I have a couple of tight spots in my chain....any fixes or is it replacement time?
Its done 50,000 kms.. Sprockets look OK.
Cheers.
Replace it mate.
I agree with Grog, time to replace. And in all honesty, whilst the sprockets may look ok, if they have done a similar mileage - then I'd replace both chain and sprockets as there will be some wear in that time which will shorten the life of any new chain you may fit.
Yes would always do the chain and both sprockets.
Thanks guys.
This is the one I brought recently Col - very pleased with it so far.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DID-530x116-Links-ZVM-X-Super-Street-Series-Sealed-X-ring-Gold-Chain-/221983737112?hash=item33af430518:g:VH8AAOSwAuNW5TP5
i know about chain n sprocket all being changed together. BUT, i didnt last time. bad boy. sprockets just looked so good. i decided to buy a cheap chain just to wear out sprockets. EK, for $110, didnt even get x ring just the old skool o ring. my thoughts were get a few more ks then replace the lot. here i am now, 10 th ks later. havent had to adjust at all, still running sweet and sprockets look exactly same. im a fussy old prick and if i thought a problem i would change them. i really cant believe it . i was pissed off that my RK got tight spots, i dont think it was chain fault even though i read they had a bad batch. i blame the Wurth chain lube, just didnt work or protect. chain was rusty as inside. told before now using vmx castrol gear oil as lube. much better. bit more work but just all good. my EK chain is way down the line in their product strength, if the top ones perform as they say, should last forever when i get one. expensive, but if they last, all good. can of worms now opened.
I have to admit that i tried a few chain lubes. The aim was to keep the chain lubed and the back of the bike clean. One time i was using a very light waxy race lube. I did a 700km ride one day. I stopped because i could hear the chain at slow speed when id done about 400km. I think i ruined the chain that day.
I have been using a Putoline chain lube that is quite wet and sticky. Makes a bit of a mess but keeps the chain moist. Too late now, i guess the damage has been done.
I'm paranoid about chains, I have been using the new engine oil I put in my RAV4 (20w50 stuff for years), (always a bit left after a service) I just apply a little each side of the chain on the inside every tank full of petrol, it is easy to wipe the rear wheel clean and to wipe the chain clean too. Engine oil is a cleaner as well as a lubricant YES?
Yes, engine oil is a cleaner. I wouldn't use it for lubing the chain as it flings right off.
I use kerosin (petroleum) for cleaning, wait till dried off, then apply a dry lube (S100) and let it dry a few hours (preferably over night). The cleaning is the most important part imo as the dirt works like sand paper.
You need grease on a chain not oil. The grease needs to resist fling and water. Oil could all too easily get on the tyre tread.
Grease = grinding paste, Don't do it! :shocked:
Gear oil or scotoiler for me.
For what it's worth, DID recommend 80/90 gear oil for their chains, not spray on lubes or grease, oil. That oil grade is from memory, it's actually on the back of the chain pack & on their website. The DID chain info is also a sticky PDF on this site. Have a read, even if it's just for another perspective on chains & lubes.
my 2p worth
i clean the chain with any chain cleaner i have then wash the bike once all dry i re lub with what ever chain lub i have .
replace the chain and sprockets every 18000-20000 miles as soon as the chain need to be adjusted after the 500 miles first adjustment.
i also replace the sprocket carrier bearing at the same time.
done me fine on all the 14's I've owned with no problems.
:onya: :cheers:
On my chain driven bikes I use WD40 for lubricant. I get 80k/km from my chain & sprockets and they are still within tolerance when replaced.
Unless you clean off excess lubricant, any chainlube will become a grinding paste that an O-Ring chain doesn't actually need.
Interestingly I asked a respected race bike builder what he used on his chains.......he said CRC.
cleanliness is the answer, i agree totally. its just the rubber rings that need to be kept lubed, supple etc. wd40 n crc are fish oil based, can see why they work. grease, never. im over chain lubes, marketing crap i think. i use gear oil, run it around via oil can, spin wheel lots, wipe it off with rag. seems to work perfectly. chain doesnt rust, nothing sticks. sounds nice, riding that is, chain just hums. normal gear oil stinks, vmx castrol doesnt. whatever you use, my opinion is, clean chain before lubing and again after. seems to work for me.
The manual suggests you use heavy engine oil and says specifically not to use normal chain lubes. Don't know if this applies to aftermarket chains though?
Also says to clean the chain with kero regularly which i reckon everyone should be doing anyway. :onya:
Yes to the Kero clean from me & I use 80/90 gear oil on the chain, (non smelly kind). Have a wee read of the back of the pack on DID chains, says there to use gear oil on their chains.
There's a sticky in the chain & sprocket section - a PDF download from the DID site with all sorts of chain info.
There seems to be as many different ways & views to clean & lube a chain as there are members. The main thing to do is clean it & lube it as often as necessary, which will vary depending on where it's used & the method of cleaning & lubing being used. That's my 2c worth.
mine is getting done saturday. still as above.
Gee - It is a messy way to do it but I feel it is the go. Put some kero in one spray bottle and the VMX in another. Cleaned chain and lubed and wiped and wiped. Rode it and wiped again.
See Grog - We do listen to you :grin:
Quote from: grog on Wednesday, 07 June 2017, 07:29 PM
i use gear oil, run it around via oil can, spin wheel lots, wipe it off with rag. seems to work perfectly. chain doesnt rust, nothing sticks. sounds nice, riding that is, chain just hums. normal gear oil stinks, vmx castrol doesnt. whatever you use, my opinion is, clean chain before lubing and again after. seems to work for me.
Where does one even get an oil can / applicator these days.. I went to supercheap and they looked at me clueless as to what I was asking for ! They were probably 15 years old and probably think cars only need to be plugged into a computer to fix... :rolleyes:
How does one know if a gear oil is going to stink before using it?
I have some at home, can't recall what it is though...
As I'm not riding my bike at the moment it might be a good time to clean it properly.
If I can get it up onto the stands...
kingchrome oil can from bunnings. most gear oils smell but will work same. https://www.bunnings.com.au/kincrome-300ml-oil-can-with-2-hoses_p6100381
Question - would it be possible to use old engine oil after an oil change on the chain? (I have 4 ltrs of Red Motul Oil left over from me last change that seems in ok condition & am tiring of spending a small fortune on fancy spray cans of chain oil that get bad write ups...)...
Possible, yes. Good idea? not really. Best to just get some VMX (or any non smelly gear oil around 80/90ish) n use that.
The used engine oil has impurities in it, that's why we change it. Putting it on the chain is not really conducive to any sort of reasonable lifespan for the chain. Besides, the chain needs a heavier duty lube than just engine oil. But, having said that, it'd be better than nothing at all I guess if you were stuck.
i wouldnt use old oil myself, what Col says.
Interesting that in the Suzuki manual they advise to only clean with Kero, and that as the chains are internally greased, no further lubricant is required. The kero protects the outside of the chain. I let the kero dry on the chain and then reinstall the rear wheel.
I've always done the Kero clean and used either a hydraulic oil (46weight) or clean engine oil. NEVER grease. WD40 sounds ok, I would also let it dry on the chain, might give that a go....
Plus, goes without saying, replace chain and sprockets at the same time...
I use Castrol 140 (yes 140) weight gear oil.
Never flings off and DOESNT SMELL.
To be honest I wouldnt care if it did !