Forum

[Presto]

You don’t let it get ‘filthy’ – you wipe or brush it regularly and use a chain lube that doesn’t attract and hold rubbish. For all sorts of reasons 'oil' is not good for lubricating drive chains.

[PeteF]

"How do you clean a filthy chain, without removing the grease that is packed into it?"
Well, if it's a non O ring type, I degrease it (off the bike) in petrol to get all the old stuff out then boil it up in chain grease. This ensures that the new lubricant gets right inside the rollers.
O ring chains get Wurth chain wax which is a lot less mucky than most and the excess is wiped off after a couple of minutes..

[Presto]

From Morris’s Lubricants: >br<

Chain lubricant is a specially formulated aerosol designed for the protection of chains used in a variety of applications. This product is initially a thin flowing lubricant which when sprayed, searches and penetrates into the chain links and rollers. Within a few minutes the solvent carrier ‘flashes off ‘ and the product thickens and provides a strong, cushioning and lubricating, grease like coating on all parts. This coating has powerful anti-fling properties and is not displaced by the fast movement of the chain. Chain and sprocket wear is reduced to a minimum by the lubricant coating. >br<

Aerosol lube penetrates more effectively than boiling grease. But I guess you good folk who boil chains would prefer to stick to a performance as outmoded as hand gear change and acetylene lights – happy to do a job that never needs to be done rather than go with ‘new’ fangled ideas like proper chain lube. Every one to their own!

[PeteF]

"Aerosol lube penetrates more effectively than boiling grease"
I don't think so, though it would be difficult to prove. I stopped believing manufacturers claims many years ago.
It's a chore I know, but I do all the chains in one go while I have the stuff hot.

[PeteF]

I might add, this is only an annual job. I use chain lube as needed as well.

[Presto]

I believe that the more thorough penetration is related to the lower viscosity and chemical compound of the spray compared to the grease.

[jefrs]

What type of chain is the oem stock indian chain?



I ask about cleaning them because I've cleaned it by the usual method of scrubbing it with a pot brush and a little paraffin (kerosene), wiping it dry and then lubing it with spray, Rock Oil in this case.



I am so not removing it until it wears out. Dunking it in a pot of grease on the cooker, been there, and it is forbidden, won't happen.


I've cleaned a few chains afore and have found, O-rings or not, some solvents will penetrate the rollers and wash the grease out. Result knackered chain, or hub bearings on one occasion.

[jefrs]

Manufacturer's claims? "With PTFE" is one such, it is a non-stick coating, it is so not a lubricant, in fact when finely divided it can act like grit, force seals apart and so on. I've used the material industrially, as a lubricant it's about as good as adding pepper. A colleague of mine came up with the term, "added BS".

[albert]

Blimey! so much input on this subject. As jefrs says,what is the stock chain, o ring or standard roller and pin job, any one no ??

[albert]

Sorry know not no!