Oil Noob

[DRider]

I know I keep asking stupid noob questions, and I know it's annoying, so.. here's another one!

I was recently visiting my sister and brother-in-law who both used to own 125s. Said brother-in-law told me that I should clean and re-lube my chain at least once a week, otherwise the chain will rust and rust causes problems (which I pretty much knew, of course.)

However, my dad who rode bikes from the age of 16-21, said that it was nonsense, and I should only do it every few weeks or so, or if I was going to be going on long journeys. Now I'm confused as hell. (However, he agrees with brother-in-law in that I should change my oil every 5000 miles)

How often do you re-do your chain lube, and what do you think would really be preferable? I was never told anything about this side of things in my CBT, and I want to start getting some basic mechanical knowledge for the bike, to avoid some problems, both mechanical and financial.

Thanks folks,

Doug

 

[RideXRide]

I didn't have any set schedule. If I had been riding a lot and the chain was dirty, I did it about every 1-2 weeks. Otherwise, I lubed it maybe once a month.

 

[gpzDave]

Well the way I oiled my chain on my last bike was by spending 30 seconds with a paintbrush and some engine oil, and I did that about once every two weeks (which was over 300 miles at the time). The result of that was me stuck at the side of the road with my chain hanging around the bikes back wheel, this mostly due to my rubbish oiling technique that resulted in the chain stretching. I got it back on ok at the roadside but the chain was still a rusty horrible mess when I sold it.

One thing you need to know is that chains are despicable, horrible, oily, messy, awkward, terrible things. Chain drive was invented almost 1000 years ago (1092) and it is a thoroughly nasty primitive thing, dirt sticks to it, oil flies off it all over your bike. My GPz305 had belt drive and that was blissful, no oil everywhere, zero maintenance. The BMW is pretty much as good with shaft drive.

But the proper way to oil and clean a chain (that I never could be bothered to do when I was working 7 days a week) is to clean it with a toothbrush and some 'degreaser', which is a very strong soap. Then rinse it off thoroughly with water and leave it to dry. Once it's dry then you can use some chain lube out of a bike shop and apply it to the chain with the wheel spinning. Maybe do that every month.

But every week or 300 miles, whichever comes first, just spray some lube on the chain and that will keep it going. Chains aren't that bad if you keep on top of the maintenance, but they do take a bit of work to keep in good condition.

 

[AZZ3R]

Listen to your Dad.

I would oil my chain every 500m, to clean I would get an old cloth/rag douse it in Muc-off or boiling hot water and run it along the chain a few times and then dry.

I wouldn't use oil, I would use 'Chain Wax' just because it doesn't flick up and go everywhere it will only lubricate when the chain is getting hot/ in motion so it works alot better.

spay a bit on, move chain, spray a bit on move chain. until the whole chain is done, and it's tidy and not all over your rear wheel.

while checking your chain you might want to take your front sprocket cover off and check for wear of the teeth/ same with rear sprocket.

if you find wear on any sprocket replace the whole lot.

Theres no point in putting a new chain on old sprockets & a set of new sprockets on an old chain they don't mix so just replace.

 

[gpzDave]

I would oil my chain every 5k

That is quite a long time though, some people don't do 5000 miles in a year.

 

[AZZ3R]

I would oil my chain every 5k

That is quite a long time though, some people don't do 5000 miles in a year.

Haha, I meant 500m, I though I had said 500 I said it in my head just mustn't have typed it haha.

yea so change the 5k to 500m and read it haha.

 

[Friz]

I would oil my chain every 5k

That is quite a long time though, some people don't do 5000 miles in a year.

Not real bikers! I do 1000-2000 miles a month!

As for oiling the chain, I only bother after I've washed the bike or heavy rain. I find thats all it needs.

Saying that, I washed the bike slightly over a week ago, have done 200 odd miles since that including rain and still haven't oiled the chain.

 

[AZZ3R]

I would oil my chain every 5k

That is quite a long time though, some people don't do 5000 miles in a year.

Not real bikers! I do 1000-2000 miles a month!.

So me doing my chain every 500miles doesn't make me a real biker? & because you do 1-2k miles a month it makes you? I never said how many I do. I just said I'd do it every 500miles I wouldn't leave it longer than that poss 600 depending on the situation.

Oil kicks up more than what wax would so I'd sugest chain wax unless you want to be cleaning your bike every other ride.

 

[Friz]

That is quite a long time though, some people don't do 5000 miles in a year.

Not real bikers! I do 1000-2000 miles a month!.

So me doing my chain every 500miles doesn't make me a real biker? & because you do 1-2k miles a month it makes you? I never said how many I do. I just said I'd do it every 500miles I wouldn't leave it longer than that poss 600 depending on the situation.

Oil kicks up more than what wax would so I'd sugest chain wax unless you want to be cleaning your bike every other ride.

It was a joke that had nothing to do with oiling the chain.

 

[DRider]

Take it outside the forum, boys. But anyways, thanks for the advice, though it's still very confusing. ha I've got a spray can filled with chain oil, so I'll probably clean and re-oil it tomorrow or tonight, considering I've had the bike for about 2 months, and have been running it virtually non-stop for almost three weeks. I guess I'll just need to look out for signs that it actually NEEDS oiling.. whatever they may be.

 

[Bloke]

Touch it. If it feels dry, and a little sticky, oil it

Rain: it gets oiled

500 miles it gets cleaned and oiled

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[AZZ3R]

It was a joke that had nothing to do with oiling the chain.

No worrys, I was reading it pretty fast as I was trying to type while being undercover at work, trying not to be caught. Sorry I took it the wrong way Friz.

 

[MisterX]

Yeah, like most here have stated, a good plan would be around every 500 miles or so, or if the chain appears to be dry. As for what I use, I prefer chain wax. Definitely cleaner and quicker/easier to apply. Never noticed any problems with my chain while using it.

In fact, just recently posted up a vid on my site about chain cleaning/lubing: TopEnd.tv - Tech Tips - Clean & Lube Chain

 

[Soulless82]

D Rider you ever thought of a Scottoiler Kits

http://www.bikingdirect.com/scottoiler/ ... 161-c.html

 

[Trinith]

I read a thread somewhere, maybe it was Adv Rider, by a guy who read something and wanted to test it. Most people will tell you that using good chain wax and cleaning the chain and waxing it every 500 miles will net you about 20,000 miles worth of life out of the chain. Doing the same thing I've had chains last me 20-21,000. This guy was using nothing but WD-40 every time he gassed up. It's easy as hell, just hose the chain at the gas station if you're on a long ride or whenever you get home. His chain ended up lasting him around 45,000 miles.

That said, about once every few months (when it really looks shitty) I'll spray some wd40 on a rag and wipe the goo off the chain. Then I'll spray it down with some wax. But mostly I just spray it with some WD-40 whenever I manage to think about it, which frankly isn't very often. I put a new chain on my bike when I bought it in November of 2010. I've had to tighten it twice, and I've put 10-12,000 miles on it. Seems like it's working out to me.

 

[AZZ3R]

If I was to clean the chain I would soak a rag in Parraffin, Get the a paddock stand under the bike & run the chain through the rag, do this 2 or 3 times first, then adjust it, run it through again & then use Castrol Chain Wax - Dry & won't fling all over your swingarm.

 

[Yarek]

I for one would like to thank both the op and all the replies as this is something I haven't even thought about after having the bike for a week. Sounds like a WD40 wipe and spray wax are on the cards soon (tomorrow)

 

[Trinith]

I for one would like to thank both the op and all the replies as this is something I haven't even thought about after having the bike for a week. Sounds like a WD40 wipe and spray wax are on the cards soon (tomorrow)

Be sure to use a rag that's mostly trash. That sucker is gonna be nasty as hell, and it doesn't wash out.

 

[AZZ3R]

I for one would like to thank both the op and all the replies as this is something I haven't even thought about after having the bike for a week. Sounds like a WD40 wipe and spray wax are on the cards soon (tomorrow)

Or if you want to get 'Muc-Off's Chain Degreaser & Chain tool that is a great thing to buy. Works a few times but the brush gets stuck with all the oil cloged up. It blitz's the chain throughouly so it's worth it.

When looking for a Chain cleaner make sure it has no particals otherwise what will happen is as you chain keeps going round & round at those speeds it will eventually wear out the front & rear sprocket.

This is worth £8 http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from= ... Categories

 

[senthx]

I oil my chain and check my tyre pressures every week. It's about all I do though.

p.s I do, I don't do do.