Lets talk chain cleaning and lube

[artmaker]

So.... I HAD a bottle of chain oil a mechanic gave me, but can I FIND it now???? NOT. (A black hole follows me around.) And that mechanic is since passed so can't ask him.
All I know is it came in a skinny flat black bottle, had a very skinny applicator and was recommended by a guy who was an avid motorcyclist. Stuff was fantastic too.

Since I have NO clue where I left that, time to start fresh.

Did a little reading about wax lubes? Down side is the need to have a pristine clean chain. As a motorized bike removing BOTH chains is NOT a task I really want in my life. Not to mention the gears are pretty gunky too. (I usually hit those with the some degreaser and a skinny dollar tree wire brush. Won't be perfectly clean but good enough.) So lets talk plan B.

I bought a chain cleaning tool a few years back. Silly plastic contraption you fill with degreasing stuff, clamp this thing around your chain and work the chain (peddle backwards or pull the drive chain of the motor through by hand) It does a fair job of cleaning. Not perfect by any means, that would mean taking off the chain and soaking... again NOT in my plans. This tool does ok for getting the bulk of the gunk off. It's been a year since I did this and it's due before this years riding season is in full swing.

So I'm guessing I need to stick to some kind of oil. Found a post somewhere for PJ1 Blue label chain lube. Found it on ebay and have that saved. Would this be good? Run the chain through my fancy chain cleaning thing, be sure it's dry, then lube with this stuff? OR is there a better idea out there?

I pulled a random photo off the internet just to show this chain cleaning tool thing.

 

[Gordy]

I generally clean my chains with some purple power degreaser then lubricate it with white lithium grease.

 

[artmaker]

Really? Grease??? Does it fly all over the place like the oil does? Does the chain have to be pristine as with some wax types?

 

[Darwin]

This is like an oil thread. I just use silicone spray or Wd40 after power washing the bike. By power washing I'm talking holding the wand at least 2ft away and using wide swaths to clean. I might get a lil closer in difficult to get to areas like under the fenders where mud piles up. Never have had an issue with water killing the electronics. Sensitive areas like the intake you cover up or avoid it. Clean the chain the same way. Oring chains I do the same.

 

[Gordy]

Really? Grease??? Does it fly all over the place like the oil does? Does the chain have to be pristine as with some wax types?

White lithium is more of a dry lube. It will sling a bit.

 

[Darwin]

Just my opinion. Grease doesn't soak into the pins and rollers where it's needed most. That's why I like a liquid spray. No right or wrong just my thinking.

 

[DAMIEN1307]

Just my opinion. Grease doesn't soak into the pins and rollers where it's needed most. That's why I like a liquid spray. No right or wrong just my thinking.

Thats why I take my chain off the bike and soak it in WD-40 to clean it and wipe it down and then soak it in 2 cycle synthetic oil overnight, wipe it down and put it back down...even though I don't use tensioners which makes the chain pretty quite, a well cleaned and well oiled chain is almost silent...lol.

 

[Deleted member 33057]

This…
Local shops…$10

 

[Chainlube]

So.... I HAD a bottle of chain oil a mechanic gave me, but can I FIND it now???? NOT. (A black hole follows me around.) And that mechanic is since passed so can't ask him.
All I know is it came in a skinny flat black bottle, had a very skinny applicator and was recommended by a guy who was an avid motorcyclist. Stuff was fantastic too.

Since I have NO clue where I left that, time to start fresh.

Did a little reading about wax lubes? Down side is the need to have a pristine clean chain. As a motorized bike removing BOTH chains is NOT a task I really want in my life. Not to mention the gears are pretty gunky too. (I usually hit those with the some degreaser and a skinny dollar tree wire brush. Won't be perfectly clean but good enough.) So lets talk plan B.

I bought a chain cleaning tool a few years back. Silly plastic contraption you fill with degreasing stuff, clamp this thing around your chain and work the chain (peddle backwards or pull the drive chain of the motor through by hand) It does a fair job of cleaning. Not perfect by any means, that would mean taking off the chain and soaking... again NOT in my plans. This tool does ok for getting the bulk of the gunk off. It's been a year since I did this and it's due before this years riding season is in full swing.

So I'm guessing I need to stick to some kind of oil. Found a post somewhere for PJ1 Blue label chain lube. Found it on ebay and have that saved. Would this be good? Run the chain through my fancy chain cleaning thing, be sure it's dry, then lube with this stuff? OR is there a better idea out there?

I pulled a random photo off the internet just to show this chain cleaning tool thing.

I clean my chains with brake cleaner and lube it with a 50/50 30w and synthetic 2t oil.

 

[robe]

I clean them with an old paint brush and solvent. Then paint on a coat of chain saw chain oil with a clean paint brush and wipe the excess off with a rag. Cheap and effective and doesn't fling off too much.

On this new 4 stroke with the rear disk I'm going to have to come up with a wax type that Nick mentioned because the disc is so close to the chain I'm worried that oil will get on the disc.