chain lubrication for the beginner!

[texas]

hello again,
I'm new to motorcycles but i know keeping the chain and sprockets lubricated is crucial, especially since i just got the new chain and sprockets. What's a good brand of lube? The shop by my house only has spray lubricant, is that the only way it comes? and if not, which medium is better? also, what's a good procedure for thoroughly lubricating the chain? thanks, tex

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by texas

hello again,
I'm new to motorcycles but i know keeping the chain and sprockets lubricated is crucial, especially since i just got the new chain and sprockets. What's a good brand of lube? The shop by my house only has spray lubricant, is that the only way it comes? and if not, which medium is better? also, what's a good procedure for thoroughly lubricating the chain? thanks, tex

Hi Tex,
Chain lube in this forum is like tires - everbody has a favorite. Mine is ProHonda spray lube in the Red and Black can. Super stuff. To your question - spray is the way to go.
Also I do this at about every 500 - 700 miles, if I have been a slacker foole maybe 1200 miles. On different bikes I have owned, the chain life's have been 20k to 25k miles.

Ok Chain lube lesson--
1. Put the bike up on the center stand. Kick it into neutral so you can rotate the rear tire.
2. Youll need to clean the chain first. So sometimes I use keorsene and sometimes I just use good ol WD40.
3. Before I screw with all this most times I put up cardboard behind the chain in front of the other bike parts to keep excess spray stuff off.
4. Spray on the WD40 - I do about 6 - 8 links at a time and wipe good with a rag. Rotate tire, repeat. Keep working till the links are nice and shiny clean. If I'm real ambitious, I'll get a toothbrush and work it in to the links. Sometimes I'll take a little cup of kerosene and dip the toothbrush into it and go like that. There are specific chain cleaners out there to use if you want to go that route too.
BTW - stick to the lower links hanging down between the front and rear sprockets, it keeps things cleaner. Also another tip is to get a white paint pen from the office supply or hobby store and mark one of your links so you can see a full chain rotation.
5.Ok - after you have got the chain cleaned - wipe it good and let it dry a bit.
6. Now - its spray lube time. - Again, I usually have a piece of cardboard that I cram behind the chain to catch any over spray.
7. Spray it slowly about 5 links at time on the bottom part of the chain in the middle between your sprockets. Rotate tire, repeat. This is where your paint mark comes in handy - you will know when you have a full rotation. Lighty dab off excess with a rag or paper towel. The Honda lube stuff is a let dry type, so let it sit about 15 - 20 minutes before you ride it.
8. There you go, you did it.

Seems like a lot of work, but gets easier with practice.

Best of luck,
MD

[elf800]

lube it when looks shiney bel-ray

[texas]

thorough instructions, thanks! i like to do it good if im gonna do it... i'll stop by the honda shop tomorrow and grab some honda spray spray. As for cleaning, kerosene wont mess with the rubber in the chain right?

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by texas

thorough instructions, thanks! i like to do it good if im gonna do it... i'll stop by the honda shop tomorrow and grab some honda spray spray. As for cleaning, kerosene wont mess with the rubber in the chain right?

I havent had any issues - but I admit I use the WD40 more often than the kerosene. If your at the shop - check for chain cleaner stuff too.

MD

[PuCaudata]

I use Bel-Ray chain lube...it works well to me and there's no throw-off. Plus, it goes on "white" so you can see what part of the chain you've hit. I think that's a plus...

[Rogue]

2 things :

1 - Lube the chain when it is warm - allows the lube to penetrate more.
2 - Get a scottoiler and ignore #1 above.

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by Rogue

2 things :

1 - Lube the chain when it is warm - allows the lube to penetrate more.
2 - Get a scottoiler and ignore #1 above.

The scottoiler is generally a good idea, but I have avoided it - its impossible to keep the bike clean, and really my chain lube routine works just fine.

MD

[Wabbit1961]

Follow this link to the easy method...

Chain Waxing Made Easy - 101

I do just about the same thing as mello dude, except I don't waste my lube spraying 5-8 links at a time. Put the bike on the center stand when you come back from a ride. Leave it running and then put it in first gear. Let the motor rotate the chain for you. You can still put the cardboard behind the chain in front of the swingarm and spray. I prefer chain wax. It cleans as you buff it off and stays on a long time. I usually wax once a week cause I ride everyday. It sprays on golden so you know you have coverage. Just check out my link above... so damn easy... after you spray, shift to neutral and turn off the bike. Then get a mechanic's rag and buff the chain of excess wax or lube. It still adheres to the chain. Don't believe me, then run a finger on it when you're done buffing. Don't leave your chain 'golden' with chain wax, or 'white' with BelRay... buff it off clear. If you don't your chain will get dirty FAST! The above link also includes another link for pics of what I am talking about.

Stan

[squirrelman]

Something else to check : after LUBE most chaIns fling off some excess, so watch for shiny film on left side of your rear TIRE
and wipe it with a clean rag (your girlfriend's cotton panties work fine) if you see lube there
or you could have a scary moment in a left turn.........

[mello dude]

I guess it goes in the to each his own department, but I'm not wild about screwing around a moving chain. I'll do the few links at a time and rotate the tire routine. Also the ProHonda stuff I use, drys completely and theres not any sling off. It helps keep things cleaner. Again personal taste, never been a chain wax fan either.

MD

[nozzle]

old paint brush and K-1 Kero makes cleaning easy. not spray going everywhere from the WD-40. Steal a cookie sheet from the wife. put the cardboard in it to catch the petro-chemicals from the cleaning/lubing. burn the card board in the cookie sheet afterwards. (Beavis & Butthead : ha.. he he.. ha... fire.... hea ha fire, yeah... Firre)

[FrankoQ]

I just finished cleaning and lubing the chain. Thanks for the instructions.

[rngdng]

A good friend of mine was cleaning and oiling his chain with the engine turning the rear wheel for him. It was fine until he lost his concentration for a moment and it grabbed his big-ol' thumb. The engine shut down when his left thumb was about 50% around the rear sprocket. He had to reach over with his right hand to get the bike in neutral so he could reverse the wheel, and rotate his thumb back the way it came.....

Do it under power if you want, but I don't think I'll join you.

No, it won't happen to you...you're more careful, and smarter....right? Famous last words. Think about it.


Lane

[KC-10 FE]

This may be a silly question, but is it really so difficult to lube a chain with out injuring one's self that directions are necessary?

KC-10 FE out...

[SLOVFR]

if your talking to the guy with a sprocket for a thumb now....then YES.

[ontargetnow]

Funny you should mention that. I did exactly the same thing about 30 years ago. Very painful. I also had to reach over to snick it into neutral to untrap my stupid self. After a trip to the hospital to stitch and about 6 weeks, I was as good as new.

[eddievalleytrailer]

Originally Posted by nozzle

old paint brush and K-1 Kero makes cleaning easy. not spray going everywhere from the WD-40. Steal a cookie sheet from the wife. put the cardboard in it to catch the petro-chemicals from the cleaning/lubing. burn the card board in the cookie sheet afterwards. (Beavis & Butthead : ha.. he he.. ha... fire.... hea ha fire, yeah... Firre)

Noz, You're slipping BIG TIME!!! Post #10 mentions both panties and lube!!! I can think of at least 4,238 replies to that, but not even one from you??? Com'on, I know you have a witty response ready. Let's hear it.

[geronpg]

a friend of mine lost the end of a finger lubing the chain on a VFR...
The older I get, the more I realize what can happen in about 1 second of dumb...