Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

[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.

[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

[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!

[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

[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!?

[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.

[cep]

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 ?

WD-40 seems to be a bit of a controversy when it comes to motorcycle chains.

I saw one R1 rider on youtube claiming that he used nothing but WD-40 to lube his chains after cleaning them with kerosene. He claims he has never had any problems. You can also see many people using WD-40 here.

I have read others saying that WD-40 harms the O-Rings, and stretches the chain. For example, PART II WD-40 O-ring exposure effect results | Adventure Rider. You can see in this test that kerosene fares better than WD-40.

I use kerosene because it's easily available and dirt-cheap. It smells terrible, though. But I put up with it

[Saurabh213]

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.

Is gear oil viscous enough to stick to the chain.?
I ride my bike mostly in city at 60kmph on average. I was thinking to get the motul chain lube but it will be very expensive for me.

[Touseef Ahmed Mohammed]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Is gear oil viscous enough to stick to the chain.?
I ride my bike mostly in city at 60kmph on average. I was thinking to get the motul chain lube but it will be very expensive for me.

Yes it is viscous enough! If it was not, then how the chain would do so well?
But you may need to clean the chain once every 2 weeks as you ride in city.
Imagine 41K kms using gear oil for a chain is very good.
If i had the bike with me it would easily go for around 45K kms or even more.
I am not saying only to use gear oil, infact you can buy some other alternative chain sprays.
If you find Motul expensive, you can go with other alternative sprays or Gear oil.
By the way which bike you ride?

[Saurabh213]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Yes it is viscous enough! If it was not, then how the chain would do so well?
But you may need to clean the chain once every 2 weeks as you ride in city.
Imagine 41K kms using gear oil for a chain is very good.
If i had the bike with me it would easily go for around 45K kms or even more.
I am not saying only to use gear oil, infact you can buy some other alternative chain sprays.
If you find Motul expensive, you can go with other alternative sprays or Gear oil.
By the way which bike you ride?

Honda CB Hornet 160R.
The bike comes with 15/47T 428 pitch standard open Rolon chain.

[Touseef Ahmed Mohammed]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Honda CB Hornet 160R.
The bike comes with 15/47T 428 pitch standard open Rolon chain.

I hope your bike has a rear disc.
If it has, it is better you use a chain spray.
Because if the oil spills on the rear disc, it may have its effect on braking.

[Saurabh213]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

I hope your bike has a rear disc.
If it has, it is better you use a chain spray.
Because if the oil spills on the rear disc, it may have its effect on braking.

Sorry forgot to mention it's the standard variant.
Front disc + rear drum.
Any words for tvs tru4 chain spray ??

[Touseef Ahmed Mohammed]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Sorry forgot to mention it's the standard variant.
Front disc + rear drum.
Any words for tvs tru4 chain spray ??

Tvs tru4 is a good value for money product.
It does not attract much dirt.
It is not that expensive too!
You can go for it.

[Saurabh213]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Anyone here used 3m chain lube ?
A short review may help.
Buying a chain lube soon, which is stickier between 3m and tvs ??

[Ujjwal96]

Re: Bike O-Ring Chain - Cleaning & Lubrication

Anyone here used 3m chain lube ?
A short review may help.
Buying a chain lube soon, which is stickier between 3m and tvs ??

Can't do a comparo between 3M and TVS chain as I haven't used 3M. I am using TVS chain lube from 1.5 years or so and its pretty good

1) It doesn't fling much just let it settle for couple of hours after applying. So its it shouldn't bother you after you apply it.

2) It holds up pretty well for around 500-600kms.

3) Its cheap considering its quality and quantity. Costs Rs385 for a can of 500ml. So its pretty satisfying.