Chain lube

joker80 said:
What is the best/most recommended chain lube?
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I'm not sure which is best or most recommended because its really a preference thing. I have used Champion Brand Chain Lube for my last two bikes and really like it. Once it's applied, it really sticks and doesn't shoot off all over the place. I've also heard good things about the chain was I think made from Bellray. Lately I have been cleaning my chain with kerosene and after that I've have been applying WD-40. The chain has stayed relatively clean with the WD and it's easy to soak it in a lint free rag and apply it quickly in between cleanings. As long as the one you buy says that it's safe for O Ring Chains, your good to go. I'm sure the others will chime in with their picks as well.
 
That is what I have been using as well and I agree it works pretty well. I just wondered if there were any real differences between the other types out there.
 
joker80 said:
That is what I have been using as well and I agree it works pretty well. I just wondered if there were any real differences between the other types out there.
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I know that the waxes are pretty good in terms of staying on the chain. I figure that if I clean the chain with kerosene every 3 or 400 miles and wipe it down periodically in between with WD-40, I should be okay. The bike has just over 20,000 miles on it with the original chain and its wearing excellently. I still have a ton of room for adjustment. Then again, I am not a real aggressive rider so I'm not too hard on the chain to begin with.
 
WD40 works just fine, but the downside is that you have to apply it more often. Also if you get caught in the rain it will wash off pretty quickly. I actually use WD40 to clean my chain and have been using the Bel-Ray lube, but only because I had some left. As Billy said pretty much anything that is safe for O-ring chains and doesn't make too much of a mess is ok in my book.
 
NJFZ1 said:
WD40 works just fine, but the downside is that you have to apply it more often. Also if you get caught in the rain it will wash off pretty quickly. I actually use WD40 to clean my chain and have been using the Bel-Ray lube, but only because I had some left. As Billy said pretty much anything that is safe for O-ring chains and doesn't make too much of a mess is ok in my book.
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Same here: WD 40 to clean it and then a chain wax (don't remember the brand) afterwards.
 
Broke_Dirty_FZ1 said:
I always thought WD-40 was notorious for breaking down rubber parts, like o-rings.
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I use it to just break up the grease and dirt. I spray it on one section at a time of chain and then wipe it down with a micofiber cloth. Move on to the next section, and repeat. That seems to get off all the grime. I then let it dry for a few hours or overnight. Then the chain wax.
 
I'm using Maxima Chain Wax by Maxima Racing Lubricants. My dealer recommended it. When used as directed, it doesn't throw lubricant off the chain.
 
Broke_Dirty_FZ1 said:
I used to use Maxima but I hated the way it smells, and it was always making a huge mess even though I applied it according to the directions.
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Why are you smelling your chain? :justkidding: However, did you still smell an odor after the lubricant set-up?
Also, did you warm up you chain prior to application? I use a piece of cardboard to catch over spray when I apply. I notice no fling on to wheels; which I have always had with other chain lubes. Oh, well-different strokes for different folks. BTW, I don't know if Maxima Chain Wax provides extended chain life over other lubes, so this is not a strong recommend, just a preference so far.
 
Polestar said:
Why are you smelling your chain? :justkidding: However, did you still smell an odor after the lubricant set-up?
Also, did you warm up you chain prior to application? I use a piece of cardboard to catch over spray when I apply. I notice no fling on to wheels; which I have always had with other chain lubes. Oh, well-different strokes for different folks. BTW, I don't know if Maxima Chain Wax provides extended chain life over other lubes, so this is not a strong recommend, just a preference so far.
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The bike simply wreaked of it whenever I was riding and afterwards. I think the smell would also get into my pants leg because I could smell it when I came in the house. It also smelled up the garage when it was hot out and it would always leave big gobs of mess on the swingarm and sprocket area, even though I applied it as directed.

I think it was made worse by this caramel like candy I had a bad experience with in Mexico when I was growing up. Maxima is of similar texture and smell to that stuff. I can't remember what it is called, but it made me sick to my stomache when I ate it once.

I switched to Bel-Ray and I am much happier with it.
 
I use a Ketten-Max with kerosene to clean the chain before every lube. I use Maxima Wax for the lube. I always let it sit for a while after cleaning to let the kerosene evaporate before I put the lube on then I let it sit for another hour or so before I ride the thing after the lube is put on. The job itself only takes about 10 minutes if you don't count the waiting around time. I do a clean and lube every 600 miles if I'm home but I have gone as far as 1300 miles when I was on the road. So far I have a tad over 12,000 miles on the bike and have had to actually adjust the chain only three times and that wasn't very much, probably not even a full turn on the adjusters altogether. A good lube should keep the rollers working and provide a cushion between the rollers and the sprockets. With the cost of a set of good sprockets and a chain, it pays to take the time to keep the chain in good shape.
 
I was reading an article about using kerosine, and the article was an interview with the guy who is president of PJ Products, which also has a chain lube in their enventory of products. And 'PJ' was saying how he didn't care for the kerosine in that after it had cleaned the chain, there was a kerosene film. The way I took it was that the chain-lube sprays, and especially wax types which adheared to bare metal, were inhibited from sticking as designed by the 'film' being between the chain 'metal' and chain lube, thuss I took it that it could be flung off the chain surface easier than wax adhesion to bare metal.

I guess what I'm getting out of this is that after you clean with kerosene, it would be advisable to clean off the petroleum base cleaner with a soap based cleaner so as to have bare metal for the lube to stick better.
 
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Gohot229 said:
I was reading an article about using kerosine, and the article was an interview with the guy who is president of PJ Products, which also has a chain lube in their enventory of products. And 'PJ' was saying how he didn't care for the kerosine in that after it had cleaned the chain, there was a kerosene film. The way I took it was that the chain-lube sprays, and especially wax types which adheared to bare metal, were inhibited from sticking as designed by the 'film' being between the chain 'metal' and chain lube, thuss I took it that it could be flung off the chain surface easier than wax adhesion to bare metal.

I guess what I'm getting out of this is that after you clean with kerosene, it would be advisable to clean off the petroleum base cleaner with a soap based cleaner so as to bave bare metal for the lube to stick better.
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I use a similar technique: clean with simple green, then spray wd 40, then THIN wipe with moto oil, and wipe the rear sprocket, too. Not used kerosene, though.
 
Kerosene

Gohot229 said:
I was reading an article about using kerosine, and the article was an interview with the guy who is president of PJ Products, which also has a chain lube in their enventory of products. And 'PJ' was saying how he didn't care for the kerosine in that after it had cleaned the chain, there was a kerosene film. The way I took it was that the chain-lube sprays, and especially wax types which adheared to bare metal, were inhibited from sticking as designed by the 'film' being between the chain 'metal' and chain lube, thuss I took it that it could be flung off the chain surface easier than wax adhesion to bare metal.

I guess what I'm getting out of this is that after you clean with kerosene, it would be advisable to clean off the petroleum base cleaner with a soap based cleaner so as to bave bare metal for the lube to stick better.
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I use Kerosene as well for cleaning, with an old toothbrush (using your good one will discolour your teeth and leave a bad taste).:poke: Kerosene is cheap and works well. I use an old rag to Dry off the chain as I finish each section and sprocket. Then like Lonerider says leave it for a while for evaporation to do the rest. Then chain lube (I use Bel-ray) and I have no adhesion problems. After 10,000 km. I have had to adjust very slightly 3 times.
 
I've used PJ's, Bel-Ray, Maxima and others. Put them on a warm chain, after my ride, and let them dry/set-up over night. All of them either flung-off and/or attracted lots of dirt.

Last Fall, I was turned on to this stuff. You can actually watch it clean your chain when you spray it on. I use a piece of newspaper to wipe off the excess, then let it dry overnight. No fling-off, a shiny chain and it does not seem to attract dust. Cheap, too; $5 at Lowe's.


DuPont™ Teflon™ Multi-Use Lubricant


DuPont? Teflon? Dry-Film Lubricants
 
I like easy. I use a spray and wipe almost after every ride and the chain/wheel is always clean that way. This sounds even better. I hate flinging goo!!
 
meinschaft said:
I've used PJ's, Bel-Ray, Maxima and others. Put them on a warm chain, after my ride, and let them dry/set-up over night. All of them either flung-off and/or attracted lots of dirt.

Last Fall, I was turned on to this stuff. You can actually watch it clean your chain when you spray it on. I use a piece of newspaper to wipe off the excess, then let it dry overnight. No fling-off, a shiny chain and it does not seem to attract dust. Cheap, too; $5 at Lowe's.


DuPont™ Teflon™ Multi-Use Lubricant


DuPont? Teflon? Dry-Film Lubricants
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they sell several types, do you use the chain lube? its actually a wax product. I might have to check that out. I have been a faithful shaft-bike rider for the past 3 bikes at least. I used bell ray before and I have it now but I like what i have heard about the wax-based lubes and as a bicycle racer I used only wax after trying it. great stuff!
 
Kevin Daly said:
they sell several types, do you use the chain lube? its actually a wax product. I might have to check that out. I have been a faithful shaft-bike rider for the past 3 bikes at least. I used bell ray before and I have it now but I like what i have heard about the wax-based lubes and as a bicycle racer I used only wax after trying it. great stuff!
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I use the Multi-Use Spray, NOT the chain lube. The Multi-Use is colorless and light going on (low viscosity). The liquid is some kind of distillate that evaporates, leaving the good Teflon stuff behind. Worth trying for $5/can.
 
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