Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Chain Lubrication Frequency

I was just wondering how often guys here lube their chains.

I know Ian (TheDog) doesn't bother and a lot depends on the amount of dust, dirt and damp around.

Here, in Cornwall, I usually try to do mine every 400 miles, or so, but the roads here can be dirty (horse, sheep and cow dung + sand and mud, especially when its wet). I use Castrol Chain Wax which is a PIA but it does ensure that my back wheel stays in good shape.

Let me just state I don't advocate not lubing the chain, I think you are supposed to do it every 500 miles or so.

The book says every 500 miles I think - it's 150 miles away from me right now...

I tend to do mine every 300 miles or so, and after cleaning the bike. Not every time I clean the bike. That's every week whether needed or not - I call it therapy. And yes the lube has kept the back wheel in good nick. I use Silkolene Chain oil - not cheap, but I'm happy with it. To get the crap off the wheel I use Autoglym wheel cleaner....again not cheap, but I have a shiny back wheel after using it. Spray it on quick scrub and rinse it off. That's it.

Every 500 miles I scrub it with kerosene and a grunge brush, then lube with Honda chain lube. Since the bikes jacked, it's wheel, hub, and spoke cleaning day as well. I like the PJ1 cleaner for that, no residue.

Regards,

Tom

When I think about it, every thousand miles or so.


In fact I think it's time.................

I usually clean and lube every 500 - 600 miles also. I find that if I do it more often it goes quicker because it's not as bad to begin with.

I do it at 500 miles, real good cleaning every 1500 or third lubrication. Seriously thinking about belt drive, however just talked my wife into purchasing a notebook computer so NO way will the belt drive fly. $850.00 plus $200 + for labor at local motorcycle shop. Lubing, cleaning, and adjusting chain gets to be a real pain in the a** epically when I ride 200 + miles a day Sat and Sun in warm weather. Wife works 6pm to 6am Th-F-S-S, if I tinker around the house and wake her up Yikes. Better just to leave early and get out and ride, it was part of the reason why I wanted the TBA.

You'll be waiting till your next tax refund for a belt anyway...

I've posted on this subject a few times, but here's one more.....
Any chain lube that is "sticky" - oil, chain wax, etc. is going to grab the dirt and grit (and er, dung) and keep it on your chain and sprockets till you clean it off. So if you use this type of chain lube, cleaning your chain and sprockets becomes just as important as re-lubing it. That being said, mileage or a time frame is not the rule. How much dirt and grit and er, dung has built up determines how often you clean and re-lube the chain.
A dry film lube such as MFR from Pro-Gold or the one Amsoil sells will keep your chain seals pliable as well as lube the chain bushings and sprockets without attracting and holding the contaminants.

I lube mine about every 800 - 1000 miles depending on the above, and give it thorough cleaning with kerosene at every oil change - 4000 - 5000 miles.

Maybe thats why at 15,000 miles my chain and sprockets hardly show any wear and at this point I lubed it only 3 or 4 times.

I am negligent too. I have a can of spray wax I bought in December 05 with the bike. Its still half full at 16,000 miles. It all needs a good cleaning but that is,in the immortal words of Maynard G. Krebs, "WORK!".

Nobody under the age of about 80 will know who Maynard was

Thanks for so many useful responses, you guys!

Yep, there sure is plenty of 'dung' on the roads in these here parts but, at least, this thread appears free from the 'bull' variety.

Nobody under the age of about 80 will know who Maynard was

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Hey wait a ,minute!!!I'm ,not even close to 80 but I know who Maynard was.Maynard Krebs ,played by Bob Denver on the late 50's early 60's TV show ,Dobie Gillis.Probably the first televised "Beatnik" .Am I close??

If you ride through water or a lot of rain, you may want to spray some more lube or wax on it. I've been going with 500 miles, but I wipe the chain with kerosine, dry, and spray with chain wax. I use a piece of cardboard below the hub to avoid spaying the wheel. I spray while spinning (on lift) then wipe any excess off chain. No problem chain looks like new after 12000 miles.

I let my Scottoiler handle the whole endeavor on a minute by minute basis all the time.

The chain does not accrue any dust or barnacles that are attracted by the sticky chain lube.

Gave up thinking about it, and put a Scottoiler on!!!!
Just top it up every now and then. Couldn't be easier!!!!! Also keeps sprockets in good nick too!

It's an o-ring chain, so it really only needs cleaning.
I just eyeball it and when it's looking a little grungy, I'll give it a shot of WD-40 and wipe it with a rag.
Put it down to laziness, when I had a centerstand-equipped
bike I would give it a quick shot every day.
Gotta get a service stand one of these days.

Get a scott oiler and lube it whenever it's running (which is when it NEEDS it, not after you STOP).

As for chains (O ring, X ring, or other ring) not needing lubing, I doubt triumph & the chain manufacturers would all jump up n down about it if they didn't. They come with lube in them from the factory but constant use will squeeze it out and it needs to be replaced... and the lube inside the links doesn't lube or clean the moving parts on the outside.

FYI, WD40 will penetrate the links and dilute the grease inside them, allowing it to be forced out more quickly, and will cause the O/X rings to perish and become brittle. Clean chains with diesel or kerosene (which both contain waxes which will protect the X/O rings), or a proprietary chain cleaner.

Wear of the chain & sprockets is only part of the reason for lubing the chain. Chains are made of about 104 links, which each contain two pivots. That's 208 moving metal parts. Without lube, the friction that builds up can seriously reduce the bike's performance. I've seen bikes that could barely be pushed due to rusted, un-lubed chains, and while that's an extreme case it does demonstrate how much power can be lost to a dry chain. Lubing also reduces noise and heat which are the first two signs of a worn or dry chain robbing power. (Noise and heat are forms of energy which has to come from somewhere. In this case they're converted from the kinetic energy the engine puts out, meaning less power to the wheel. Basic physics.)

I have only seen stiff chains from non-use, Like I said I have only lubes mine a couple times in 15,000 miles and it moves just fine , as seen when I adjust it. Has nothing to do with the way the bike performs unless it breaks or you let it sit and rust. It should be cleaned and lubed to reduce wear of the rollers and sprockets. If the O or X rings are not damaged they keep the lube out just as well as they keep it in so there is no replentishing of lube inside the links it will however help keep them in good shape on the outer side where they rub on the out plate of each link. The amount of energy lost to heat would be miniscule and unnoticeable to the rider. All this being said it is still a good idea to lube your chain, it does reduce wear and friction except in the case where the lube is allowed to gather too much abrasive crud and thus speeding up wear.

I clean with kerosine and re-wax about every 500 miles. It's very easy and quick with a lift. Spin the tire, wipe off, spray on. I usually hold a piece of cardboard between the sprocket and wheel to prevent any over spray. Chain looks like new after 12K.

Fantastic discussion everyone. I wasn't sure if I was properly lubing my chain or not (done every 500 miles). Some of my questions have been answered and new, worthy knowledge has been gained. Good grief I'm diggin' this place.