I have about 15000km on this chain and I am concerned by the way it looks.
About 15-20 links have rubber coming out of them.
I lube my chain every 400km and clean it with kerosene every 1000km.
I expected it to last longer then this.
Other the the rubber pieces the chain seems fine. It hasn't stretched and doesn't kink.
Any ideas why this happened?

Your maintenance is good,but it looks like the o-rings are disintegrating......how old is the chain?

Quote from: fetor56 on July 04, 2016, 03:10:16 PM
Your maintenance is good,but it looks like the o-rings are disintegrating......how old is the chain?

About 3-4 years.

Strange....my chain is 3.5 yrs and still perfect(however i use a Scottoiler)
I'm no chain expert so wait till a resident chain whisperer comments,but the only thing i can think of is the lubrication method your using is interacting with the o-rings.

The photographs show a chain which is neither clean nor lubed!

What are you using for lube?

Do you ride in the rain?

Cookie

Quote from: twocool on July 04, 2016, 03:51:36 PM
The photographs show a chain which is neither clean nor lubed!

What are you using for lube?

Do you ride in the rain?

Cookie

I realize the chain is not clean. It's been about 800km since its last clean.
I use Motul C2 road chain lube.
I usually spray it on the top of the chain for about 4-5 rotations.

Also, I rarely ride in the rain. And when I do I always lube the chain once it is dry.

You'll want to spray the lube on the inside of the chain - not the oitside.

As far as the orings disintegration: over the course of 4 years, it's tough to say what exactly caused that. Chemical breakdown (gasoline, other harmful cleaners)? Extreme UV exposure? Riding thru gritty mud / sand eating the chain? Could be anything, really. 

Quote from: Big Rich on July 04, 2016, 04:11:17 PM
You'll want to spray the lube on the inside of the chain - not the oitside.

As far as the orings disintegration: over the course of 4 years, it's tough to say what exactly caused that. Chemical breakdown (gasoline, other harmful cleaners)? Extreme UV exposure? Riding thru gritty mud / sand eating the chain? Could be anything, really.

Yup I do spay the inside (from above) and not the flat part of the chain (from the side). I assume it would probably be best to replace it at this point?

Good - I figured you were doing it right, but I just wanted to clarify.

Should you replace it? Sure. But I  wouldn't say it is a hazard at the moment though. Those rings are to keep lube in by the rollers and dirt out, so with some rings peeling off you just need to clean & lube it more often until replacement. 

Could it be that the bristle brush you are using is too stiff and damaging the o rings?

My GS500 has a dirt looking chain too, but it was that way when I bought it.  Hopefully clean it up this week. Bought the same stuff Motul.  I also got their cleaner though.  Like above said what I have researched is the o ring chains just need a softer brush used.  I bought one from revzilla, grunge brush, does 3 sides at a time.

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A lot of good possibilities for the o ring damage have been mentioned.

IMHO....the typical "grunge brush" which almost everybody seems to use to clean chains... is way to stiff and aggressive for o ring or x ring chains...  If you keep the chain clean...and clean it regularly...it takes very little to keep it clean...I use an "artists" paint brush....1" wide with a real long handle...and SOFT bristles....I use kerosene to clean...(it is way cheaper than WD 40 or chain cleaner in aerosol, and it cleans really well...)...I use a LOT of kerosene....I slop it on the chain, and let it drip...taking the dirt off with it...very little "scrubbing" with the brush...mostly just slathering it on and letting it drip off...I do have a tooth brush...but really SOFT bristles...that I heat bent to a 90 degree angle to reach the "back " of the chain if necessary...

Some say to only lube the "middle" part of the chain....not the outside "flats"...

I like to get at least a thin layer of lube on the flats of the links...to disperse water...in case of getting caught in rain..or puddles...or when washing the bike...otherwise...if the outside of the links are "dry"...water, or moisture will cause corrosion...

Yes any type of lube will attract dirt....but this is why you clean regularly..

Most lube nowadays...will go on "thin"...and then "harden" somewhat to a wax or gel...preventing it from attracting too much dirt...also not to fling off the chain and make a mess of the bike..

Of course everybody thinks their method is the best and the only way...so make your own mind up...but My way...I'm only on starting chain #3 after 52,000 miles...and the chains I changed really could have gone many more miles!   And...my O rings didn't pop out!  I use DID chains..


Cookie

I don't care for grunge brush...I bought one...used it once and threw out...way to stiff and aggressive IMHO....maybe good for a really nasty chain (like dirt bike riding in mud)...but I never let my chain get very dirty in the first place...so I use a very soft bristle artist brush...(see my previous post).

I've seen product review of Motul chain cleaner....not so good....expensive...

I use kerosene...cheap, and therefore you can use a lot....less scrubbing..less chance of damage to O rings...let the solvent powers of the kerosene soften and wash away the old lube and take the dirt with it....not so much mechanical scrubbing....let the kero do the work for you...and be gentle to the o rings..

Cookie

Quote from: G.Rossman on July 05, 2016, 05:22:11 AM
My GS500 has a dirt looking chain too, but it was that way when I bought it.  Hopefully clean it up this week. Bought the same stuff Motul.  I also got their cleaner though.  Like above said what I have researched is the o ring chains just need a softer brush used.  I bought one from revzilla, grunge brush, does 3 sides at a time.

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I will mention the Grease Ninja. I use a Fuchs chain lube and it's really sticky and messy such that I was about to throw the can away when my grease ninja arrives. What a difference, say goodbye to chain cleaning blues, this little device is the dog's bollox (that's a good thing).

After I clean and dry my chain I put three little dots of red nail polish on the outside of the chain so that I can see when it does one revolution while I'm turning the back wheel with my right hand and holding the can with the grease ninja in my left, and it puts two lovely beads of sticky chain lube exactly in the right spot without any mess or overspray at all.

http://www.greaseninja.com

Wow...looks good!  For $15 you can't go wrong!

I've been using pieces of cardboard to block the overspray of lube...works...but PITA...

I'm going to get one....you know what they say, "like an enema, it couldn't hurt".


Cookie

Quote from: user11235813 on July 06, 2016, 02:30:00 AM
I will mention the Grease Ninja. I use a Fuchs chain lube and it's really sticky and messy such that I was about to throw the can away when my grease ninja arrives. What a difference, say goodbye to chain cleaning blues, this little device is the dog's bollox (that's a good thing).

After I clean and dry my chain I put three little dots of red nail polish on the outside of the chain so that I can see when it does one revolution while I'm turning the back wheel with my right hand and holding the can with the grease ninja in my left, and it puts two lovely beads of sticky chain lube exactly in the right spot without any mess or overspray at all.

http://www.greaseninja.com

@twocool

I am not joking when I say that I look forward to cleaning my chain now just so I can lube it. Used to do it every 1000kms now I do it more often. I'll still put some cardboard down to stop the splash from the kero though. But if the chain is clean and you just need a quick lube after riding in the rain, this is perfect

OK so here's what we need to come up with....

Same device...but connected to a "pump spray bottle"...which you fill with kerosene...

Put a small catch tray or bucket under the chain...and pump away....kero washes away most, if not all, of the dirt and grime and old lube!  Maybe just a touch up with a brush...throw down a sheet of cardboard just to catch any mess or drips...


Cookie

Quote from: user11235813 on July 06, 2016, 03:24:49 AM
@twocool

I am not joking when I say that I look forward to cleaning my chain now just so I can lube it. Used to do it every 1000kms now I do it more often. I'll still put some cardboard down to stop the splash from the kero though. But if the chain is clean and you just need a quick lube after riding in the rain, this is perfect

O-rings come in around 20 different flavours. Some, such as Buna-n or Nitrile are not affected by kerosene, others such as Butyl or Hypalon most definitely are!

It makes sense to ensure yours actually have some tolerance towards kerosene before drowning them in the stuff on a regular basis 

I'll give the kerosene a try when I run out of what I bought to clean it.  I'll dig up an old tooth brush too. 

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The manual for my GS500 specifically says to use kerosene...so does the manual for my SR400.  ( and my Honda before that.  My Suzuki came from the factory with a Regina chain...Regina specifically says to clean with kerosene.  (and a SOFT brush)  The Yamaha came with a DID chain...

I've run like 35,000 miles on DID chains, using heavy application of kero every 500 miles  (to clean, followed by drying, and application of chain lube) ...no issues.

What brand of chain uses an O ring material not compatible with kerosene?  (I'm sure all the "major brands" are compatible)


Cookie

Quote from: sledge on July 06, 2016, 06:03:32 AM
O-rings come in around 20 different flavours. Some, such as Buna-n or Nitrile are not affected by kerosene, others such as Butyl or Hypalon most definitely are!

It makes sense to ensure yours actually have some tolerance towards kerosene before drowning them in the stuff on a regular basis