Another chain lube question (sort of)

[mikeholzer]

Well, at long last I have finally broken down and replaced my chain and sprockets. It's really about time, too; I bought the fooking things in January.

Anyway, since this is my first new chain (I've never kept a bike long enough to need to replace one), my question is what to do about the thick yellow butter this thing is coated in? It's pretty sticky and probably a lithium based grease, but I'm certain that this will only attract dirt and grime. Do the rest of you clean your new chain and re-lube it with the lube (I remember: Klavdy likes spit) of your choice? I should probably just clean it anyway, but it would seem that it's the same stuff that's inside the chain and maybe it would offer some small benefit, if only for a short while.

Your thoughts, gentlemen?

[FJmonkey]

Good question, I never even thought about the protective stuff the new chain is packaged in. I just threw it on and lubed every other fill up. My current chain has rust on the side plates, my FJ must hate me for the neglect. Way too little Kookaloo and too much time under the cover outdoors. I need to fix that. My mistress needs to be a garage queen.

[mikeholzer]

This stuff isn't even like protective oil. It's seriously like the little packet of butter they gave me for the master link. Maybe I just ought to clean it off anyway.

As a bonus: unlike so many other lubes, this stuff probably won't fly off. Too bad it will likely attract every stray grain of sand in this state.

[rktmanfj]

Just wipe it off with a WD-40 soaked rag, dry it, and apply your fav chain lube.   

Randy T
Indy

[FJmonkey]

Just wipe it off with a WD-40 soaked rag, dry it, and apply your fav chain lube.   

Randy T
Indy

Not to be a naysayer about this but what if your favorite chain lube is just a sticky as the shipping protectant? Might as well just leave it on....What chain lube will not attract/collect contaminants? PJ1, Chain Wax? Anyone with experience with chain lube that keeps the chain lubed and free (freer) from the crap from the road? I would like to keep the side of my bike free from the lube that slings off the chain as well. Did I just start another oil war? Ready to jump into my bomb shelter..........

[rktmanfj]

Just wipe it off with a WD-40 soaked rag, dry it, and apply your fav chain lube.   

Randy T
Indy

Not to be a naysayer about this but what if your favorite chain lube is just a sticky as the shipping protectant? Might as well just leave it on....What chain lube will not attract/collect contaminants? PJ1, Chain Wax? Anyone with experience with chain lube that keeps the chain lubed and free (freer) from the crap from the road? I would like to keep the side of my bike free from the lube that slings off the chain as well. Did I just start another oil war? Ready to jump into my bomb shelter..........

A 500 mile ride in the rain one day cured me of using Chain Wax.  Never again.   

Randy T
Indy

[FJmonkey]

A 500 mile ride in the rain one day cured me of using Chain Wax.  Never again.   
Randy T
Indy

Please share...I have something short of 100K miles on Chain wax and I am on chain number 2. This includes rides in the rain between Los Angeles and San Jose every two weeks for over 10 months (gotta see the kids), I was rained on once each way (I hate the F%$# rain on a bike), sometimes both directions.  Anyone else use Chain Wax with bad results (or good/expected results)? its like an oil thread, oil Piranhas attack and chime in.

[rktmanfj]

A 500 mile ride in the rain one day cured me of using Chain Wax.  Never again.    
Randy T
Indy

Please share...I have something short of 100K miles on Chain wax and I am on chain number 2. This includes rides in the rain between Los Angeles and San Jose every two weeks for over 10 months (gotta see the kids), I was rained on once each way (I hate the F%$# rain on a bike), sometimes both directions.  Anyone else use Chain Wax with bad results (or good/expected results)? its like an oil thread, oil Piranhas attack and chime in.

I know, I know...   SoCal guys seem to love that stuff.

I did too.   Until I headed home from the Rider Magazine rally the year it was at Camelback, PA.  It was raining when I woke up, and going back to sleep a couple of times didn't help.  I packed the bike in the 55 degree pouring rain, plugged in the electric vest (set to Medium Broil) and headed west.  The chain was in great shape with about 10k miles on it, and freshly 'waxed' the night before, and at my 2nd gas stop on the way home, about a 550 mile trip (in the rain, all the way).

When I cleaned the bike up the next day, the chain had developed stiff spots and was MUCH looser, pretty much junk.

YMMV, but I've never used it since.

Randy T
Indy

[FJmonkey]

I know, I know...   SoCal guys seem to love that stuff.
I did too.   Until I headed home from the Rider Magazine rally the year it was at Camelback, PA.  It was raining when I woke up, and going back to sleep a couple of times didn't help.  I packed the bike in the 55 degree pouring rain, plugged in the electric vest (set to Medium Broil) and headed west.  The chain was in great shape with about 10k miles on it, and freshly 'waxed' the night before, and at my 2nd gas stop on the way home, about a 550 mile trip (in the rain, all the way).
When I cleaned the bike up the next day, the chain had developed stiff spots and was MUCH looser, pretty much junk.
YMMV, but I've never used it since.
Randy T
Indy

Thank you. I know us West coast dudes don't know a F'ing thing about rain and cold and salt and and black ice and ....Aw hell, some us have been there and done that...

Anyone else with bad/good experience with different chain lubes? I don't care what you are loyal too, just tell me what works and what does not. Maybe Klavdy has it pegged with spit lube??   Might be kind of funny stopping every 3k and spitting on a moving chain by the side of the road, but if it works..........

[Fudge]

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm

Great shit.

[oldktmdude]

  I use the yellow butter looking goo to hold the o'rings in place while i assemble the master link. I'm not sure if that's it's intended purpose but it does a good job of doing it. I don't wipe it off afterwards because it doesn't seem to cause any problems.     Regards, Pete.

[mikeholzer]

Just wipe it off with a WD-40 soaked rag, dry it, and apply your fav chain lube.   

Randy T
Indy

Right now, I'm thinking that this is the route that I'm going to go. But not until tonight. Today is the first day in three weeks that both the weather and my bike I have cooperated.

I'm going riding. Don't care that it's only 36°F out there right now. It will be nice later.

[Mark Olson]

wipe off the butter with a shop towel and drop the new chain in a vat of amsoil to soak for a bit , then remove and wipe excess oil off and install on the bike. After that apply your favorite chain lube and go ride and be prepared for wiping up the fling juice when you get home.