Chain Lube

[Swin]

I've been reading on another forum how some folk use WD40 to lube their chain, and I can see the attraction, I use a brush and sparingly apply a mix of chain lube and oil to the chain on my pointy, even with a thin layer my back wheel cruds up in no time.

I guess WD40 would be great in this respect as it's a thinner texture and can be applied with a brush or cloth, so it's got me thinking of this as an alternative to my current method.

Anyone got any experiences/opinions, good/bad - all are welcome :D

[Nutsinatin]

I fail to see what lubricating this is actually going to do, and don't suspect that this will do the rubber O rings or the grease they are trying to retain any good unless you are using a solid chain. I prefer to use a Scottoiler which is self cleaning and doesn't make a mess if you set it up right, but as I need to fit it to the new bike still I've been using a dry lube like this (http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/29605), zero fling and minimal pick up, cleaning the chain about every 1200 miles. It doesn't stick that well in the wet though, so needs frequent reapplication if you ride in the rain. You could also brush on gear oil like suggested in most motorcycle owner book and see how that goes?

[Phoenix22]

I wouldn't rely on it as a lubricant & some may say it damages the rubber O rings.

I have to confess to being a bit compulsive about chain maintenance & like my chain to look like new at all times without any splatter onto the rear wheel rim. After every ride I use Wurth dry chain lube then just wipe the OUTSIDE of the chain with a rag soaked in WD40. Best of both worlds. Last chain lasted 25K treated this way & even then had plenty of life left.

[maviczap]

Do not use WD40 for chain lube! Its a degreaser, I wouldn't even use it to lube my pushbike chain.

It has nothing to stop it getting flung off the chain, so has no lubricating benefits

Its great for cleaning crud off the chain, but paraffin is better

Use a proper chain lube, there's lots out there

If you use a wax based lube, you don't get to much fling, if you're mixing lube and oil its going to destroy the properties of the chain lube?

Buy a scott oiler, a tutoro or a PDQ chain oiler, as these use the right sort of lube and will extend the life of your chain. Chains like being run in a chain bath, but these are the next best thing

Fling is normal, no matter how good the lube

[carelesschucca]

I wouldn't touch WD40 as a chain lube. Either get a proper good quality chain lube or something like a scottoiler that once its set up makes life very simple and keeps maintenence down, yeah its a bit of an outlay initially but I've used the same oiler on all of my bikes. Buts thats just me a cheapskate, with a nice clean chain and dirty back wheel.

[NTECUK]

WD 40 is good for getting grease off. Great for cleaning processor heat sink face before fitting a new heat sink.Good to disperse water too.
It's no resilience as a lubricant.
It's also going to adversely affect the o rings in the chains links.

[Swin]

Thanks, I'll give this Wurth dry stuff a try, it seems to be exactly the product I'm looking for - looks to be very reasonably priced too.

[Littlepeahead]

It's good but once the chain is dirty it is very tricky to get off.

[Swin]

It's good but once the chain is dirty it is very tricky to get off.

I have a can of chain cleaner that I've never had to use with my "brush and jam jar method", so perhaps I'll need to make use of that before re-lubing :)

[maviczap]

I use Castrol chain wax, very good, not too much fling, got good reviews

You can get it at Halfrauds

[Swin]

Just checked out the Halfords web site and I noticed they stock a chain lube made by WD40 - perhaps this is what they were talking about on the other forum, and I've mistakenly thought they meant WD40 Degreasant...

Anyways, lots of recommends here, which is the best way to find stuff imo - so thanks again!

[Bibio]

scottoiler, no more mess than other types of lube once set up. i like scottoilers that much i got a touring rez which should see me all year without filling it. now i can just jump on the bike and go get home and go inside then repeat. life's to short to worry about cleaning and lubing bloody motorbike chains unless that is you are that bored it gives you a kick. ok i'll admit if the chain looks like its needing a clean i will do it but i would rather not.

[Swin]

I'm the opposite I'm afraid, had two scottoilers in the past, one with the touring "sausage" and hated both of them. Maybe I've been unlucky but they seemed to need constant priming and I never quite seemed to get the balance right, despite staring at my watch and counting drips repeatedly :)

My next bike will have a centre stand, (hoping to get a v-strom early next year), so the chain maintenance routine will be relatively painless, and to be honest, it's some nice dad-and-son time when my boy helps me sort the bike out, ready for another shift cycle of commuting!

[lumpo]

I'm the opposite I'm afraid, had two scottoilers in the past, one with the touring "sausage" and hated both of them. Maybe I've been unlucky but they seemed to need constant priming and I never quite seemed to get the balance right, despite staring at my watch and counting drips repeatedly :)

I've moved over to the PDOiler and its much better.

Works by an electrically pumped squirt of oil instead of gravity, so no priming issues and the rate is a simple timer dial. Very easy to setup and pretty much trouble free once in use :)

[nutzboutbikes]

I use Castrol chain wax, very good, not too much fling, got good reviews

You can get it at Halfrauds

+1.
I am big fan of chain wax as it is not sticky and fling seems minimal compared to most standard lubes, I use the Putoline wax which I apply about every 1000 miles.

[Jayneflakes]

I have never used a Scottoiler, but do have a Tutoro that has seen excellent service. As with all of these things, it does need topping up every now and again and I have to adjust flow rate as the seasons change, which when you have to do it twice a year can be a bind! ;-) Yes, I am a lazy old bag. :D

[Balky001]

Swin, I've also seen threads where people use WD40 (before WD40 did chain lube) so I think your were right. The fact WD40 brought out a chain lube (which you need to shake as it has wax) shows the WD40 degreaser isn't a good option.

I like Wurth dry lube, very good and used it for years although I use paraffin to get it off when clean the chain. I just got the Castrol one as the local shop didn't have Wurth and pretty impressed with it as well

[lumpo]

WD40 definitely isn't a good option.

With an O-ring chain the lubrication is sealed by the O-rings for the life of the chain. All chain wax/lube does is lubricate the mating faces of the chain rollers to sprocket.

WD40 can actually get behind the O-rings and remove the lubricant properties.

Cleaning with strong solvents is also a bad idea, such as petrol etc. Parafin as said above is ideal :)

[Claude]

Wd40 has absolutely zero negative effect on orings so is fine to clean a chain with. But you do need to use a proper lube afterwards.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345397

[NTECUK]

I used chain paste on the 675.
The only thing that would get it off and back to clean was wurth chain cleaner.

[lumpo]

Wd40 has absolutely zero negative effect on orings so is fine to clean a chain with. But you do need to use a proper lube afterwards.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345397

It has no effect on o-rings, but can 'wash' out the lubricant from behind them.

This link (funnily enough from the same thread you linked to) highlights the damage WD40 does in bearings (the bottom section).

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/

[Claude]

It has no effect on o-rings, but can 'wash' out the lubricant from behind them.

This link (funnily enough from the same thread you linked to) highlights the damage WD40 does in bearings (the bottom section).

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/


To clean the chain prior to lubing :)

Good call on the bearing shout.

[lumpo]

Yeah I'd agree for cleaning only, WD is not going to do any damage, just not good as an actual 'lube' :)

The bearing picture was quite impressive, absolutely no lubrication at all left in there.

[NTECUK]

WD40 is about 4 quid for a can.
Parrafin is 6 quid for 4lts.
So not only is it pennitraing the O rings, it's damaging your pocket!

[nutzboutbikes]

Putting wd40 onto a cloth first then wiping the chain clean is ok in my eyes although spraying the chain in the stuff to clean it is not a good idea, the use of a dedicated chain cleaner & lube is the only way to be sure you are not doing the chain any harm.

[Balky001]

I used chain paste on the 675.
The only thing that would get it off and back to clean was wurth chain cleaner.

Is that the Motul paste? I've just got some as putting on a new chain and did not have the sachet you sometimes get so used it on the master link. Wasn't sure about using it on the chain for regular lubing as I heard it can get messy. How do you find it in terms of fling?

[NTECUK]

C5 motel with the built in brush.
Not muchness fling (wiped over with blue workshop paper after application).
But because it attracts dirt and grit not going to use it unless I do a long 200 + route away from home.
Ps
It's harder to get off even with the dreaded WD 40.
Wurth wax is good for normal bimbleing about.

[Fen Tiger]

Scottoiler with scottoil works well for me. I have used a Loobman filled with scottoil too which was also good. Before the Scottoiler was available I used EP90 which worked but had to be applied sparingly and often, with regular cleaning.

[Swin]

Couldn't find Castrol Chain Wax in my local Halfords, so I bought the WD40 Chain Wax.

Cleaned the chain with cleaner and a rag, then applied a couple of coats of the wax, I'm happy with the lack of fling from it so far, but I'm not sure that it will last as long on the chain as my previous method as it already looks to be dissipating after ony 100 miles or so

[lumpo]

It's a trade off of fling vs longevity.

In you OP you complained the fling was too much, but now less fling but you'll need to top up more often.

That's really the facts of it.

I'd rather apply little and often than leave something on long term that essentially attracts dirt and turns into a grinding paste.

As said earlier, if the application is a pain, best route for you is a chain luber such as scottoil etc :)

[Swin]

Yes, I'm happy with the lack of fling, and as I can usually find a bit of time each week to spend cleaning the bike and getting it ready for the next shift cycle's worth of commutes, it'll just be a case of regularly waxing the chain.

[NTECUK]

Can't beat gear oil in an auto lube.
Yes its a bit mucky but the chain will love you ;)