chain -- clean or replace

rayzuki · 11-18-2007, 09:06 PM

I just bought a 2003 and have a bunch of questions. This is my first bike so I am very unknowledgeable about a thing or 2. My first concern is the chain. This bike only has 721 miles on it but and has been sitting in a garage for a while. The chain shows signs of rust. Should I try and clean it or just replace it?

5th_bike · 11-18-2007, 11:49 PM

A little rust shouldn't be a problem, clean the chain with kerosene, have it dry for ten minutes (wiping off in colder weather also helps) and oil it with motor oil. I made a stand last week with 4 pieces of 2x3, supports the rear fork just in front of the rear axle. Handy to lube the chain.
Be careful that the chain slack doen't go over 15 mm at the tightest point.
Did the previous owner ever give it it's "600-miles first big maintenance" ? If not, you will have to do it, or have the dealer do (part of) it. It's an oil and filter change, lubing the chain, tightening frame bolts, oiling and greasing a few points, and checking valve stem/rocker clearance or something, it's all in the maintenance book that can be downloaded at one of the stickies.

**jonathan180iq** · 11-19-2007, 01:35 PM

Ditto on 5th's comments.

An oil change, chain clean/lube and throttle cable adjustments will make it feel like new, which, with 700 miles, it basically is.

Easy Rider · 11-19-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayzuki

I just bought a 2003 and have a bunch of questions.

No, really ??

Should I try and clean it or just replace it?
........................YES..............NO....... ..

rayzuki · 11-19-2007, 03:06 PM

5th bike said to use motor oil. Somewhere eles I read gear oil. Which is the prefered?

Easy Rider · 11-19-2007, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayzuki

5th bike said to use motor oil. Somewhere eles I read gear oil. Which is the prefered?

I use 90W Synthetic gear lube.......mostly because it's what I have handy.
I doubt it makes much difference.

5th_bike · 11-20-2007, 11:46 PM

Um, when I got my bike it was 2 years old but had only 35 miles, so I did give it an oil change and chain lube after I got home with it, I bought "O-ring chain safe chain wax" in a spray can. However 600 miles later the chain looked dry and the rust seemed more. Also the spray goes all over the place, and not necessarily all over the chain where it is needed.

So, at 600 miles I used motor oil (standard 10W40) and the chain looks much better now. I use a paint brush for the kerosene as well as the oil, and a paint tray underneath the chain to catch (most of) the drips from both.

**jonathan180iq** · 11-21-2007, 10:59 AM

There are 100 different ways to lube/oil a chain. Just try some different products out and see what you like best. A chain should be taken care of, but they aren't delicate. If you don't like one lube/wax/oil, just clean it off and try something else.

Regular Guy · 11-23-2007, 11:26 PM

I agree with Jonathon, many good ways to lube your chain, just matter of what works best for you and your individual preferences. Recently I have been doing mine this way: while on my MC stand, I clean the chain with a spray solvent and a small paint brush, allow to dry, then apply a liberal coat of chain lube, black kind (because I have a lot of it laying around), and then while lube is still wet, I spray the chain with dry Moly-Cote (molibdimum di-sulfide, dry film lubricant spelling??), again I had a case lying around my shop that a friend gave me when they closed his plant down, so what the heck- why not use it. It seems to be holding up good and it's suppose to stand up to extreme pressure, ie. like chain bushing to tooth contact.

I am not sure yet, but watching to to see if this will slow sprocket wear. Can't see where it could hurt.

PS: Easy Rider- I posted pics of my windshield adaptation in my orginal post. Have you seen them yet?

Badbob · 11-25-2007, 01:13 PM

Motor oil slings off really bad.

Gear lube is cheap and slings off a lot less.

Both are messy and dirt (sand in my case) sticks to them.

Spray on motorcycle chain lubes don't sling off much and don't collect as much dirt but they can be way more difficult to remove. They are expensive and messy to apply.

Dupont Multi-Use Teflon Lubricant is dry doesn't collect dirt and doesn't sling off. Actually it does sling off a little. It goes on wet and then dries. The cost is moderately less expensive that Motorcycle Chain lube and more expensive than gear lube. About $6 for the aerosol. I switched to this about 2000 miles back and I have no intention of ever going back to using oil.

11-18-2007, 09:06 PM	#1
rayzuki Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: portland, or Posts: 154	chain -- clean or replace I just bought a 2003 and have a bunch of questions. This is my first bike so I am very unknowledgeable about a thing or 2. My first concern is the chain. This bike only has 721 miles on it but and has been sitting in a garage for a while. The chain shows signs of rust. Should I try and clean it or just replace it? __________________ Yeah, I'm about as useful as a condom dispenser in the vatican. -- Jonathan Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-18-2007, 11:49 PM	#2
5th_bike Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: HoCo, Maryland Posts: 1,349	A little rust shouldn't be a problem, clean the chain with kerosene, have it dry for ten minutes (wiping off in colder weather also helps) and oil it with motor oil. I made a stand last week with 4 pieces of 2x3, supports the rear fork just in front of the rear axle. Handy to lube the chain. Be careful that the chain slack doen't go over 15 mm at the tightest point. Did the previous owner ever give it it's "600-miles first big maintenance" ? If not, you will have to do it, or have the dealer do (part of) it. It's an oil and filter change, lubing the chain, tightening frame bolts, oiling and greasing a few points, and checking valve stem/rocker clearance or something, it's all in the maintenance book that can be downloaded at one of the stickies. __________________ 2005 "Saturn Black", stock + tach
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11-19-2007, 01:35 PM	#3
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Ditto on 5th's comments. An oil change, chain clean/lube and throttle cable adjustments will make it feel like new, which, with 700 miles, it basically is. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-19-2007, 03:06 PM	#5
rayzuki Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: portland, or Posts: 154	5th bike said to use motor oil. Somewhere eles I read gear oil. Which is the prefered? __________________ Yeah, I'm about as useful as a condom dispenser in the vatican. -- Jonathan Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-20-2007, 11:46 PM	#7
5th_bike Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: HoCo, Maryland Posts: 1,349	Um, when I got my bike it was 2 years old but had only 35 miles, so I did give it an oil change and chain lube after I got home with it, I bought "O-ring chain safe chain wax" in a spray can. However 600 miles later the chain looked dry and the rust seemed more. Also the spray goes all over the place, and not necessarily all over the chain where it is needed. So, at 600 miles I used motor oil (standard 10W40) and the chain looks much better now. I use a paint brush for the kerosene as well as the oil, and a paint tray underneath the chain to catch (most of) the drips from both. __________________ 2005 "Saturn Black", stock + tach
	0

11-21-2007, 10:59 AM	#8
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	There are 100 different ways to lube/oil a chain. Just try some different products out and see what you like best. A chain should be taken care of, but they aren't delicate. If you don't like one lube/wax/oil, just clean it off and try something else.
	0

11-23-2007, 11:26 PM	#9
Regular Guy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 17	Chain Lube I agree with Jonathon, many good ways to lube your chain, just matter of what works best for you and your individual preferences. Recently I have been doing mine this way: while on my MC stand, I clean the chain with a spray solvent and a small paint brush, allow to dry, then apply a liberal coat of chain lube, black kind (because I have a lot of it laying around), and then while lube is still wet, I spray the chain with dry Moly-Cote (molibdimum di-sulfide, dry film lubricant spelling??), again I had a case lying around my shop that a friend gave me when they closed his plant down, so what the heck- why not use it. It seems to be holding up good and it's suppose to stand up to extreme pressure, ie. like chain bushing to tooth contact. I am not sure yet, but watching to to see if this will slow sprocket wear. Can't see where it could hurt. PS: Easy Rider- I posted pics of my windshield adaptation in my orginal post. Have you seen them yet?
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11-25-2007, 01:13 PM	#10
Badbob Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tallahassee FL Posts: 945	Motor oil slings off really bad. Gear lube is cheap and slings off a lot less. Both are messy and dirt (sand in my case) sticks to them. Spray on motorcycle chain lubes don't sling off much and don't collect as much dirt but they can be way more difficult to remove. They are expensive and messy to apply. Dupont Multi-Use Teflon Lubricant is dry doesn't collect dirt and doesn't sling off. Actually it does sling off a little. It goes on wet and then dries. The cost is moderately less expensive that Motorcycle Chain lube and more expensive than gear lube. About $6 for the aerosol. I switched to this about 2000 miles back and I have no intention of ever going back to using oil. __________________ My GZ250 Blog Facebook Pinterest Google+ Tumblr YouTube Lumber Jocks
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