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chain maintenance
- Thread starter puttbutt
- Start date
Leyprest
Well travelled
- Location
- Lancashire, United Kingdom
Short answer is any type would work. However some are better than others.
For many years I cleaned my chain using petrol. Then I started using WD40. Recently I used Muc Off chain cleaner for the first time ever and it did a superb job. I'm converted and will be using the Muc Off from now on.
As for drying. I usually just use a rag and run the chain through it a few times after cleaning to dry it off, before applying fresh chain lube.
For many years I cleaned my chain using petrol. Then I started using WD40. Recently I used Muc Off chain cleaner for the first time ever and it did a superb job. I'm converted and will be using the Muc Off from now on.
As for drying. I usually just use a rag and run the chain through it a few times after cleaning to dry it off, before applying fresh chain lube.
Roy Gavin
Well travelled
- Location
- Adelaide Australia
You don't want to degrease a chain, you want to keep the grease / lube on the O/X rings and rollers.
Easiest way is to lube it regularly with gear oi or ATF which tends to fling outwards and take the dirt away from the vital seals.
Then if you want shiny side plated just give them a wipe with a rag or paper towel occasionally.
FWIW I fitted a basement price Unibear chain 20,000 back and haven't had to adjust it yet, so it works for me!
Easiest way is to lube it regularly with gear oi or ATF which tends to fling outwards and take the dirt away from the vital seals.
Then if you want shiny side plated just give them a wipe with a rag or paper towel occasionally.
FWIW I fitted a basement price Unibear chain 20,000 back and haven't had to adjust it yet, so it works for me!
cameraman57
Getting there...
- Location
- Thailand
A cyclist friend put me onto chain wax. My area has a lot of very fine clay dust especially in the dry season we're now in. The dust will stick to an oiled chain but not the wax and the chain stays clean.
BurnieM
Well travelled
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
I spray WD40 onto a rag then wipe the external grunge off from the sideplates and rollers.
Leave to dry for 5 minutes.
Take for a ride the pull the lube handle on my OSCO oiler (80-90 oil).
I used to use Maxima chain wax for my road bike but would not use it on any bike that sees dirt.
Leave to dry for 5 minutes.
Take for a ride the pull the lube handle on my OSCO oiler (80-90 oil).
I used to use Maxima chain wax for my road bike but would not use it on any bike that sees dirt.
I'm really curious about this one:
Kiwiscoot
Well travelled
- Location
- Christchurch, New Zealand
use kerosene/paraffin. Cheap as, cleans it beautifly and compatible with the O-rings of the chain.
Consider a Tutoro chain oiler. Makes chain maintenance easy. have had mine on my RE Himalayan now for 20 000 kms and will not be without it.
Consider a Tutoro chain oiler. Makes chain maintenance easy. have had mine on my RE Himalayan now for 20 000 kms and will not be without it.
TUTORO Automatic Motorcycle Chain Oilers
superb autonomous automatic motorcycle chain oiler, no vacuum or electrical required. Precision machined and Hand Built in England.
www.tutorochainoiler.com
Roy Gavin
Well travelled
- Location
- Adelaide Australia
Paraffin will rust steel , so is not a good choice - back in the day it was a quick and easy way to deglaze glazed cylinders , without taking the heads off!
It might also penetrate past the O rings and dilute the special lube that they they seal in, and when that is gone the chain follows PDQ.
It will also remove the vital lubricant, you have applied, which you don't want to do, it is only dirt that you want to remove.
If you have a chain oiler, and a squeeze bottle and tube works just as well as the expensive items, easiest way is just to give it a decent quantity of lube, and as the excess flings off it takes the dirt on the vital surfaces with it,
Then just a wipe of the side plates with a rag or paper towel and you are done.
It might also penetrate past the O rings and dilute the special lube that they they seal in, and when that is gone the chain follows PDQ.
It will also remove the vital lubricant, you have applied, which you don't want to do, it is only dirt that you want to remove.
If you have a chain oiler, and a squeeze bottle and tube works just as well as the expensive items, easiest way is just to give it a decent quantity of lube, and as the excess flings off it takes the dirt on the vital surfaces with it,
Then just a wipe of the side plates with a rag or paper towel and you are done.
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cameraman57
Getting there...
- Location
- Thailand
Pirate
Well travelled
- Location
- Aldershot, UK
I guess, from the conversation here, it almost doesn't matter what you use - if you're cleaning and lubing your chain then you're doing the right thing and your chain is going to last longer than if you don't! The point that Roy makes about paraffin might be a valid one though...
curious as to where and how you installed yours. got any pics?use kerosene/paraffin. Cheap as, cleans it beautifly and compatible with the O-rings of the chain.
Consider a Tutoro chain oiler. Makes chain maintenance easy. have had mine on my RE Himalayan now for 20 000 kms and will not be without it.
TUTORO Automatic Motorcycle Chain Oilers
superb autonomous automatic motorcycle chain oiler, no vacuum or electrical required. Precision machined and Hand Built in England.www.tutorochainoiler.com
Kiwiscoot
Well travelled
- Location
- Christchurch, New Zealand
Don't know which paraffin you are talking about as what I am talking about is an oil and it does not evaporate. This is what I am refering to..
Kerosene - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Kiwiscoot
Well travelled
- Location
- Christchurch, New Zealand
this is where I fitted it....
Royal Enfield Himalayan Owners Thread
https://advrider.com/f/threads/royal-enfield-himalayan-farkle-fest-and-aftermarket-parts-rewiew-thread.1351669/ Mines FI with no abs, thank some ones...
advrider.com
Roy Gavin
Well travelled
- Location
- Adelaide Australia
Your post said paraffin , and I only said that paraffin will rust iron.Don't know which paraffin you are talking about as what I am talking about is an oil and it does not evaporate. This is what I am refering to..
Kerosene - Wikipedia
And it will - simple fact!
It is not an lube oil it is a low grade combustible hydrocarbon sometimes used as Jet fuel, not as a lubricant - you should try actually reading Thicopedia
Last edited:
Kiwiscoot
Well travelled
- Location
- Christchurch, New Zealand
"Kerosene, also known as paraffin, lamp oil, .." as per Wikipedia link I provided. My post never said paraffin but it did say kerosene/paraffin as to clearly identify what I was referring to. In some parts of the world paraffin is the name used for kerosene, so that paraffin will not rust iron.
Roy Gavin
Well travelled
- Location
- Adelaide Australia
Paraffin, Kerosene and lamp oil are the same product, and all will rust iron, and that is a fact.
Just clean a piece of ferrous metal with it and leave it overnight - there will be rust on the surface the next morning!
Back before Sunnen honing machines were cutting a plateau hone measured in microns some engine shops used this knowledge to lightly etch a finely finished bore to achieve a measure of a plateau finish, which was difficult with the then common abrasive hones.
And bodgers deglazed the bores on smoking motors by pouring some down the spark plug hole,!
But we don't use much lamp oil in Oz these days, most places have electric power , so perhaps there is more expertise with the stuff where you are !
Just clean a piece of ferrous metal with it and leave it overnight - there will be rust on the surface the next morning!
Back before Sunnen honing machines were cutting a plateau hone measured in microns some engine shops used this knowledge to lightly etch a finely finished bore to achieve a measure of a plateau finish, which was difficult with the then common abrasive hones.
And bodgers deglazed the bores on smoking motors by pouring some down the spark plug hole,!
But we don't use much lamp oil in Oz these days, most places have electric power , so perhaps there is more expertise with the stuff where you are !