Featured Chain Maintenance

Morning David,
just watched your video.
What a fantastic looking bike you have there!
I used to clean the black painted rear wheel rim of my old VFR 800 with WD40, it was great, applied to kitchen roll it removed all chain fling, and general crud remarkably easily.
After a couple of years of doing this I noticed that the black paint was becoming very, very thin and was obviously being gradually removed by the WD40.
I had the wheel stove enamelled to restore the finish and then very carefully washed down the wheel with lots of soapy water to remove all traces of the WD40 after the cleaning had been done.
I always have a Scottoiler fitted to my bikes, wouldn't be without one, really looks after and lengthens the life of chain and sprockets.
Just my own views / experiences of course.

Curly

 

Interesting. I've regularly been using WD40 or GT85 to clean crud off the bikes - 3 years on the Tiger and 2 on the Bonneville with seemingly no ill effects. (but will keep an eye out!)
The key to successful chain life is regular maintenance ie. cleaning, applying lubricant and adjustment. You can do this manually or with a Scottoiler it makes no difference. Both my bikes have centre stands so I prefer to do it myself but more of a faff if just relying on the side stand.
I use a rag soaked in SAE90 gear oil to clean the chain first and then another rag to apply it. You can use a brush but it tends to result in over-oiling and more "fling" when you go for the next ride. If you do this regularly and keep the chain clean, then it only takes a few minutes to do. I would avoid spray on chain wax products - they still fling off despite claims to the contrary and make the chain much harder to clean in the end.

 

I will be taking delivery of my Bonne T120 in March or April and it will be the first bike I've owned for a while with a chain so your video proved very informative. I had forgotten just how convenient a shaft or belt drive was.

But sorry Dave, you've upset me. I wish my garage was a s big and as clear / clean as yours. RATS.

Bonne Phil

 

Nice video - I use a piece of cereal box or cardboard from the pack of tablet between the chain and wheel to catch the overspray. It reduces the cleanup time.

 

Thanks for sharing.

Hate chain lube, especially with anti-fling.
Means it's sticky, attracts grit! Then in a years time you open your front sprocket cover and find a feckin awful sticky mess of chain glue and grit

Kerosene and a paintbrush to clean (heating oil), then I keep a pint mug full of oil, that's left over from everything, 10w40, gearbox, chainsaw oil is good, and any bits left over when oil changes. Cost £0.00. Paint that all over, go for a brew, come back and wipe down.

After a full day out, will paint chain and wipe down. Hot chain retains oil in better.

Never replaced a chain or sprocket on a road bike. My record is 24k on my SV, and it still looked like new.



Was getting low, just chucked some ep90 in

 

That cup is filthy.

 

I've tried several spray lube products eek:) including Wurth dry lube, probably about the best of them. Tried WD40 chain wax - convenient to use but its white in colour and really clogs the chain up. Took ages to clean the accumulated crud off the Tiger after using it for a month. Surprising how far it was flung off, all over the rear shock for one thing. Haven't used a spray lube since.

 

A fine attitude indeed! Then you can take all that cash you would have thrown out the window and buy more goodies for your ride. Most maint. is not difficult< you just have to be willing to try!

 

Thanks for the "little insertion" there Ron Lol!

 

Good video David. Includes what to do, and what not to do, based on experience. BUT...

...I'm seething with envy over that garage!

 

The only thing to clean a chin is parafin never use petrol .I put parafin

 

Paraffin is the only thing you should use on a chain not petrol use a spray bottle raise the back wheel as spin and spray the chain use a chain brush and us e a drip tray then when clean spray with dry chain lube also remove the sprocket cover and clean in there