Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Chain wax

I just bought a new 2011 America and we were told at the dealership that chain wax will eat up the chain. Does anyone know if this this true? Thanks!

There are so many chain lubes out there and they all claim to be the holy grail of lubrication. Pick your poison,its just chain lube.

The dealership will tell you whatever you are using is cr@p and you need to buy their wonder product or you bike will immediately explode(it probably wont)

I use this and it works great,cheap too:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm

Nope, chain wax will not damage your chain. Any quality lube is fine, I prefer Bel Ray Super Clean because it seems to cling better than others I've tried, I hate scrubbing chain lube off my bike .
Whatever you use it's best,IMO, to lube the chain while its good and warm, then let it sit overnight. I believe the lube penetrates warm parts better,if it doesn't it still seems to stick better.

Quote:

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I prefer Bel Ray Super Clean

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+ 1

I'm with Bill on the Dupont Dry Wax lube. Can't resist chiming in on a chain lube thread.

Oh-oh, I hope Ian doesn't see this thread...

DON'T LISTEN TO IAN!!!!

He's an anomaly

(Hard to argue with results though .)

I just can't make myself do it. I've been too conditioned to maintaining it.

Interflon EP+ teflon chain lube. Failure to use this may cause your bike to spontaneously combust.

So... a chain lube thread is as bad as the dreaded "Oil Thread", huh?
Well, as your bad luck would have it, I am a chain newb. My prior 4 bikes were all shaft drive, 2 Yamahas, 2 Moto Guzzis.

The reason I bore you with this is that I could use any guidance you care to give in chain care. I read some guys on here saying they don't lube the chain at all, and it lasts 23,000 miles. I think my manual says to lube the chain every 200 miles. Yeah, 200, not 2000, which seems specious.
How often to check chain tightness? How loose/tight should it be??
Any guidance appreciated.

Ok its very simple. The only way I would bother with chain lube is if I had a scot oiler. You will nor get anymore miles out of it, and it slings the crap every where other wise. You can regulate the scot oiler to put just a few drops at a time on so that it keeps the chain nice and wet looking without it slinging off. I look at my chain every time I get on my bike but I know what I am looking for. basically you want close to and inch of play right in the middle of the bottom of the chain. Inother words you hold a tape measure up to the chain and lift it if it goes to an inch good if not to tight if more well that different. I wouldn't adjust it unless it moved closer to an inch and a half. Now the disclaimer Thats me and me alone follow the advise if ya want. If you want more opinions others will chime in eventually.


Like Ian I think that dirt and road crap sticks to the "lube" and wears the sprockets. You see you use "lube" oil on cutting instruments to cut faster when cutting metal and to cool the cutting blade and metal. Cooling the cutting instrument keeps it sharper longer, so it cuts more efficently

Every 1-2 thousand miles is Okay on lube.

1/2" - 1" on the adjustment. Check it with the method that Chad explained.

Today's o-ring or x-ring chains require very little maintenance in terms of lubrication. Personally I lube occasionally (maybe once every 1000 miles) with Bel Ray Super Clean which is fling free. Other than that I adjust as needed to maintain 1" of free play WITH ME SITTING ON THE BIKE!

I bet the dealer would have been happy to recommend a brand of lube they just happened to have on their shelves though?

For those born on the cheap side of the tracks

Goes on as a liquid, sets up as a semi solid. Wipe off excess.


For cleaning



Disclaimer - if using solvents to clean, follow with
compressed air to blow the excess solvent off.

Another pretty good chain cleaner



My first (and OEM) chain was still well within spec at 25,000 miles using all the above forbidden products.

There is a Triumph mechanic 'round here, who shall remain nameless, who also uses Brakleen on his chains.
I felt better after he told me that. Kero and a parts washer brush is a might on the messy side.

Molly,
The dealership is full of crap. My bike is an 02 America with over 94K on it. Other then the very first can of chain lube, I've used and stayed with Maxima Chain Wax because it stay's on the chain, and since I run with white walls there no splatter. I just replaced the chain which makes #5. Go with chain wax, less of a mess.....

Steve,
I normally apply some chain wax around every 1,000 miles. If I remember correctly, the manual on my 02 said to lube the chain every 500 miles. Sometimes if I’m getting ready for a long ride, I might spray a little on before I hit the road. I usually check the chain tightness every couple of weeks with my finger. If there’s more then about 1 1/2” I’ll usually adjust it. But that's just me....

I am on my 2nd chain. First went 20k and probably could have gone a lot more but was getting a little noisy so I figured 20k is plenty for a chain. I am also still working on my first can of chain wax from 2005 when I bought the bike. The O ring chain is Pre-lubed. Wax it a little keep it from rusting. Keep it at proper tension and ride your bike.

Grunge brush it once a year and wax again a little. Pretty simple stuff.

Hey, welcome to the forum.

just give it a little squirt of gear oil.

Dupont Chain Lube. about 4.95 a can a Lowes, works great.

+1 on any kind of chain wax. Have several cans...different types. They all work well.

I'm very big on Maxim chain wax. It's all I've used since my bike was new. Replaced my chain and sprockets at 22K but they still had life. Needed new tires so I got it done at the same time. Every 1,000 miles I clean it with kerosine, dry, and re-wax. I keep a small Maxim can in my saddlebags for traveling. If I get in the rain and out for 400-500 miles, I'll add more. I still like to clean it all off on a regular basis.

As long as not overused, there is no splatter or mess.

I never use much of anything on my chains. Too damn messy. I'm over 25k now on the Speedy and the chain and sprockets got plenty to go. Stop yah fussin and ride it.

Aw heck, everybody else has chimed in, and I don't want to be left out... I occassionally use whatever my son has left me on the shelf. Chain wax, lithium, chain lube, whatever is there. I get about 24 K out of my chains.