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No More Chain Lube For Me!

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  • #1

    No More Chain Lube For Me!

    Hi All,

    I've decided that lubing the Katana's chain with your typical chain lube is not working for me and generally not a good idea. Although I've diligently lubed my chain with products like Motual Chain Lube and the like, I have a chain that now needs replacing. It seems that the thick, waxy lubricant allows gritty debris to stick to the chain and eventually this 'grit' wears away the O-ring seals. The result is leaky O-ring seals and a non-functioning chain.

    To replace the spray-on chain lube I've purchased some 90 SAE gear oil. I brushed the stuff on the chain and let it sit for the night after I'm done riding. Before I leave in the morning, I wipe off the any excess with a rag. The result is a nice clean chain that is less prone to attract gritty deposits. So far, I've noticed far less dirt clinging to the chain. Hopefully, this will extend the life and wear of the lubed parts.

    Any thoughts?
    "The secret to life is to keep your mind full and your bowels empty. Unfortunately, the converse is true for most people."

    Tags: None
  • #2
    Hmmm. Suzuki specs 30w oil, I wonder if 90w isn't too viscous? "course, it will cling a bit better...

    Keep us informed. Maybe you are on to something.
    "Stevie B" Boudreaux

    I ride: '01 Triumph Sprint ST

    Projects: Honda CB650 Bobber projects I, II and III

    Take care of: 81 Honda CM400,72 Suzuki GT550

    Watch over/advise on: 84 Honda Nighthawk 700S (now my son's bike)

    For sale, or soon to be: 89 Katana 1100, 84 Honda V45 Magna, 95 Yamaha SECA II, 99 GSXR600, 95 ZX-6, 84 Kaw. KZ700, 01 Bandit 1200, 74 CB360.

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    • #3
      My thinking was I wanted something that would fling off if applied in excess, that would not compact like the waxy lubes but is fluid enought to get into tight places. Also, as the chain heats up the gear oil will become less viscous but still have some adhesion. The 90 SAE gear oil was the only thing that fits the above criteria.
      "The secret to life is to keep your mind full and your bowels empty. Unfortunately, the converse is true for most people."

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      • #4
        Kat-A-Tonic, just as a suggestion, try 100% silicon spray. It’s easy to apply and clean. I’ve been using it on my off-road moto for years and never experienced any chain malfunction. Btw, this is just my opinion of many that may be forthcoming. White lithium grease is another, but cleaning is biatch.
        Alex - 03 750Kat for street, 01 DRZ400e for dirty fun stuff. Stay safe and ride well…

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        • #5
          Originally posted by suk750
          Kat-A-Tonic, just as a suggestion, try 100% silicon spray. It’s easy to apply and clean. I’ve been using it on my off-road moto for years and never experienced any chain malfunction. Btw, this is just my opinion of many that may be forthcoming. White lithium grease is another, but cleaning is biatch.
          I've used a dry silcone lubricant but I didn't like the results. The chain didn't seem lubricated to me although I knew it was. Even though I never had an issue with dry silicone, it's not as visceral as brushing on and wiping off oil.
          "The secret to life is to keep your mind full and your bowels empty. Unfortunately, the converse is true for most people."

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          • #6
            I use gear oil as well and lube my chain after every wash(at least once a week) and after every ride in the rain(I commute). I prefer it to the sticky stuff for the same reasons. Yes, it will fling, yes it will dissipate in rain, but it doesn't gather grit as badly and a lot of the grit it does gather is taken away with the oil when it's washed off.

            It requires that you be more dilligent about lubing but I think it's better.

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            • #7
              If you clean the chain thoroughly with kerosene it won't matter - it'll remove the dusty stuff along with it. Then you have a clean chain to apply your fresh wax to.
              ---Jeff (Long Beach Represent!)

              '99 Katana 750 (Metallic Space Blue / Matte Silky Gray Metallic)
              Plus some cars.


              "Never Break More than You Fix..."

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              • #8
                Originally posted by POP944
                If you clean the chain thoroughly with kerosene it won't matter - it'll remove the dusty stuff along with it. Then you have a clean chain to apply your fresh wax to.
                Getting it clean wasn't the issue, it's the collection of grit while riding that's the problem. Once that grit is in the lube it starts the wear process.
                "The secret to life is to keep your mind full and your bowels empty. Unfortunately, the converse is true for most people."

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                • #9
                  I lube my chain every 500 km or after a rain ride. Before I lube the chain I use a cleaner and then the lube. I have had a bike on the road for over 24 years and never had an issue. IMHO proper tension + cleaning are both important factors for chain/sprocket life.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Steve_Guelph
                    I lube my chain every 500 km or after a rain ride. Before I lube the chain I use a cleaner and then the lube. I have had a bike on the road for over 24 years and never had an issue. IMHO proper tension + cleaning are both important factors for chain/sprocket life.
                    Keeping my chain tight this is something I should learn from you. I guess a chain slapping against the swingarm isn't proper chain care, as we found out in our last ride. Don't worry, I adjusted the chain so it shouldn't make as much noise. Apparently, the chain slap was so bad it was louder than my Gianelli Silencer exhaust pipe.
                    "The secret to life is to keep your mind full and your bowels empty. Unfortunately, the converse is true for most people."

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                    • #11
                      I've never experienced, or heard of, o-ring wear due to a gritty chain... seems like a lot of worrying over on isolated small issue?

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                      • #12
                        your not alone. keeping the chain clean is more important than the lube (imo). i also think that people WAY over lube their chains.

                        tim

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by trinc
                          your not alone. keeping the chain clean is more important than the lube (imo). i also think that people WAY over lube their chains.

                          tim
                          True. It's my understanding that the O-ring design permits dust, grit and dirt to get between the inner and outer side plates. That's why I think the waxy lubes are not suitable. I'm not a lube-a-holic, I lube and clean every 1000km or when it's obvious the chain needs care. However, what I don't need is premature wear because of road grit and debris sticking to the chain. I've got better things to do than clean a chain after every time I get off the bike.
                          "The secret to life is to keep your mind full and your bowels empty. Unfortunately, the converse is true for most people."

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                          • #14
                            Keep us posted in regards to gear oil / chain lube. This could be interesting. I just always used lube because that's how I was taught to maintain my chain.

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                            • #15
                              I live on a dirt/gravel road. The standard chain wax/oil is just an attractant for every bit of dust it can find. After 2 days of riding the chain would be grey or light brown due to the coat of dust now attached to it. I stopped using this stuff in favor of an oil that would fling off. This seems to have cured my chain problem. I just turned 15,000 miles on my 2005 Kat and the chain looks great.
                              2005 Aprilia RST1000
                              2007 Dodge Nitro SLT
                              1998 Chevy Tahoe
                              www.midwestguntrader.com

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