Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

[Touseef Ahmed Mohammed]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

SAE 140 EP gear oil too goes well i must say.
Everytime when lubing was required, i lubed the chain with it.
Periodical cleaning, wiping & lubing.
I have run my Fzs 41,000 kms without any major issue (replaced the front sprocket at 30,000 kms) & i felt happy once when a mechanic asked me when my bike completed 40,000 kms and went for a service, that "is is a new chain kit??"
Later, i sold the bike with the same sprocket which was completely fine.
The excess oil used to spill on the rear rim, i used to use a cloth to wipe it off.

[rugved]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Friends I bought my hornet 160r 10 days ago and have water washed it at home 3 times.do I need to lubricate the chain every time I wash it with water

no offence brother, but water wash the bike thrice in 10 days!?

[Saurabh213]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Hello all,
Went through this thread but got confused whether to use wd-40 or kerosene for cleaning the chain ?
Google searches suggest that kerosene is better than diesel and petrol but matter between kerosene and wd 40 is not clear ?

Here's what I'm going to do :
1.spray the chain with kerosene.
2.use a toothbrush to scrub.
3 repeat steps 1&2 for a dirty chain.
4.use a garden hose and soapy water to wash away kerosene along with the suspended grime.
5.dry the chain quickly with old rags.
6.lube the chain with good chain lube(pls suggest)
7.allow the lube to settle and wipe off any excess.

Pls correct if anything is wrong

[cep]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Friends I bought my hornet 160r 10 days ago and have water washed it at home 3 times.do I need to lubricate the chain every time I wash it with water

Yes, it is very much advisable to lube the chain after every wash. When you wash the bike, small droplets of water tend to stay on the chain, even after you have attempted to dry it. And as someone else said, there will still be a little muck left on the chain. Also, the water wipes out any lube that was on the chain previously.

If you can source a good chain cleaner, use it to clean the chain. Or you can make do with diesel or kerosene (an old toothbrush comes in handy here, too) like some (many?) of us. After that, spray your chain with a good-quality (or the manufacturer-recommended) chain lube.

If you don't mind my saying it, try to dial down on the washing. While we understand the love a new bike evokes, too much time under regular tap water could possibly harm the bike.

Do post here if you have further queries. Happy riding!

[Motomonster]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Friends I bought my hornet 160r 10 days ago and have water washed it at home 3 times.do I need to lubricate the chain every time I wash it with water

[Divya Sharan]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

I usually am not able to use chain cleaner periodically. But the chain is water washed (with the bike) and I lube it definitely after that because I know they use pressurized water.

The (open) chain attracts a lot of dust and debris (more so when lubed). So, while a pressurized water wash would remove a lot of it, but not most/all of it.
Try using a chain cleaner maybe once in 2-3 months or so.

[Naveen Vajja]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

4. Get yourself a soft brush and keep the bike's keys in your pocket. Get 3M/Motul chain cleaner and spray it generously (1/3rd of the big can). Along with the cleaner, keep rubbing the chain with brush. All gunk would flow out. Let it settle for 10 min.

5. Give the chain a good water wash and wipe it dry with a rag.

I usually am not able to use chain cleaner periodically. But the chain is water washed (with the bike) and I lube it definitely after that because I know they use pressurized water.

Is it better to use Chain cleaner and then Lube ... than the 'ok' procedure that my bike goes through.

Also, does anyone open the front sprocket cover and clean as well as I see dirt trapped there.

[Saurabh213]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

I think you can get WD40 online now. Amazon should have it

280+150 shipping for 400ml can !!

[rachitkdogra]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Guys
Where can i get a can od wd 40 or zorrik in Noida ?

I think you can get WD40 online now. Amazon should have it

[Saurabh213]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Guys
Where can i get a can od wd 40 or zorrik in Noida ?

[Divya Sharan]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Guys, had a question on cleaning and lubing the o-ring chain on my R15. The manual says do it every 500 kms, is that a rule of thumb or should one go by a visual inspection? I mean, if one has been riding in conditions which are not very dusty and the chain looks clean and moist after 500 kms is it ok to stretch that by 2 -300 kms?

Good 6 point procedure you got there! However, there are a few alterations I'd suggest.

1. Never let the chain run dry. Be it 50 km (monsoon) or 500 km (highway riding).
2. IMHO, 500 km is an over-stretched figure. You'd find the need to lube it every 300-400 km at max if used daily. This is just the lubing aspect.
3. Clean the chain every alternate lubing session. Say if you lube the chain every 300 km on an average, a 600 km cleaning interval (except monsoon) would be just fine.
4. Get yourself a soft brush and keep the bike's keys in your pocket. Get 3M/Motul chain cleaner and spray it generously (1/3rd of the big can). Along with the cleaner, keep rubbing the chain with brush. All gunk would flow out. Let it settle for 10 min.
5. Give the chain a good water wash and wipe it dry with a rag.
6. Now is the time to apply chain lube (Rolon, Tribocor, Motul work well). Don't ride away immediately. It would fling off. Let it settle for some time. Best would be applying it at night and leave until morning, else a gap of 2 hours would be fine.

Monsoons require frequent cleaning and lubing. Do as per the conditions you see. I clean/lube the chain every weekend during monsoon and use grease instead of chain lube (however I have a closed chain guard as well).

[joe_marvy]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Guys, had a question on cleaning and lubing the o-ring chain on my R15. The manual says do it every 500 kms, is that a rule of thumb or should one go by a visual inspection? I mean, if one has been riding in conditions which are not very dusty and the chain looks clean and moist after 500 kms is it ok to stretch that by 2 -300 kms?

I understand that one needs to take the bike for a spin for the chain to heat and expand so that the lube is absorbed better. Now lets say one combines washing the bike with cleaning and lubing, should the sequence be as given below?

1. Allow bike to cool down
2. Thorough wash, rinse and wipe down of bike
3. Spray chain cleaner on chain and wait for 20 minutes for the solvent to remove gunk
4. Take bike for quick spin to warm up the clean but unlubed chain?!
5. Spray lube on chain
6. Voila!

It's not a thumb rule. Earlier I used to set Trip meter and every 500 KMS I used lube, but now I had started to lube when the chain looks dry. Also, most of the lubes run out closing to 500 KMS, Tribocor chain lube can hold little longer than others (I have personally experienced it).

Do it like this:

1. Allow bike to cool down
2. Spray chain cleaner on chain and wait for some time for the solvent to loosen gunk
3. Thorough wash, rinse and wipe down of bike
4. Take bike for quick spin to warm up the clean but unlubed chain?! (Not really necessary, you can do it after performing the step 5 too!)
5. Spray lube on chain
6. Voila!

[supratik]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Guys, had a question on cleaning and lubing the o-ring chain on my R15. The manual says do it every 500 kms, is that a rule of thumb or should one go by a visual inspection? I mean, if one has been riding in conditions which are not very dusty and the chain looks clean and moist after 500 kms is it ok to stretch that by 2 -300 kms?

I understand that one needs to take the bike for a spin for the chain to heat and expand so that the lube is absorbed better. Now lets say one combines washing the bike with cleaning and lubing, should the sequence be as given below?

1. Allow bike to cool down
2. Thorough wash, rinse and wipe down of bike
3. Spray chain cleaner on chain and wait for 20 minutes for the solvent to remove gunk
4. Take bike for quick spin to warm up the clean but unlubed chain?!
5. Spray lube on chain
6. Voila!

[jack_daniels]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Never clean or lube the chain with ignition on and bike in first gear, it's way too much risky. Many technicians have lost their fingers is service centres due to this stunt

Thanx a lot. I saw mechanics do that in a KTM SVC and I myself was about to do the same for my 1st 500km chain lubing. But, from now on never. I'll lube it in neutral only.

[yashasvi]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Never clean or lube the chain with ignition on and bike in first gear, it's way too much risky. Many technicians have lost their fingers is service centres due to this stunt