Lubricating The Chain

What I've done on my chain(s) is clean and degrease the link plate and paint it white with either tippex or tyre paint which lasts longer. I have chain oilers on the road bikes but the dirt bike gets off road spray lube from a can.

 

My Speed Triple came with a blue connecting link as standard which turned out to be useful.

 

I bought a GreaseNinja in 2019 which cost $22.70. It's really good, it directs the lube through two internal ports onto the chain and it's still going strong.

I've just ordered another one actually through their ebay shop, (son's birthday present) which was £31.44 from the States. Still worth it I reckon as it works and it lasts.

I use nail varnish now to mark a link on the chain as it doesn't rub off like tippex etc.

 

Most modern machines have chains with the soft link a different colour, this is for quick identification come chain and sprocket renewal, so it is easy come chain cleaning and lube nothing else is needed, also with modern chain lubes you can easily see where you start (if no colour soft link is present). I am not sure why it needs to be more complicated than it needs be.

 

The MucOff stuff contains an ultra violet reflective dye and shows up bright purple with a UV torch which is useful. As an aside, I use spray chain lube instead of wax for rustproofing underneath the car. It doesn't dry out and crack, sticks like STAB and is cheap.

 

I used to use that messy spray on lube....want to stick to everything and every thing wants to stick to it....and usualy had over spray where you did not want it.

An old timer gave me a tip which is my goto method now.

Use EP90 gear oil...bit thinker than engine oil so wont run off to quick.

And to apply.....poor a small amount into a saucer and use an old tooth brush dipping into your oil....only need to wet the chain on all 4 faces.....just wet not dripping.

Any that is flung off...there is aways a bit.....only lands on the wheel rim is easy wiped off.

Like you I thred a short section of thin wire through the link were you start.

A 5min job at most.

 

@Sheila plenty of tips in this thread. I also use Kerosene to clean the chain every 3 months and then regrease using Motul spray.
I have seen a video of a spray end being applied to the tube to direct the spray to the chain

 

Another gear-oil-and-brush user here. Just enough to stop things rusting. Quick and easy.

 

Simple and it works.

 

Click on the following link for a comprehensive review of chain cleaning and lubrication.

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesoci...ance-and-servicing/best-motorcycle-chain-lube

 

Appreciate the link! Until I got the Bonny a few weeks ago I haven't had a bike with a chain in decades. Got a lot to learn it appears.

 

A mate has a Scot Oiler on his bike and uses chainsaw oil in it.

 

I use chainsaws a lot but I don’t put bike chain lube in them .

 

Chainsaw oil is roughly a third the price of Scotoiler oil.

 

We buy 25 litre drums of chain oil. I think they’re about £80-85. Which is definitely cheaper than chain lube.