How To Clean & Lube Your Motorcycle Chain
- Thread starter DaveM
- Start date
Help Support Triumph Motorcycle Forum:
The Seeker
Thunderbird
Gee all those products and work when all you need is a large pickle!?
-- Posted with TapaTalk
-- Posted with TapaTalk
I just use WD40 job done in 5 minutes.
I don't have any fault with how long she took as it takes me about that long too. My view is, if I'm going to take the time to clean the chain, I may as well take the time and do it well.
She did show latex gloves which she didn't use
I always wear nitrate latex gloves and I use a Grunge Brush which works very well.
I don't bother to remove the chain guard, but prefer to use the Grunge Brush on the lower run of the chain. I lube it the same way rather than getting lube on the rim and tire as she did.
I place a piece of cardboard on the floor to catch drips and a piece of cardboard as a backer behind the lower run of the chain to keep overspray off the bike.
Overall, I give her full marks. She did OK.
She did show latex gloves which she didn't use
I always wear nitrate latex gloves and I use a Grunge Brush which works very well.I don't bother to remove the chain guard, but prefer to use the Grunge Brush on the lower run of the chain. I lube it the same way rather than getting lube on the rim and tire as she did.
I place a piece of cardboard on the floor to catch drips and a piece of cardboard as a backer behind the lower run of the chain to keep overspray off the bike.
Overall, I give her full marks. She did OK.
She did a good job. I use WD40 to clean it and it goes faster. I also take the primary cover off and clean all of the gunk build up in there.
Village Idiot
Member
I found it odd that she lubed the outside of the chain and not the inner run..............I only do the inner as the lube will be forced out by centrifugal force. Also, she mentioned some folks do it with the engine running and in 1st gear....................................that's right up there with juggling running chain saws, as far as I'm concerned!!! Never, never go near a chain on a running bike!!! I've still got a sore thumb and a mark on it from lubing mine a few weeks ago, when, just from the inertia of the rear wheel from my cleaning and shoving the chain, my thumb went into the rear sprocket!! It hurt too much to swear at it!! Can't imagine what would have happened if it had been running.
The "village idiot" is only crazy...........................not stupid: Jim
The "village idiot" is only crazy...........................not stupid: Jim
Good point. I only lube the lower run.
devo
hairy old fart
Grabbed this Muc Off system the other day.(was half price so a reasonable buy).
Its a closed brush system with a cleaner reservoir inc a can of cleaner and a small can of lube.
I found the brush system worked OK but even better when I substituted the cleaner provided with kerosine (parafin or jet fuel). My chain had not been cleaned in a couple of years however and I have allways used a wax lube.
I then wiped of all surplus cleaner with an old toweling rag and lubed as normal.
I had to remove the chainguard to fit the brush assembly around the chain.
Having the reservoir worked well as the brushes rotate through it so you have plenty of cleaner washing the poop of the chain.
Its a closed brush system with a cleaner reservoir inc a can of cleaner and a small can of lube.
I found the brush system worked OK but even better when I substituted the cleaner provided with kerosine (parafin or jet fuel). My chain had not been cleaned in a couple of years however and I have allways used a wax lube.
I then wiped of all surplus cleaner with an old toweling rag and lubed as normal.
I had to remove the chainguard to fit the brush assembly around the chain.
Having the reservoir worked well as the brushes rotate through it so you have plenty of cleaner washing the poop of the chain.
I also only use the wax lube these days and it really seems to work great
I don't ride on dirt roads or in the rain unless I get caught so my chains stay pretty clean and lubed. That's why I only have to clean then once or twice a year.
My two vintage bikes only get ridden about 1600 km's (1000 miles or less) a year so I rarely bother to clean them - but all my bikes get lots of lube.
If you ride in the rain and when you ride off road, the chain gets dirty quickly. I clean mine every month or so - just routine maintenance.
Village Idiot
Member
bullet
Member
I ride rain,snow,dirt,mud whatever comes my way.........I clean and lube every time this happens.
If I ride and the weather permits it's good, I lube my chain once a week, do about 350km a week, when I wash my bike I clean my chain and lube not just the chain but all critical hinge points.
Was not stepping on any toes here, the Duck she used as her demo was just frightening for me to see how dirty that chain was for a "premium" branded bike that has to be serviced to death to be able to ride to the corner cafe for bread and back reliably.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
If I ride and the weather permits it's good, I lube my chain once a week, do about 350km a week, when I wash my bike I clean my chain and lube not just the chain but all critical hinge points.
Was not stepping on any toes here, the Duck she used as her demo was just frightening for me to see how dirty that chain was for a "premium" branded bike that has to be serviced to death to be able to ride to the corner cafe for bread and back reliably.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Village Idiot
Member
No offense taken, Bullet...............................and I've got tough toes, anyway!!
bullet
Member
I thought I would add some evidence of my statement previously.........
It has been raining on and off for the last five weeks, no washing or cleaning just my normal lube every Friday and extra as needed on my weekend rides. This is 3400km about and the can of goodies I use in the first photo.
It has been raining on and off for the last five weeks, no washing or cleaning just my normal lube every Friday and extra as needed on my weekend rides. This is 3400km about and the can of goodies I use in the first photo.
me too!!!!
Village Idiot
Member
Since this is a chain lube thread, I'll hijack it a bit; I recently did mine with Motul "Chain Paste" and I'm quite happy with the results as far as cleanliness. This lube comes in a tube that has a brush on it which lets the lube come through it. I did it one evening and when I rode it the next day, I didn't see any real "flinging" of the lube on the rear wheel, and I'll keep an eye on it.
Just figured I'd add this for what it's worth: Jim
Just figured I'd add this for what it's worth: Jim
I think he cleaned it with a toothbrush! Mine does not look like that in dry weather, let alone wet weather.That has got to be the cleanest chain I have ever seen
