Chain lube?

[Owl]

I bought a litre of Prolan (heavy) and used that over the period of a year lubing two chains.

Now I have 4 litres, but I wouldn't recommend it for standard type chains. X-ring - O-ring, it works great and cleans the chain well.

[bsasuper]

Oil is oil. A little often is better than the best oil infrequently.

Oil weekly, or especially after rain or a dirty ride and daily when touring.

IMHO the best for chain life is a standard GL5 gear oil because it is thick and has a very strong boundary lubricant additive. It just makes a bit of a mess if you put too much on. Its very easy to put it on with a small brush, a liter if HD90 will last years.

We used to make motorcycle chain oil and chain bar oil, it was basically the same stuff. It was made from all the slops , all we used to add a tack additive.

So in other words it was cheap to make (Big profit), but crap for use on a motorcycle chain.If oil is oil, why dont you use cooking oil then.

[Flip]

There is no specification for chain oils, even the chain makers don't have one.

Cooking oil has a relatively low film strength especially at high temp, has little or no ability to stick to metal and is easily biodegradable to give three reasons. However if I was in the middle of a desert and had a dry chain it would be much better than nothing.

[caspernz]

Any lubricant is good, the only difference being the amount of crap you gotta clean off your bike depending on how tacky it is and how much you put on....

Me, I use a Scottoiler. Each time I wash the bike I spray a little kero to clean off the crap that's been flung around, doesn't bother me much. Chain and sprockets last much longer when lubed properly....

[curly]

Pull the bike over onto it's sidestand to get the rear wheel just off the ground.

Rotate the wheel a little by hand and then put the wheel back on the ground.

Get someone to show you how to do it.

You'll find it a piece of cake.

Kinda like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79RgJ...eedwll&list=WL

[MaxCannon]

I'll point out that regular use of chainsaw bar oil kept the chain in top notch condition and was much cheaper than using the spray lube.
Castrol sell a chain oil in a can. It does much the same job but is pricey by comparison.

But thesedays I have a clean and maintenance free shaft drive.
It's shame they don't make more sportsbikes with shaft drive. Then when it was nice morning for a ride you wouldn't have to spend 20 minutes cleaning the chain - you'd just hop on the bike and ride.

[bluninja]

I'll point out that regular use of chainsaw bar oil kept the chain in top notch condition and was much cheaper than using the spray lube.
Castrol sell a chain oil in a can. It does much the same job but is pricey by comparison.

But thesedays I have a clean and maintenance free shaft drive.
It's shame they don't make more sportsbikes with shaft drive. Then when it was nice morning for a ride you wouldn't have to spend 20 minutes cleaning the chain - you'd just hop on the bike and ride.

If you clean (if you need to) and lube the chain after a ride it's all ready for you next time you want to hop on. I know it's a chore, but then I can check the brakes, tyres, and give the bike a quick once over so I know all is good.

[otter]

Another option that may not be recommended by many. But I kind of lube my chain when I remember and after I've cleaned it (same time as washing bike) (Sometimes every 500KM, sometimes more). I have no idea how often I lube it, and just discovered the other day a bit of rust on one side because I wasn't managing to get any spray on that side. But fuckit I'll just get a new chain after this one, some things aren't worth the effort.

[Daffyd]

I have a clean and maintenance free shaft drive.
It's shame they don't make more sportsbikes with shaft drive. Then when it was nice morning for a ride you wouldn't have to spend 20 minutes cleaning the chain - you'd just hop on the bike and ride.

You can say the same for a belt drive.

[shanks]

So I bought the Castrol Chain Oil today to lube the chains with. The Repco guy suggested to use the degreaser to clean the chain (photo attached). Do you guys think this is the right thing to use or should I be using Kerosene?

Cheers

[Blackbird]

Does nobody else use the Dupont Teflon multi use stuff? Cleanest chain lube I've ever used, by a large margin. Haven't noticed any performance differences, but I don't often need to replace chains anyway. Much drier than a oil or wax, so less likely to pick up dirt or grit, and says something about being self cleaning, which I guess means the teflon repels any grit out of the high pressure areas.

Yep, I've used the Dupont Teflon for the last year on the Street Triple and agree with your findings - best I've come across. Little or no fling. Apply it every 500 km or thereabouts and never have to adjust the chain between tyre changes so I guess there's stuff all wear! I think I paid around $31 for a can late last year and I'm still using it.

I had a Scottoiler on the Blackbird and at 60,000 km, the chain and sprockets were in great condition. As others have said, the offset is fling and a dribble from inside the front sprocket housing where it flings onto the crankcase.

[baffa]

So I bought the Castrol Chain Oil today to lube the chains with. The Repco guy suggested to use the degreaser to clean the chain (photo attached). Do you guys think this is the right thing to use or should I be using Kerosene?

Cheers

I used a similiar degreaser on my bike, with great results.

You dont need a huge amount of degreaser, it's more about elbow grease with rags and possibly a toothbrush, and I leave it for a little while to make sure all the degreaser has dripped off / evaporated before lubing it up again.

[spinergy]

Or you could give someone a can of degreaser in the pitch dark and tell them it's chain lube aye Baff

[p.dath]

So I bought the Castrol Chain Oil today to lube the chains with. The Repco guy suggested to use the degreaser to clean the chain (photo attached). Do you guys think this is the right thing to use or should I be using Kerosene?

Cheers

If your riding a road bike, and you appear to be, you only need to clean the chain every 6 months or so (you'll see dust and dirt starting to stick to it, and generally not looking clean). I'm sure the degreaser you have will be fine. People use Kerosene because it is good - and cheap. A hard combination to argue with.

[Flip]

I don't think it is a good idea to use a degreaser at all, no sir not ever.

The degreaser will get into the internal spaces in the chain and in the rain will emulsify the chain lube and wash it out. Secondly those strong emulsifiers are not lubricants. I am also sure those strong emulsifiers are also hydroscopic and attract water.

What the fuck would I know anyway.