what's with 'O' ring chains?

**Pixie** · 15th March 2005, 09:48

Convenience,cleanliness etc. Also come into it.Often I don't need to adjust the chain between tyre changes (8000).Long trips without lubing the chain every morning.Even sceptics say they would not go back once they fit one.

**Pixie** · 15th March 2005, 09:56

The o'rings still need the lube to stay intact.Also the rollers and sprocket teeth need lube.The o'rings keep the factory lube between the pin and the bush.The roller runs on the outside of the bush and therefore doesn't benefit from the factory lube.This is why the chain still needs external lubing.

**2_SL0** · 15th March 2005, 11:14

How often do peeps lube the chain, and the how often do they give it a good clean and lube. I lube mine every 2 weeks. and every 2-3k give it a good clean and lube. Is that to often. Use to be forever cleaning and lubing me dirtbike chains.
Oh and always replace chain and sprockets together, pointless if you dont.

**Gixxer 4 ever** · 15th March 2005, 11:22

Originally Posted by Ixion

I missed the o-ring bit.

Lubricant on the outside of the chain is pretty well useless, .

No not true. This is why so many chains die. You need the lube in the rollers. Yep I agree. But the lube on the out side of the roller is important to stop sprocket wear. It also stops the out side roller wearing. The reason I us NT oil........It stops the O ring getting dry and being damaged as the chain rotates around the sprocket. That is why I hate wax. It goes hard and sticky and will not lube the O ring. I would never boil an O ring chain as advised but a non O ring? Well it would help but it is cheaper in the end to purchase a good chain and sprockets as they go so much further. More K's for you buck.

**MikeL** · 15th March 2005, 11:23

Originally Posted by moko

Using Parafin or petrol to clean it will destroy the actual rings in no time at all

I don't know about petrol, but I've used kerosene (=paraffin) for years to clean O-ring chains. I think it's even recommended in the manual. The chain on my Honda has done at least 30 000 km and is still fine.

**Lord Pac** · 15th March 2005, 11:23

How often do peeps lube the chain, and the how often do they give it a good clean and lube. I lube mine every 2 weeks. and every 2-3k give it a good clean and lube. Is that to often. Use to be forever cleaning and lubing me dirtbike chains.
Oh and always replace chain and sprockets together, pointless if you dont

Every 500kms here. Clean and lube. Any longer it picks up more dirt and ends up like grinding paste on your chain/sprocket. Will kill it choppas. Clean- dubya D40 and Motul chain spray as lube.

**ManDownUnder** · 15th March 2005, 11:27

Originally Posted by Judderbar

How often do peeps lube the chain, and the how often do they give it a good clean and lube. I lube mine every 2 weeks. and every 2-3k give it a good clean and lube. Is that to often. Use to be forever cleaning and lubing me dirtbike chains.

I use the ol' eyeometer. Works well...

**Gixxer 4 ever** · 15th March 2005, 11:28

Originally Posted by Judderbar

How often do peeps lube the chain, .

Once a week. Friday night. Because of the type of oil I use it stays clean. I use an oily rag now and again to clean it but it stays good as a rule. I do around 14,000 km a year. No commuting.

**bugjuice** · 15th March 2005, 11:48

ok, so seems I'm way over-exaggerating then.. Good responce on this tho, thanx guys..

Every few weeks (weather and riding dependant), I get the bike on the stands, knock it into first gear while the engine is running, and spray the chain on the back sprocket for around 2 rotations on each side of the chain, then let it continue to run for a little longer. By that time, excess oil is starting to catch in places, so I wipe that off, then it's normally ok for a while. I seem to be adjusting it every few weeks too tho. It's either too tight or too slack. I spend yonks on finding the tightest spot on the wheel, then do it up to a little less than the book says (recommends 25-30mm of slack/movement. I get it around there, then half a turn more slack), and yet it's sometimes still all over the place. Last time I took it into the shop, they said I over did it too.. That played on my nuggin a little, then last weekend I had the back wheel off. I was expecting the chain to be almost like string in it's flexibility, but it pretty much held its' shape as I took it off the sprocket and was generally stiff than I thought..
I also noticed I need to pack a little more grease in the axle too.. All of this combined (and a new tyre needed) could only make me wonder if I was putting undue stress on the engine/gearbox (albeit very minor) and that it was all sapping some ponies from the lack of freedom in the drive system. And no, don't have a scooootieoiiilie thingeee.. Have seen them, had thought about them..

And, it all doesn't help that the bike is still so young too!! I just wanna ride it.. and do wheelies.. and stuff..
New tyre at the weekend tho, so that's solved. Back tyre almost shagged..

**Rainbow Wizard** · 15th March 2005, 17:03

Originally Posted by dangerous

I never adjust mine as the more you adjust the more it streachs it only gets adjustment when a tyre is replaced.

I hate that sound. I know it indicates one is not really in the appropriate gear and unless I back off the throttle I nearly always change down when it happens. Why don't bikes run a sprung idler sprocket to keep the slap at bay? After all, the Buell runs a tensioning pulley.

**Jackrat** · 15th March 2005, 17:35

I,ve always used extra heavy duty plain chains.
They've given me around 30,000.
I don't always change both sprockets at the same time,normaly two rear to one front.
Front sprockets just seem to last longer :spudwhat:

**dangerous** · 15th March 2005, 17:37

Buells huh....... mate had a stone get cought up in his, $400 later he had a new one but that was a good price cos he was told $600

Its my belief that a chain finds its own tension..... another words tighten it and it will streach back to were it was within no time, but leave it alone and 500k later it wouldent have got any worse.
Now it says on the VTR 35-40mm slack............. that most people would say is way loose, but its what I go by and it sits at 30-35mm km after km, if I could get away with out adjusting it at a tyre change then I would.

I've had 5 sharft drives and they rock.... and twist things a tad but ya get used to that, chains.... hate em.

**gav** · 15th March 2005, 17:45

Are you oiling inside the links, I oil the chain as it feeds onto the rear sprocket and try and catch both insides of the links, doesnt need too much on the outer, also do it after a ride when the chain is hot, the oil penetrates better.

**Ixion** · 16th March 2005, 00:51

Originally Posted by dangerous

Buells huh....... mate had a stone get cought up in his, $400 later he had a new one but that was a good price cos he was told $600

Hm. Stones. Hm, yes could be nasty. Maybe Buells not such a wonderful idea after all (but they look, and sound, real nice though. There was a really nice one at Manukau City the other day ).

Mind you, I've known stones and rocks get caught in chains too, especially those soft sandstone rocks, they sort of wedge in.

Had all sorts of things stuck in chains actually. Tree branches are the classic one, and they can completely wreck the chain and maybe the engine housing. Seaweed, fencing wire, clothes, a dead sheep (true ! it was really nasty untangling it !)

**dangerous** · 16th March 2005, 16:51

Originally Posted by Ixion

Hm. Stones. Hm, yes could be nasty. Maybe Buells not such a wonderful idea after all (but they look, and sound, real nice though. There was a really nice one at Manukau City the other day ).

Mind you, I've known stones and rocks get caught in chains too, especially those soft sandstone rocks, they sort of wedge in.

Had all sorts of things stuck in chains actually. Tree branches are the classic one, and they can completely wreck the chain and maybe the engine housing. Seaweed, fencing wire, clothes, a dead sheep (true ! it was really nasty untangling it !)

Are you taking the fuking piss.... or what mate