Waxing lyrically ’bout chain lube

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August 16, 2009 at 12:51 pm #97002

Bruce Curtis
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Been an interesting week, while I’ve been at home with H1N1 (swine flu) I’ve rebuilt the topend of the YZ, cleaned my shed and started doing some light “oddjobs” in the workshops in between sweating like a pig and constant sit-downs. Anyway today I was attending to my Cabinet saws top, during the past 6 months it had got a bit of rust and crap on it, so I cleaned it off polished it with some metal polish and coated it with a mix of Carnuba and kero…………..which got me thinking. Now years ago I used to use this beaut “chain-wax” in a can used to get it from a little servo up the road which is long gone, anyway using this stuff and regular cleaning I got 60K out of my original Suzuki chain and rear sprocket on my ole GSXR11. Now I know it is far different conditions but the cahin wax never seemed to attract too much crud and never flew off, so I did an experiment tonight, in an old Piston I heated a tablet of Carnuba wax and 75ml of kero and made a nice lubricant that I then applied to the clean chain of the YZ… and yep it went on just like I remember, with a nice flim of white wax that is not hard and not soft.
Now as I’ve been fairly unimpressed in my chain life lately and am predominantly blaming the crap chainlubes around I am going to try it out over a while see how it goes.
When I was a wee Lad we used to take our chains off the bikes and clean them and boil them in Duckhams grease and they lasted for ages, but it was alot of mucking around and not sure the O’rings would appreciate it today, but maybe this might be a panecea….never know.

BC

August 16, 2009 at 11:36 pm #148550

Eric Smith
Member

Nice work Bruce, I wouldn’t have thought of that! Let us know how it goes over time, but I suspect it will be the ducks guts – maybe an untapped market for you to take advantage of!

August 16, 2009 at 11:44 pm #148564

Greg
Member

You are using an O ring chain arent you Blue?

TB

August 17, 2009 at 12:43 am #148565

Bruce Curtis
Member

Trailboss wrote:

Quote:

You are using an O ring chain arent you Blue?

TB

Oh certainly Mr TB Sir, to be exact an “X” ring DID 520VM, and after reading tips from another site I tried the new-age “no-lube” approach and got a paultry 25 hours out of a $130 chain. So I went back to lube and have been using the tacky generic types, but still not overly impressed with the amount of wear apparent, but thought to myself “oh well, laddie you ain’t no lightweight and you do like the throttle in harsh conditions so be it”, but hey it was there and I thought “why not” and if it works well I’ll be stoked, if not no harm, but I am defintely a lifelong luber, Grinding paste doesn’t concern me as much as heat and bare metal to metal contact.

BC

August 17, 2009 at 1:14 am #148567

Greg
Member

Yeah Blue I dont know what works best with chains, I am paying $180 for chains and seem to be getting real good life with the WD40 method, but is not better than the chain lube method so buggers me. Wish I still had my tin of Duckhans :angry:

Mal at Sutto’s is wanting me to try the Motorex 622 on my bike because its hard on driveline related components, Mal is normally on the money with most things he recommends so I will give it a run

TB

August 17, 2009 at 1:30 am #148551

drew
Member

hey Blue, be interesting how it fairs.

can’t be any worse than the commercial stuff, which i feel is only designed to stay on your chain for a short time, if it sticks and takes time to come off you would not have to use as much of it, leading to the sale of high volumes of product. ??

a thought on boiling the o,x-ring chains is it could end up with the pre-loaded grease coming out of the link. leaving nothing to lube the pin etc.

i know it’s not much of a thought as not many use the older method of treating a new chain, but a valid one none the less.

August 17, 2009 at 2:06 am #148568

Mick D
Member

Can I ask a question?? What the hell is Carnuba??

August 17, 2009 at 2:09 am #148570

Greg
Member

micknmeld wrote:

Quote:

Can I ask a question?? What the hell is Carnuba??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnauba_wax

TB

August 17, 2009 at 2:23 am #148572

Mick D
Member

Thanks TB,you learn something new every day!! I spose I shoulda Wikied it myself.
I have a big block of surfboard wax at home I might give that mixed with kero a whirl. I have been using the Motul spray and it seems to dry out in no time.

August 17, 2009 at 2:41 am #148574

Greg
Member

micknmeld wrote:

Quote:

I have been using the Motul spray and it seems to dry out in no time.

But there are those that will argue that drying out is good as it doesnt gather all the dirt and dust and form a paste wearing everything out? Where the dried out lube acts as a surface contacting protector

It makes my head ache

TB

August 17, 2009 at 3:06 am #148577

Dean
Member

maybe they will bring back the fully enclosed chains again:dry:

Ollie

August 17, 2009 at 3:22 am #148581

Bruce Curtis
Member

Then there is always the “scottoiler” if they’re still around.
the funny things is with the old “primitive” chains and sprockets came a longer life expectancy, now with oil’ringed self lubricated wnder chains, I’m replacing them more often for less riding….makes one wonder.

BC

August 17, 2009 at 4:55 am #148552

Bill
Member

I use a good quality Silcon Spray on my chain, have been doing it for a couple of years now. Stops the shit form sticking to your chain and does a good lube job.

Bill.

August 17, 2009 at 6:18 am #148588

Alex
Member

billt wrote:

Quote:

I use a good quality Silcon Spray on my chain, have been doing it for a couple of years now. Stops the shit form sticking to your chain and does a good lube job.

Bill.

Now THAT I find interesting. I have read the start of this thread but have chosen to stay clear as I am one of those nasty “no lube, new gen” activists

As always, everyone should “do what works for them”, but despite me doing my own thing I do like to see new ideas and their results.

Out of interest, I managed nearly 6000 kms out of the last bike (KTM250excf) with only one set of chains and sprockets changed (and they were probably 30% worn) before I sold it. Regina (~4500kms) then RK (~1500kms). I only lubed the chain after cleaning crud with a laundry brush before washing the bike (every now and then).
My theory is: o-rings keep the grease in. Don’t spray anything on the chain that will dissolve that grease or swell the the o-rings (WD40/kero/etc). Keep the o-rings from drying/shrinking.

I don’t believe the chain lube keeps the chain from getting “heated”. I don’t believe the lube can stay on the chain long enough to slow metal on metal contact significantly either. In my experience anyway.

I’m going to try the Silicon Spray, I like the theory. Moisten but not sticky. Thanks Billt. Maybe graphite lubes will work too.

August 17, 2009 at 6:21 am #148594

Mick D
Member

As of the last two rides I have been giving Lanox a go on my chain,I will post my thoughts soon.
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