chain lube?

[Midbike Racer]

2 questions. How often should you lube your chanin and what is best to use?
Mine looks really dirty and in need of some attention.
Also, do they need to be cleaned? That was 3...cowboy

[The Nutty Professor]

I've been riding a long time both bicycles and motorcycles. I actually got to ride bikes for a living at one point. Anyway I've cleaned a lot of chains. This is how I do it now. If you want the chain to last don't be a slacker. These steps are for a dirty chain that needs a good clean. First I spray the chain with a degreaser (Simple Green, Fantastic, Greased Lightning). Then hose it off with water and clean again until dirty stops oozing out of the rollers. This will work on a X-ring chain also. Then I dry the chain, I use a hairdryer if the chain is on a motorcycle (But only when my wife isn't around)thumbsup. If it's an expensive race chain. I've had them on both rides. Then I use a step that some people think isn't necessary but I say otherwise. I then use plain old WD-40 and spray then chain down. NOTE! This is not to lube the chain it's to displace any water that maybe in between the roller's or the O-X-rings. Then I run the bike on the stand or down the road to fling the water and WD off. I then spray it again with WD and go in the house. After about an hour I come back and heat the chain up by running it or the hairdryer and spray on a chain wax. Then I'm done.

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

these chains self lubricate
you can lube it if you want or if its dirty
ive just used motor oil on mine, and i didnt use much
im not saying its right but i havent had any probs yet

[x18runer]

You dont need to do all that stuff on a pocket bike chain.They dont get that dirty and when they do scrub the dirt off with gas,and then spray chain lube on the chain while the bike is on a stand in first gear (idleing),then turn the bike off and spray the front and rear sprockets.If your chain gets so dirty that you have to do What nutty p says just go buy a new one!

[redryderaus]

You do need to look after your chain if you want it to last. Even a small amount of dust mixed with chain lube forms a very effective grinding paste. I once replaced the chain and sprockets on a bike whose owner was too lazy to look after it. I'm not kidding, the sprockets were stuffed and I could bend the chain into a complete circle sideways. The chain and sprockets were three months old and it cost him a lot of money to replace, not to mention the ear-bashing he copped from me about abusing his bike.

I remove the chain from my bikes regularly and clean everything in degreaser to remove all the grinding paste. This is a good opportunity to inspect your chain and sprockets for wear. Once dry, I spray PJ1 Black chain lube (for standard chains) or PJ1 Blue (for o-ring chains) and leave it for half an hour or so for the propellants from the spray on lube to evaporate.

Of course if you can afford to replace your chain regularly and/or you want to risk a chain breakage and possible damaged engine cases, just ignore good advice.

Cheers,

red

[x18runer]

simple green, or gas it does not matter what you use to clean off your chain any degreaser will work. Dont take your chain off scrub it with a toothbrushuntil clean you dont need to soak it. I have a yamaha ttr125 and all I ever do is spray chain lube on it. Its a 2003 thays like 5 years never a problem with the chain our sprokets. I ride that bike in the dirt,mud,and snow. Just recently I cleaned the chain with a tooth brush and gas. You must run shity chains!

[The Nutty Professor]

X chill man. I was describing what I do to clean a chain. I also don't buy cheap chains it's just not in me to do it. When a chain breaks it can cause alls kinds of havoc. Broken cases or sawed off toes. That may be extreme but I like my toes. Just because you've been dodging a bullet for 5 years doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. King asked and Red and I answered. Nuff said.

[x18runer]

having the chain grind off your foot is highly unlikely, and I dont think the engine casing are going to get damaged other than some minor scrathes. But really what you do is kind of overboard.

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

well hes a racer and thats what they do ( go overboard)
thats his lifestyle, not yours
the good thing is folks get to hear how two different people handle things
sheet i said i use motor oil lol

[The Nutty Professor]

having the chain grind off your foot is highly unlikely, and I dont think the engine casing are going to get damaged other than some minor scrathes. But really what you do is kind of overboard.

Ask anybody here I don't like to argue but when I know what I'm talking about I stand my ground. A busted chain can and will break an engine case. Seen it to many times on street and race bikes. If a chain can't cut off a toe (I did not say foot) why are so many racer's (Not to many current because of the chain guards) walking around minus toes. Huuummm might it be the chain that cut one off when it snapped under acceleration and wrapped around the socks they called boots back then? Maybe it's because they've had their toes cut off to replace their finger's. Racer's are hard for shizzle core and we learn the hard way that half measure can cost either big money or a life time of pain. Yes you're right I do go overboard when I clean my chains but I also clean my bikes constantly my garage is a mess, but my bikes are clean. I have a minor John Kosinski complex (I wish I was that goodbanana) going. Again I say King asked what we do and I told him. I didn't say that was "THE WAY" to clean a chain it's "My Way". Dude I'm here to stay and I will answer any and all question I feel like answering. Blitz uses motor oil...it works...I use my method...I like it. I feel it everyday and I mean the first line of my signature.

[Midbike Racer]

the good thing is folks get to hear how two different people handle things
EXACTLY!
pimp11

[x18runer]

My freinds ride on the freeway, and one time my freinds chain just fell off the sproket on an x15 it got stuck in the back tire and locked it up when he was goin 45mph. He rode it for a couple of seconds and he fell hella hard. All he got was a broke arm and hella bad road rash nothing happend to his toes and he was wearin jordans.We had to ditch the bike though.