Cleaning chains...

After a while should you just spray them with degreaser
and hose them off before re-oiling, or will this cause
dirt to flow into places you don't want?

Btw, how often do you have to replace a chain?

 

For cleaning and lubrication, follow the recommendations in the
owner's manual[1].

Be careful of what sort of things you spray on an O-ring chain, you
don't want to hurt those O-rings as they are what keeps the grease
in and the dirt out.

The original chain on my SV650S lasted over 25,000 miles. That was
with a Scottoiler:

http://www.scottoiler.com/

I bought my Scottoiler from http://www.aerostich.com

[1] With an oiler fitted, you have to clean or adjust the chain far
less often (I only had to adjust the chain when I changed tires)
than without one.

 

I see little to no reason for using anything other than chain lube
to clean the chain -- esp. agents like PF-1 Blue, designed for
O-ring chains. These contain plenty of solvent to allow the
lube -- essentially a wax or grease -- to penetrate the rings.

Spray on the top of the links on the lower part of the chain,
shielding the tire, and wipe all you can with a towel.

To minimize fling, don't do this just before riding.

You may also discover plenty of gunk adhering to inside
the chain guard/guide, and under the front sprocket cover.

 

WD-40 washes out the lube under the O-rings, flings like crazy,
and shortens chain life. It happes to be a pretty good
solvent, I just think you should never use it on chains.

 

Yeah, I know. I am getting something over 26,000 miles from a WD-40 sprayed
chain, still in decent condition. On the other hand I got the huge 11,000
miles from a chain which was treated frequently with PJ-1 blue, many stiff
links when it got replaced.

Dave
98 BRG Triumph Sprint Exec, chain
82 Red R65, no chain

(Make obvious removal in email address to reply.)

 

WD40?

 

Are you fellers saying it's more faith than fact?

Comments?

piddie

 

Just make sure the o-ring either comes from a motorcycle chain
or find out what rubber is used in chains and get an o-ring made
of the same rubber. My guess would be that they are neoprene.

Take an o-ring from some sort of water system and leave it in
any hydrocarbon for a while and it will be destroyed.

I've even heard people "prove" that kerosene is bad for chain
o-rings by observing what happens to office rubber bands
dropped into a glass full of kerosene. Rubber does not equal
rubber.

 

This is quite true. It is probably some sort of nitrile compound,
and HC resistant. But I stand by my comment about penetrating
lubricants/solvents -- don't use them on O-ring chains. They
wash out the lube from under the O-rings (or X-rings, or W-rings)
and don't provide any reasonable lube.

Chain lubes are waxes/greases for a reason -- the long-chain HCs
stay put, and the shearing and stress cuts the HC chains, releasing
oils that provide lubricity.

 

[snip]

Er, kerosine is an aliphatic olefin. Diesel fuel is a mixture of
(mostly, I think) aliphatic olefins.

aliphatic is a description of the chemical, and is contrasted to
'aromatic.' Aliphatic polymers are usually 'waxy' while aromatics
aren't. The physical distinction is in the makeup of the polymer. I
think that it's the replacement of a single Carbon with a ring on the
backbone of the polymer, but it's been a long time since I did any of
that stuff. Anyway, both PolyEthelyne (soda bottles) and nylon/polyamide
are aliphatic. Kevlar (dupont's TM) is an aramid: "aromatic amide", and
is quite similar to nylon, except for the above-mentioned replacement.
As a result, Kevlar does not melt or burn while Nylon does both rather
well.

HTH.

--
Later.

'indiana' is a noun. Leave only the noun and .edu after the @ to reply

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