View Full Version : Recommend me a chain lube.
kellyjo
15-01-10, 09:59 AM
...for my chain ;)
I've just put on a new gold chain and want to keep it in good condition, but also looking gold.
What have you guys used that isnt too mucky and won't make the chain look discoloured?
speedplay
15-01-10, 10:00 AM
Chain wax for me :)
Dave20046
15-01-10, 10:09 AM
...for my chain ;)
I've just put on a new gold chain and want to keep it in good condition, but also looking gold.
What have you guys used that isnt too mucky and won't make the chain look discoloured?
I'd definitely prioritise what works best over what's going to make the chain look mucky.
Wurth dry chain lube is ok (and actually not mucky looking) that pbj blue or whatever it's called is supposed to be good too but never used it. Currently using chainkote as I got it for about £4 a litre and have just had the chain drenched in it ever since.
Alpinestarhero
15-01-10, 10:12 AM
Castrol do a good dry lubricant (can't remember exactly what its called but spanerman uses it so ask him). Wurth dry chain lubricant is great, but I always found it needed more frequent application...fine if you use the bike for pleasure, but if you do constant riding (every day) or you plan on doing a long trip, a thicker lubricant is better :)
I always put some lube on the chain every time I fill up with fuel, and clean the chain once a fortnight, if not sooner, with parriffin (kerosene if you are american!) before re-lubing :)
From what I;ve seen, scottoilers keep a chain looking nice and clean
fizzwheel
15-01-10, 10:18 AM
Wurth Dry Lube is good, however I found it didnt give good results in the Winter as it did over the summer months.
TBH Lube is lube, having some on there no matter what it is, is better than nothing at all.
I dont like chain wax, in my experience I found that dirt stuck to the wax and then turned into a grinding paste.
Best thing I found for keeping my chain lubed and keeping it clean ( ish ) at the same time is a Scottoiler. So thats what I woudl recommend, if you do alot of miles it will reduce the amount you have to fit new chain and sprockets to your bike IMHO.
It might take a bit of fiddling in terms of flow rate and they can make a bit of a mess of the back wheel i.e. the lube can fling, but In my experience all lubes fling on the back wheel, whether that be Scotoiler lube or convential spray on stuff.
Spiderman
15-01-10, 10:48 AM
Hein Gericke do a great dry lube called Profi and it works well in the rain too tho they do suggest cleaqning and drying the chain after a wet ride before applying again. As others said its gotta be Scottoiler for best lube and seeing the gold colour. I got one. The fact that 3 months after buying it its still in its box on the floor of my bedroom longing to be fitted is only about how lazy I am, not how bad the product is btw.
Oh and for other things my lube of choice is Liquid KY seeing as no one has bothered to lower the tone yet, I may as well :)
kellyjo
15-01-10, 10:49 AM
Have had a look on ebay, does the universal scottoiler fit the sv ok, or would i need any other bits? TIA x
kellyjo
15-01-10, 10:56 AM
Oh and for other things my lube of choice is Liquid KY seeing as no one has bothered to lower the tone yet, I may as well :)
Its always good to know we can rely upon our resident superhero! FYI that'd be my choice too;)
dizzyblonde
15-01-10, 10:57 AM
Castrol do a good dry lubricant
I use this, not cheap, but rather good.
http://www.shop.raiderstil.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/c/h/chain_wax_1.jpg
I never liked the dry stuff, but went to the Hardware shop in an emergency and that was alll they had(nice hardware man happens to be a biker, and stocks one or two essentials:D) This stuff seems to be better than the other dry lubes I've used before. Goes on pretty wet, a grey colour, so you can see where its gone, but changes colour when dry(or not dry as it seems to be!)
Used to use Holts from Halfords, was like green snot, got everywhere when you rode after, but stuck like glue none the less...thats cheaper, but recommended by me.
ps ASH, I do a lot of riding miles all at once, and it seems to fit the job well...so not just a pleasure run thing.
I use the old engine oil from my bikes previous oil change. Saves me finding somewhere eco friendly to tip it too! :)
Dave20046
15-01-10, 11:03 AM
I use the old engine oil from my bikes previous oil change. Saves me finding somewhere eco friendly to tip it too! :)
In a scotoiler or just rubbed on? Got do admit I've done the same but it's not a long term solution as it doesn't stick as well as lubes.
Luckypants
15-01-10, 11:07 AM
Have had a look on ebay, does the universal scottoiler fit the sv ok, or would i need any other bits? TIA x
Yes it does, but for a curvy you need to order the correct t-piece from Scottoiler (free) as the kit does not have the right size. Full fitting instructions on the Scottoil website here (http://www.scottoiler.com/support_installation-guides.asp?command=model&id_language=1&id_manufacturer=14&id_model=302&kit=). Select the V-system kit as those instructions are the same as for the universal system. The instructions will tell you which T-piece you need to order.
A search on here will show up many examples of how folks have fitted the scotty to their curvys.
dizzyblonde
15-01-10, 11:11 AM
BTW as one who likes her chain not mucky looking. May I also recommend when you are cleaning you bike, to get a rag and spray it with WD40, then rub you chain with it, it will bring the old cack off and provide you with a nice clean chain for you to re-lube.
I have done this for years, many could argue that WD40 knackers your chain o rings, but if done like this(which I have for years) doesn't.. I have done thousands of miles on my black SV and only ever adjusted the chain once in the last couple of years and once in the first year....as I look after it(and its gold too)
The chain on my yellow SV is slightly suspect, I've done thousands of miles on that too...but it was sat for a few months, perhaps with a drier chain than expected, which sagged to one half of the chain was tighter than the other, so beware if you leave it stood for a while you must clean and lube your chain before putting it away for some time, or you could get tight spots.
Unfortunately this one was a brand new chain, and I'm kicking myself that I ignored this by accident. When we adjusted the chain for the GM last year thinking it was loose, it wasn't and it tightened the half of the chain that hadn't sagged causing it to get so tight, that it pulled on the sprocket seal to the engine. I scratched my head why I was loosing oil that weekend. When we got home it was tighter than new knicker elastic and the other side of the chain as perfect....backed it off and its been fine since, but will probably get a new chain this year just as a caution.
This scenario is a bit rare, but not lubing and cleaning can still cause tight spots in your links.
sorry for the blah, but I thought it would be helpful for some novice reader.
kellyjo
15-01-10, 11:18 AM
My last chain was a disaster, it had a really tight spot but at its loosest point it was vergeing on dangerous. I have no idea why and the mechanics that looked at it couldnt offer any reasoning either, i lubed it about every 200 miles and cleaned it with kerosene. Thats why i want to make sure i keep the new in pucker condition, i'd just like to keep it looking gold aswell!
Dave20046
15-01-10, 11:20 AM
why and the mechanics that looked at it couldnt offer any reasoning either, i lubed it about every 200 miles and cleaned it with kerosene. !
As long as it was kept at the right adjustment I couldn't either :scratch:
Unless maybe whoever fitted it bodged it, or it had just exceeded it's life time.
maviczap
15-01-10, 11:23 AM
I use this, not cheap, but rather good.
http://www.shop.raiderstil.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/c/h/chain_wax_1.jpg
I never liked the dry stuff, but went to the Hardware shop in an emergency and that was alll they had(nice hardware man happens to be a biker, and stocks one or two essentials:D) This stuff seems to be better than the other dry lubes I've used before. Goes on pretty wet, a grey colour, so you can see where its gone, but changes colour when dry(or not dry as it seems to be!)
Used to use Holts from Halfords, was like green snot, got everywhere when you rode after, but stuck like glue none the less...thats cheaper, but recommended by me.
ps ASH, I do a lot of riding miles all at once, and it seems to fit the job well...so not just a pleasure run thing.
I'd agree with Dizzy on this lube, although I don't do that many wet miles, this stuff doesn't tend to fling off the chain like other stuff I've had.
At some point fit a scottoiler Kelly Jo, as they seem to extend the life of the chain by some margin.
The ideal world for a chain is to live in a sealed bath of oil, they last for ages like this.
speedplay
15-01-10, 11:27 AM
*points to post number 2*
Chain wax...;) couldn't remember who made it though.
Ive always used Castrol chain wax as well as it doesnt flick off that much but they have discontinued making chain wax and chain spray on now and only make wait for it....
Racing chain lube!
I am yet to try this though
speedplay
15-01-10, 11:30 AM
Ive always used Castrol chain wax as well as it doesnt flick off that much but they have discontinued making chain wax and chain spray on now and only make wait for it....
Racing chain lube!
I am yet to try this though
Is "racing lube" the same stuff with a different label I wonder...
Spiderman
15-01-10, 11:30 AM
Its always good to know we can rely upon our resident superhero! FYI that'd be my choice too;)
Glad to be of service ma'am :)
And good girl, someone else who knows quality bedroom lubes :lol:
yorkie_chris
15-01-10, 11:33 AM
Scottoiler.
dizzyblonde
15-01-10, 11:34 AM
Racing chain lube!
I am yet to try this though
Got a can of 'racing chain lube' from a different company, really thin, and flies off in every direction, ends up cacky and black in no time too.
Castrol may be better, but dunno.
If its just repackaged the stuff in the pic and given it a shiny new name....:cheers: I didn't know it was discontinued.
Spiderman
15-01-10, 11:41 AM
i used a teeny can of "racing lube" once, give to me by a guy who races Aprillias and owns a bike shop, (Southern Cross for those who might know it) as he had never encountered the clear HG lube i was using. The stuff was like superglue when you sprayed a bit on your fingers and was a great lube. Bloody hard to get hold of tho, never did find a place that sells it direct to the public, only to trade from the manufacturer otherwise that'd be my lube of choice.
Cant remember the brand now, its the black and blue tins, oh wtf was it called now :confused:
In a scotoiler or just rubbed on? Got do admit I've done the same but it's not a long term solution as it doesn't stick as well as lubes.
On teh SV I've got a scottoiler so I haven't actually used it on this. But on other bikes i used to keep it in an old hypoid bottle and just pour it on whilst the bikes was on a paddock stand and let the excess drip off overnight.
Is "racing lube" the same stuff with a different label I wonder...
It may be, ill have to find out tomorrow now :p
I've tried so many. Then I fitted a Scottie in September - and wish I'd done it years ago. I know it's more shekels but you won't regret it. Fantastic bit of kit.
yorkie_chris
15-01-10, 08:58 PM
Not pricey at all, will have paid for itself in 20k
Spanner Man
16-01-10, 12:15 PM
Castrol do a good dry lubricant (can't remember exactly what its called but spanerman uses it so ask him).
Not quite on cue:D
I use Castrol OR. It goes on thinly & penetrates the chain well. It doesn't fling either. Being off white in colour, it's dead easy to see when it need re applying.
Cheers.
sel1960
16-01-10, 12:29 PM
Castrol chain wax very good product.
craigs23
17-01-10, 08:11 AM
I use chainsaw oil.
Spray on lubes and waxes just tend to allow so much road crap to build up on the chain, making them look a manky mess after only a couple of days. That grinding mess can't be too good for the links.
Scottoiler.
Same as. And if your worried about the chain and the rear wheel getting dirty then your worrying too much. In the summer you can turn it right down. At the end of your ride a quick wipe of the rear wheel and chain with a cloth and it's nice and clean again. A quick spray with WD40 will get any stubborn bits off in an instant. In the winter/rain who cares if it gets dirty, it's going to get dirty in those conditions anyway.
The overall advantage of a scottoiler over lubing. Your chain is being lubed constantly whilst you ride. No need of all this hassle of lubing the chain before during and after. Plus of course is the lack of need for constant checking. One quick look at the reservoir to ensure it is topped up. Job done.
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