Chain lube/maintenance

[ozzstar]

After sitting for 16 years my recently acquired '86 FJ is almost ready to be put back on the road where it belongs.  The bike has 12K original miles and in very nice condition.  Since the bike sat for such a long period of time I noticed that the current chain lube is very sticky, kind of caked on grungy.  No rust or excessive slop. 

Should I degrease the chain before I lube it with fresh chain lube? I don't want to damage the chain o-rings.   I purchased a can of Bel Ray chain lube which is O-ring safe.

Thanks in advance.

Ozz
(Glen)

[the fan]

I would degrease it with a kerosene and a stiff nylon brush before lubing. No sence in trapping the old dried out lube and gunk in to grind away at your sprockets.

[higbonzo]

You can also clean with WD-40 and a rag.  I wash it afterwards with a little Dawn and water, and spray it down with a hose.  Then dry and lube.  You should lube every few hindered miles.  I would also take a good look at the sprocket and chain to see if the your sprocket grooves have become elongated.  If so, you may want to start saving for a new sprocket and chain.  Personally, I would start doing so regardless and update to a modern 530 chain and sprocket set up.

Have fun.

Later, Phil

[Ratchet_72]

     Harbour Freight has great prices on the consumables like brushes. A three pack of brushes is under a dollar. I also clean with WD-40, a rag or 10, and the softest brushes. Don't wanna damage those o-rings and its easier than you think.
    I prefer one of the wax impregnated chain lubes because they don't generally allow MUCH grime to get into the chain.  My favorite chain lube is Champion, which is also quite rare (only some Walmarts--and I loathe Wal-mart.)
     Chain maintenance is one of those weird habits I've taken to. If I clean NOTHING else, the chain is never neglected.

[tqmx1]

     Chain maintenance is one of those weird habits I've taken to. If I clean NOTHING else, the chain is never neglected.
[/quote]

That's what is wrong the FZ gets lubed once or twice between oil changes

[pdxfj]

I wouldn't use WD-40 on a chain.

If the chain is really dirty I use either kerosene or ATF and a soft toothbrush, then I spray down with a chain cleaner.  For light cleanings I just use the chain cleaner.  After everything is dry, I lube the chain with Honda chain lube.

Be sure to remove the front sprocket cover.  You'll be amazed at how much crap builds up in there.

[threejagsteve]

Be sure to remove the front sprocket cover.  You'll be amazed at how much crap builds up in there.

I'd think the moving chain itself would keep things from getting too bad in there...

[mz_rider]

Ozz,

Try cleaning & lubing, but this might not work. I had a chain some years ago with a few seized links. I replaced it but put the old one in a container of engine oil. About a year later I removed it and it was still seized. I cut the seized link off to find it dry & rusty inside. Seems that if water gets in the O rings stop lube getting in.

Stuart

[ozzstar]

Looks like most are going with the kerosene cleaning method.  Where can i buy a small amount of kerosene?  I have no other use for this stuff.  Thanks for the advice .

Ozz

[the fan]

Hardware stores often have it. In a pinch coleman fuel works too.

[andyoutandabout]

I to am rather paticular about the state of my chain and lube often - usually a good spray of Champion at 500 mile intervals. Recently taken to a method of spraying into aerosol cap then brushing on as this gets the stuff where I want it rather than all over the rear shock.
However - a cleaner I am not since I'm aware of these fragile O rings and was never real sure as to what to use. Kerosene sounds interesting - Coleman fuel??? (I've some sitting idle in the shed). WD40 - not sure about - so good for everything else so why not chains - maybe it's got some odd rubber corroding chemical.
Andy

[higbonzo]

I to am rather paticular about the state of my chain and lube often - usually a good spray of Champion at 500 mile intervals. Recently taken to a method of spraying into aerosol cap then brushing on as this gets the stuff where I want it rather than all over the rear shock.
However - a cleaner I am not since I'm aware of these fragile O rings and was never real sure as to what to use. Kerosene sounds interesting - Coleman fuel??? (I've some sitting idle in the shed). WD40 - not sure about - so good for everything else so why not chains - maybe it's got some odd rubber corroding chemical.
Andy

Check this out, as well as the comments....  http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motorcycle-chain-cleaner/

Later......

[threejagsteve]

Within the link that higbonzo posted is a link to an earlier article from webbikeworld. At the end of that earlier article is a link to a thread (from 2003, I might mention...) from the Yamaha FZ1OA forum that includes comments from both the WD-40 and Tsubaki Chain companies. And, like most forums, the chatter is amusing besides. So everybody doesn't have to do their own hunting: http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8987&highlight=WD-40+letter

If you scroll through to about the 3rd or 4th page, you'll find the letter from the Tsubaki rep wherein he actually recommends WD-40 (for their Sigma chains at least...).

[cadmanmadman]

We are starting to diverge from the original post, but one other point is that when those o-rings go they tend to blow out rather fast. One way of telling if they are shot is that when you remove the chain the side-to-side flex of the chain is alot. When the o-rings are good you can hardly deflect the thing sideways. It will only bend and roll in 1 axis.

[rktmanfj]

We are starting to diverge from the original post <snip>

Getting off-topic is how this forum came about in the first place, man...   

Randy T
Indy