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Chain Lube

Started by miatamarty, December 02, 2025, 09:46:04 AM

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miatamarty

Ok, so what's the latest and greatest in chain lube. My last 2 bikes had belt drive and driveshaft,  so I'm ignorant.  (popcorn)
1984 FJ1100 Barn find brought back to life. Learning something new every day about FJ1100's. A frustrating love affair

RPM - Robert

We use this and many other like Pat and Mike. We are getting 25-30k miles on a set of chain and sprockets. Apply after a ride. It isn't as thick as standard chain lube so there is a lot of gunk build up and the teflon in it does very well with the o/x ring chains.

https://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=tri-flowL

FJmonkey

Well, just as I was typing, Robert beat me to the post.

I have used many brands. The super sticky/wax like is the worst. It clings to everything and is a real pain to remove the old lube, so it normally just remains and collects more dirt. I now use Triflo (or similar). A light coat every tank or 2. The old oil cleans off easy and it does not cake up inside the drive shaft pocket.
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

miatamarty

I see all these chain cleaner products. Are they any good or do they just cause more problems with the o-rings. Just wipe it down with a little acetone before lubing?
1984 FJ1100 Barn find brought back to life. Learning something new every day about FJ1100's. A frustrating love affair

Pat Conlon

Quote from: miatamarty on December 02, 2025, 11:47:39 AMI see all these chain cleaner products. Are they any good or do they just cause more problems with the o-rings. Just wipe it down with a little acetone before lubing?

No, do not use acetone on your O ring chain. You will eat the rubber O rings.
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

Sparky84

Quote from: miatamarty on December 02, 2025, 11:47:39 AMI see all these chain cleaner products. Are they any good or do they just cause more problems with the o-rings. Just wipe it down with a little acetone before lubing?
My tip for chain cleaning is, give it a bit of a wipe when you are changing to a new one, it'll stop your hands getting really dirty, otherwise I don't really clean it.

As with the lube, usually after a ride while the chains still warm and as FJmonkey says.. every couple of tanks.

I use Motul off road, Never used a wax one.
1984 FJ1100
1979 Kawasaki Z1300
1972 Honda CB750/4 K2

FJ1200W

What they said, plus when mine gets grungy, I'll carefully use a Motion Pro Chain Brush on it.
Steve
Columbia, Missouri
USA

red

I watched a guy put his bike on the side stand, stand next to the bike, and spray the chain lube  from the side. Then he moved the bike and sprayed what he missed the first time.  Needless to say, he ended up with more chain lube on the bike than on the chain.
Try this instead: put the FJ on the center stand, start the engine, and engage first gear.  Get directly behind the bike, and lay the skinny straw from the aerosol can on the top of the chain, pointed straight at the front sprocket. Using gentle pressure on the spray button, put a thin stream of chain lube on the chain as it moves toward the front sprocket. When the chain has made a few laps around the sprockets, the sprockets and the chain will be well lubed. Hold a paper towel against the bottom of the chain between the two sprockets, to clean away any excess lube. Don't let the paper towel or your hand get anywhere near the sprockets. NEVER wrap the paper towel or your hand around the moving chain to wipe away excess lube. This process does not allow chain lube to go anywhere except onto the chain.  HTH.
Cheers,
Red

P.S. Life is too short, and health is too valuable, to ride on cheap parade-duty tires.