Very good reason not to use WD40 at the bottom of the article below
Wanking the chain in diesel is of course one good way
► Chains, oilers, sprockets
- Thread starter Thunder
- Start date
Very good reason not to use WD40 at the bottom of the article below
Wanking the chain in diesel is of course one good way
Chain lubes
I've tried almost every make/thickness of spray on chain lube on the market, and non of them come close to looking after a chain like my Scottoiler does. It's currently got the red lube in it, can't remember what's different but it works great.
I've tried almost every make/thickness of spray on chain lube on the market, and non of them come close to looking after a chain like my Scottoiler does. It's currently got the red lube in it, can't remember what's different but it works great.
Sooty09
Registered user
14000 miles on my second chain and still going strong. I wipe it down with a bit of old linen bed sheet to clean it. When its free of grime I brush on Scott Oil chain lube designed for the auto Scott oiler. The brush I use is a small artists brush, the type you get in a child's paint set.
I do this about once a week, if Im on a weekend away I sometimes make a pad from linen and soak one side in Scott oil, with the bike on the centre stand I spin the wheel and press the pad to the chain on the rear sprocket.
The same 1 lt bottle of oil has lasted my wife and I 3 years so far. When we go on a two week tour we find a small shampoo bottle (approx 50cc) lasts OK.
I do this about once a week, if Im on a weekend away I sometimes make a pad from linen and soak one side in Scott oil, with the bike on the centre stand I spin the wheel and press the pad to the chain on the rear sprocket.
The same 1 lt bottle of oil has lasted my wife and I 3 years so far. When we go on a two week tour we find a small shampoo bottle (approx 50cc) lasts OK.
Bullwinkle
Registered user
My new DID chain instructions expressly discourage soaking a chain. A lot of trouble for no apparently good reason.
JP
I clean it with a rag soaked in paraffin. If it is very dirty I may use an old toothbrush with paraffin before using the rag. I then lube with Silkolene lube.
Similer to what 'MarkShelley' does....
After a ride....Rub down with rag soaked in paraffin, then lube with Sdoc chain lube. Leave overnight.....
After a ride....Rub down with rag soaked in paraffin, then lube with Sdoc chain lube. Leave overnight.....
GunZenBomZ
Registered user
Paraffin with a toothbrush then once bone dry & clean, PJ1 chain oil.
ILMV
Registered user
You still got the scottoiler on your bike GunZ? How are you getting on with it?
Dave Ett
Registered user
The red lube is thicker for higher temperatures, doesn't work as well in the uk as it doesn't flow as easily.
http://www.scottoiler.com/uk/Lubes-Cleaners-Protectors/2-x-Scottoil-High-Temperature-Red-500ml-bottle-with-spout/flypage.tpl.html
Scotoiler advised me in an email to use the red lube! as the resovoir gets hot being situated behind engine. Used blue lube through the winter but now it`s warmer anyway if I can`t reduce flow enough I will try red lube.
Red
I've used blue before and think the red stuff worked better on this bike than blue on any other bike I've owned, must be the positioning of the pump unit then
I've used blue before and think the red stuff worked better on this bike than blue on any other bike I've owned, must be the positioning of the pump unit then
GunZenBomZ
Registered user
I still have my e-system scottoiler but its not fully fitted as it got abused over the winter with water ingress. It's much simpler to have a bottle type drip feed system than going silly with electronics, wouldn't nudge people to do the same as me on that front.
Or take a bottle of chain lube with you on a week long trip (Just remove the release-valve whilst travelling).
Pressure washer to clean it
PJ1 Blue or Polo.de (Cheers Micky) Chain Spray to lube
On all my chain driven bikes, always have done and it's never affected chain life too much
PJ1 Blue or Polo.de (Cheers Micky
) Chain Spray to lubeOn all my chain driven bikes, always have done and it's never affected chain life too much
TheJoker
Registered user
Right here I go again...
First of all, don't use those chain waxes, not only are they a total rip-off, but they're also a total b1tch to clean off. The only thing that I have found that takes it off is laundry detergent. It's that f-ing mean.
Get yourself a big canister of degreaser, engine degreaser. Should cost you no more than £10 for a 2-4l canister. Then get a glass jar and a paintbrush. Now you have your main grease-removing-implement. Pour a dash of degreaser into the jar and keep the brush in there. Use this to clean any greasy bit you take off the bike. Just brush the degreaser on the part and wash off. Perfect, that's what it's built to do.
As for washing/cleaning the chain. Brush on the degreaser on the chain, rear wheel, and any other part that's covered in chain-oil. Like the back of the license plate. Then get a dish washing brush or old toothbrush (as mentioned before) and scrub the chain carefully. The bits that you need clean is the touching surfaces on the sprockets and the rollers of the chain. The sides don't actually need to be clean, but obviously clean looks nice so clean that too.
Once the dirt is loose, rinse off with water. Then apply some other stronger cleaner such as Castrol Greentec. The degreaser leaves a bit of a film on the parts, which the second cleaner gets rid off. You could use diluted Fairy but it's salt-based so it'll corrode if used often or for long. It's good on the ground tho'.
Now your chain should be squeaky clean.
For lubrication get a small bottle, such as a eye-drop bottle or a hair-dye bottle or something similar. Fill it with engine oil. Yes, just normal engine oil. A tiny amount will last a very long time. Keep this bottle with you, in your pocket, bum-bag, under the seat, etc.
When the chain has been cleaned, dab quite a few drops on. I usually put some on the sprocket, on top of the chain, and the back of the chain at the rear sprocket. Then rotate the wheel/chain a fair amount to spread the oil. Then get a rag and wipe off the excess.
As for maintenance, all you now need is 2-3 drops of oil on the chain/sprocket every time you fill up. This is where the handy little bottle comes in. Keep an eye on the chain, in wet weather or when off-roading add a few more drops.
If you want a cleaner chain before you wash the bike, add yet a few more drops and go out for a ride; the oil will clean the dirt off the chain and splatter it all over your bike where it's easier to clean with the aforementioned degreaser.
Not only is this system dirt cheap, it also works. I've never changed a set of chain/sprockets whilst using this method.
That includes the 24,000 miles I did on my GSX-R1000 and various other bikes.
First of all, don't use those chain waxes, not only are they a total rip-off, but they're also a total b1tch to clean off. The only thing that I have found that takes it off is laundry detergent. It's that f-ing mean.
Get yourself a big canister of degreaser, engine degreaser.
Should cost you no more than £10 for a 2-4l canister. Then get a glass jar and a paintbrush. Now you have your main grease-removing-implement. Pour a dash of degreaser into the jar and keep the brush in there. Use this to clean any greasy bit you take off the bike. Just brush the degreaser on the part and wash off. Perfect, that's what it's built to do.As for washing/cleaning the chain. Brush on the degreaser on the chain, rear wheel, and any other part that's covered in chain-oil. Like the back of the license plate. Then get a dish washing brush or old toothbrush (as mentioned before) and scrub the chain carefully. The bits that you need clean is the touching surfaces on the sprockets and the rollers of the chain. The sides don't actually need to be clean, but obviously clean looks nice so clean that too.
Once the dirt is loose, rinse off with water. Then apply some other stronger cleaner such as Castrol Greentec. The degreaser leaves a bit of a film on the parts, which the second cleaner gets rid off. You could use diluted Fairy but it's salt-based so it'll corrode if used often or for long. It's good on the ground tho'.
Now your chain should be squeaky clean.
For lubrication get a small bottle, such as a eye-drop bottle or a hair-dye bottle or something similar. Fill it with engine oil. Yes, just normal engine oil. A tiny amount will last a very long time. Keep this bottle with you, in your pocket, bum-bag, under the seat, etc.
When the chain has been cleaned, dab quite a few drops on. I usually put some on the sprocket, on top of the chain, and the back of the chain at the rear sprocket. Then rotate the wheel/chain a fair amount to spread the oil. Then get a rag and wipe off the excess.
As for maintenance, all you now need is 2-3 drops of oil on the chain/sprocket every time you fill up. This is where the handy little bottle comes in. Keep an eye on the chain, in wet weather or when off-roading add a few more drops.
If you want a cleaner chain before you wash the bike, add yet a few more drops and go out for a ride; the oil will clean the dirt off the chain and splatter it all over your bike where it's easier to clean with the aforementioned degreaser.Not only is this system dirt cheap, it also works. I've never changed a set of chain/sprockets whilst using this method.
That includes the 24,000 miles I did on my GSX-R1000 and various other bikes.
Just got a muc-off chain cleaner thingy, came with free motul chain cleaner, £19.99 with m&p at the moment.
Does pretty much what it says on the tin; very easy to use and does the job. Have got a scotoiler with blue oil which does a good job of keeping chain sparkly (& a good job of keeping the rest of the bike covered in dirty lube!)
Does pretty much what it says on the tin; very easy to use and does the job. Have got a scotoiler with blue oil which does a good job of keeping chain sparkly (& a good job of keeping the rest of the bike covered in dirty lube!)
Dave Ett
Registered user
The Joker:
You spend way too much time cleaning your chain... I'd rather stick with my Scottoiler, a dirty chain and those extra hours of my life riding it!
You spend way too much time cleaning your chain... I'd rather stick with my Scottoiler, a dirty chain and those extra hours of my life riding it!
Shadwell
Registered user
+1, scotoiler and maybe a quick blast with a jet wash every blue moon.
never had any trouble with any chain i have had
TheJoker
Registered user
Actually... I don't. If you're referring to the pic, that was taken for the For Sale advert, so did indeed clean the bike as well as I could... for once.
If you're referring to my "instructions" then it really takes no time at all. ... Right now my F800GS chain hasn't been touched since last wash (covered in bugs and a nice brown wheel from the trails), and all I've done is let the Scottoiler do its job.
never clean a chain .- they are self cleaning
any cleaning is for aesthetics only.
use an old short paintbrush dipped in a grease pot and wipe the bottom row inside face once a week.
The lube will get evenly distributed quickly enough and not fling off.
i adjust my chain about every 3 or 4 weeks
any cleaning is for aesthetics only.
use an old short paintbrush dipped in a grease pot and wipe the bottom row inside face once a week.
The lube will get evenly distributed quickly enough and not fling off.
i adjust my chain about every 3 or 4 weeks
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