earlier. Automatic oilers are what chainsaws use and heavy duty machinery have greasers.
I have'nt checked lately, how much are chains? How much is an oiler? Is it worth it to buy an oiler or just replace chains occasionally?
How about moly spray? Anyone use that? It's made for metal on metal.
OK, once more.
Internal lubrication: for rollers and radial loads between side plates (or how do you call these parts in English?) and pins -> that's where the big loads are, and that's where the chan wears out (gets longer).
external lubrication: for lubrication of the side plates against each other (axial loads) and rollers against sprockets.
* And for protection against corrosion. *
The latter is the more important point.
Chain lube should not accumulate grit on the chain, thus better be non-sticky.
Quote from: joerockerThat doesn't make sense to me since after just a few revolutions all the oil has been pushed away. Where the chain and the sprocket meet there will be no oil left after just a few miles. Am I correct here?
Not so, use a good motorcycle chain lube and the rollers will be dark with lube for a few hundred miles or so. However, a run in the rain can clean the lubricant from the rollers in an hour or less and I ride in the rain frequently. I never go by milage, when the rollers get shinny I lube when I get home while the bike is still hot and then put it away.
I'm not all that fussy about a little lube on the wheel, just clean up the wheel when I change tires or chain. Riding all winter in NE OH I soak the chain with the WD40 in the spring when the salt is gone from the roads to reduce the rust. Usually need a chain every year anyway.
Bikes are made for riding, not for looking at and polishing. Do all necessary maintenance and then go ride it. If it's nice enough out to work on it, then it's nice enough to go ride it. :lol: :lol: At about 20k miles a year I will need another bike soon enough anyway.
About lubing the chain, and I am not suggesting this to anyone else since it is considered dangerous by most; I come home with the bike hot and throw it up on the centerstand, put up sidestand, put in 1st gear and let out clutch. I then spray the moving chain for about 20 secs and shut it down and put it away. All it needs for chain to last for another year/20k miles except for a few adjustments. Never waste riding time on unneccessary maintenance.
Quote from: gsJackAbout lubing the chain, and I am not suggesting this to anyone else since it is considered dangerous by most; I come home with the bike hot and throw it up on the centerstand, put up sidestand, put in 1st gear and let out clutch. I then spray the moving chain for about 20 secs and shut it down and put it away. All it needs for chain to last for another year/20k miles except for a few adjustments. Never waste riding time on unneccessary maintenance.
That's exactly the way I do it. If you know where your hands belong around moving parts of machinery you're safe.
I also like your approach to polishing. Guess that's our privilege as old geezers.
Yeah, and then your shirt gets pulled in by the chain and your finger gets cut off between the sprocket and chain. On the other forum it just happened to a guy. It's just as easy to put it on the centerstand and while spraying with 1 hand, turning the wheel with the other.
Quote from: LarsYeah, and then your shirt gets pulled in by the chain and your finger gets cut off between the sprocket and chain. On the other forum it just happened to a guy. It's just as easy to put it on the centerstand and while spraying with 1 hand, turning the wheel with the other.
Uh, ever thought why I put that second sentence there? My lube spray has about 15 cm of tubing to keep my hands (and clothing) well away from moving parts. Worst thing that can happen to me is that said tube gets caught.
The non-privilege of geezerdom is that leaning down, positioning the lube can with one hand and turning the wheel with the other is awkward and getting up painful.
Never waste riding time on unnecessary maintenance.
I feel exactly the same way.
There is a saying that somewhere in the world you have a twin.
GSJack comes pretty close to being mine.
Just ride the damn thing.
We dwell on too many things because we have too many damn choices.
That is SO true!
"We dwell on too many things because we have too many damn choices."
There was a study done and it showed people with too many choices are not as happy as those with fewer. They spent WAY too much time weighing and judging and worrying if they made the right choice and regretting the choice they made.
Here's my 2 cents on chain lubing too guys. Prior to my quad years (89-97) I used PJ1 on my bikes. It gunked 'em up, but the only one that ate chains/sprockets was the Husqvarna 390. It was a big hulking monster with a 560x17 rear knobby that I rode in sand and rocks. I never had to replace chains/sprockets on any other bike. When I switched to quads I rode a Blaster, with a chain. I started spraying it with WD40. After 8 years of riding the chain was fine and so were the sprockets and I rode it hard too. Plus with WD40, there is no accumulation of crud. Now bear in mind I live in Arizona, so rust is not much of an issue either. Anyway, that's what I use.