chain maintenance?

Message

VermilionX · #11 Post by **VermilionX** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 12:04 pm

what is this about sev and big hairy fat doods?

are you ok sev? did it hurt?

Sev · #12 Post by **Sev** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 12:54 pm

VermilionX wrote:

what is this about sev and big hairy fat doods?

are you ok sev? did it hurt?

The doctor's are giving him a 50% chance of a full recovery.

macktruckturner · #13 Post by **macktruckturner** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:15 pm

I've read so many different philosophies regarding chain tension, and cleaning proceedures that it makes my head spin. The variety of opinions and actual proven experience rivals that of the oh-so-famous oil debates, or the 9mm vs .45ACP banter, etc etc.

There is a lot of dirt, and small debris on the road. I never fully understood just how much until I drove a race car on DOT 'slicks' on the street. Picked up all kinds of lovely stuff. Your chain has lubricant on it/in it - stuff sticks to it. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there. Thus, I clean my chain every weekend.

How I clean it has changed a few times, but it never really takes that long. I'll freely admit I have no clue what the "best" practical way is. Some people allegedly take the whole chain off, soak it in a cleaning solvent, get in between all the links and rollers, dry it, put it back on, warm it up and spray on their lube of choice - but that's a wee bit excessive for me. I carry an old toothbrush, and some shop rags under the seat on my SV - and that's pretty much what I use to clean it. Some people love WD-40, some people hate it, I don't much care for it myself, but that's what I'm using to clean my chain with for the time being. I typically do the cleaning on a hot chain, so it's still warm by the time I finish knocking everything off it. Once I dry/soak all the WD (or whatever I used to break up the old lube with) up off the chain, I hit it with a chain wax. I'm using the Maxima stuff right now, though I did use Bel Ray Super Clean before (and liked it better, if only b/c I could see the coat on the chain.)

CORSCO · #14 Post by **CORSCO** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:37 pm

macktruckturner, how many miles have you got out of the chain you are running now? With that maintenance routine, I bet its your stock chain.

My little '83 ATC70 has an enclosed chain. I've never had to ADJUST it. That says alot for keeping a chain free of debri.

jmillheiser · #15 Post by **jmillheiser** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:40 pm

I use the maxima chain wax myself and have no trouble seeing where I sprayed it. the regular forumla chain wax goes on with a light amber color and dries mostly clear with a slight amber tint. the clear formula goes on clear and dries clear.

as for cleaning it I just wipe it off with a shop rag and put on some chain wax while its still warm. I could definately see WD40 and any other solvent being bad for the o-rings on the chain.

macktruckturner · #16 Post by **macktruckturner** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 3:20 pm

having spun wrenches for a long time, I really can't see much of anything with lubricating properties being a death blow to o-rings - heck you've gotta pre-oil many an o-ring prior to installation. My first chain went tango uniform after 9000mi, though that was mostly my fault during the last 2400mi of it's life (my mega ride.) I didn't lube it enough, and had it too tight.

My issue w/ the Maxima wax is the amber color - my chain is gold (D.I.D 525 xring), thus amber doesn't really show up on it at all. Chains are inexpensive, so I'm willing to try different things in my maintenence routine for them.

High_Side · #17 Post by **High_Side** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 3:35 pm

I used Maxima chain wax for years and found that it stuck like glue.....to everything but the chain and yes, I did put it on warm and let it cool.

I went back to Bel-Ray and got 36,000km on my last chain before it really started to stretch at all. I replaced it at that point as I was heading out on a trip but I could have easily pushed it a little farther. I tend to over-do it with the chain lube however and my bikes are usually covered in the stuff. Right now I am taking the WD-40 challenge. There are enough people claiming that this stuff works for the long haul that I am going to give it a try. The nice thing is that the bikes are much cleaner now. I'll keep you posted on the results....

m1a1dvr · #18 Post by **m1a1dvr** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 4:18 pm

macktruckturner wrote:My first chain went tango uniform

I have not heard that expression in a long time.

Dichotomous · #19 Post by **Dichotomous** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:48 am

please explain the WD40 challenge to me. I am using some white lube that sticks well to the chain but since I dont clean it every lube its cakes on and gets really nasty.

High_Side · #20 Post by **High_Side** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:13 am

Dichotomous wrote:please explain the WD40 challenge to me. I am using some white lube that sticks well to the chain but since I dont clean it every lube its cakes on and gets really nasty.

There are numerous threads throughout the internet about guys who use WD-40 soley as their chain lube. They have decent mileage claims and swear that it is the only way to go. I was doubtful, but after spending 1/2 day this spring cleaning old chain lube off my bike I decided to give it a try. Everything stays much cleaner so far and I have be very concious of keeping it lubed. Time and mileage will tell the story....