I clean the chain with a cloth and WD-40... Then I go over it with more WD-40 and a hard bristled brush, like a tooth brush.... Then castrol chain lube.

I stopped by the nearest decent dealership about 30miles away today.  I asked and they said they only charged $15 to clean and lube the chain....I think I'm going that route....no mess for me.

I asked about rejetting and they said they wouldnt touch it though.  Dont believe what you read on the internet about rejetting they said.  Plus your bike is a Suzuki, we're a HONDA dealership....I kid you not.

Quote from: middlem2 on May 03, 2006, 08:29:24 PM
I stopped by the nearest decent dealership about 30miles away today.  I asked and they said they only charged $15 to clean and lube the chain....I think I'm going that route....no mess for me.

I asked about rejetting and they said they wouldnt touch it though.  Dont believe what you read on the internet about rejetting they said.  Plus your bike is a Suzuki, we're a HONDA dealership....I kid you not.

$15??? It's really not that difficult at all... Stick the bike up on the centerstand, spray with cleaner, spray with lube, wipe off excess, and you're good. If you're near me I'll do it for free.

Quote from: middlem2 on May 03, 2006, 08:29:24 PM
I stopped by the nearest decent dealership about 30miles away today.  I asked and they said they only charged $15 to clean and lube the chain....I think I'm going that route....no mess for me.

I asked about rejetting and they said they wouldnt touch it though.  Dont believe what you read on the internet about rejetting they said.  Plus your bike is a Suzuki, we're a HONDA dealership....I kid you not.

For $15 you could do it for the rest of your life. I bought a can of spray-on wax and a gallon of kerosene for under that much and have been using both for a year. The kerosene's nowhere near halfway gone, and the wax is still going strong. On both my bikes...

Do it yourself.

Dave

Seriously....even *I* clean and lube my own chain..it's *really* easy!!! 

Alright then, I'll give it a shot. 

How often do you guys lube/clean? I just got a new chain because the old one had worn very unevenly, and the guy at the shop told me every 300 miles. The site says 600 miles. I would rather be on the safe side, but every 300 miles means doing it damn near every week.

Quote from: brett on May 03, 2006, 10:21:46 PM
How often do you guys lube/clean? I just got a new chain because the old one had worn very unevenly, and the guy at the shop told me every 300 miles. The site says 600 miles. I would rather be on the safe side, but every 300 miles means doing it damn near every week.

Plan on every 600. 300 is a little obsessive. Clean, wax, and check the tension in your chain every 600 to 1000 miles and it'll treat you well.

Dave

Quote from: Kasumi on April 29, 2006, 03:16:15 PM
It shouldnt stretch as much as it does, i took links out of the first one to make it last longer before i bought a new one but it only delayed it - it kept stretching up until the point that i thought perhaps it was dodgy, mis manufactured or something and i feared breakage, so i bought a new one which is doing the same.

The slider adjustment for the rear wheel on the swing arm must hav an inch altogether for moving the wheel back and forth. It move an inch down there so transfer that to the chain and its really stretching.

Try changing sprockets along with the chain next time. I know it's not as common to do this in the US (in Germany you usually buy them as a set), but a worn sprocket will eat your chain much faster.


As for brake cleaner: Diesel or fuel oil works well as a substitute for Kerosene; they are a similar fraction of crude oil.

I have only ever used Castrols aerosol spray chain oil. I find it goes every where and you waste half of it. Plus all the mess it creates.

So I sprayed it into a manual squeeze bottle. Workd alot better, but not perfect.

How do you guys lube your chain?

Also, I've heard about it alot but never seen chain wax, how do you apply it?   

I tend to take the chain off soak it in parafin then rub it with an old paint brush to get the crap out of it. Then clean the sprokets and check for wear. Stick the chain back on and i use Universal Chain lube - can't remember brand but its like a gel which foams up in the air, it has a nozzel similar to WD40 cans but abit wider. I spin the wheel and apply to the chain on the top and on the sides and then underneath (so as the chain goes around the sproket and under). Then keep spinnin the wheel, holding gently on the chain to rub it all in. Works well for me

Quote from: My Name Is Dave on May 03, 2006, 10:54:11 PM
Plan on every 600. 300 is a little obsessive. Clean, wax, and check the tension in your chain every 600 to 1000 miles and it'll treat you well.

This is what I follow when I'm being good. I put about 600 on my bike each week, so I *should* clean and lube the chain once a week, but it generally is every two weeks that I do it.

Weekly when it's raining, every 500 miles when it's not; it's easier to remember to do it when the clock rolls over every 500 and 1000 miles.

Quote from: scratch on May 04, 2006, 11:12:42 AM
Weekly when it's raining, every 500 miles when it's not; it's easier to remember to do it when the clock rolls over every 500 and 1000 miles.

Oh poppycock, I've had just about enough of you and your logical thinking, Sir Scratch.

Wink.
Dave

I just look at the rollers. When they get shiny (=dry) she gets a new dose of lube.

1st gear on center stand and kill it with wd-40. Once all of the crap is blown out of it I hit it with a ton of white lithium grease. This chain is in great shape at 6500+ miles. I know that some folks would poo poo my methods, but if it works (and it has very well) I'll keep doing it.

Quote from: bbanjo on May 04, 2006, 03:50:14 PM
1st gear on center stand and kill it with wd-40. Once all of the crap is blown out of it I hit it with a ton of white lithium grease. This chain is in great shape at 6500+ miles. I know that some folks would poo poo my methods, but if it works (and it has very well) I'll keep doing it.

I'm not gonna tell someone their way is wrong, unless maybe it involves putting the bike upside down with the wheels in the air like we used to with our bicycles when we were kids. But I would certainly not recommend this method to noobs. The the chances of getting injured with the bike in gear and a rag in your hand are too great.

Like I said, I'm not gonna say your way is right or wrong, but I wouldn't do it that way, nor would I suggest anyone else try it.

Dave

You are absolutely right. I have cleaned my chains this way since 19 <cough> 70something and it was never a good idea. The chances of getting, at the very least, a finger between the chain and sprocket is much greater the more times you do it. Just ask yourself the next time you think about doing it, and have to let go of your rag miliseconds before it drags your hand in to moving parts that WILL bite your hand off. "Is it worth it?"

Probably not.

It is fast though.