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Bearing grease for chain lube

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OldSarge

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have been trying different kinds of chain lubes over the past 6 months or so. Spray on chain lubes, spray on "dry" teflon lube, WD-40, 30W Motor Oil, and 90W-120W gear oil.

They all either sling off pretty quick, or in the case of the dry teflon lube and WD-40 just seem to disappear altogether after a couple of days. About a month ago, I tried using a some bearing grease, and so far it seems to be working pretty well.

When I lube the chain with the bearing grease, I give it a cleaning with a brush and some kerosene and then wipe off the gunk with a clean rag. Then I take a small dab of grease on my finger and rub it onto the rollers and the insides of the links. Then I wipe off any excess, just leaving a light smear of grease on the chain.

I have been doing this on the weekend and riding my bike all week (375 - 400 miles) without having to relube my chain, which I couldn't do with anything else I tried.

Anyone else tried this? Thoughts?
 
#2 ·
I use white lithium spray grease for my chains. I think it is (or was) sold by dura lube and it works for me. I lube it when back from a ride so the chain is warm. I wipe the chain down with wd40 first on a rag then spray with lube. WD 40 is not a lube. It is a light solvent/water displacement. Once it dries it resists flinging but doesn't turn into super glue like some lubes. It is fairly easy to remove the old lube and dirt.

The only reason to lube a O ring chain is to keep corrosion off it and to help keep the O rings soft and from dry rotting.
The sealed in grease does all the real work.

Lots of O ring chains have been ruined with improper cleaning (soaking in solvent) that kills the rings and then the solvents attack the lube inside. Just as bad or worse is using the high pressure car washes to clean the bike. It blasts water and soap past seals and o rings into the chain and bearings. Not good.

Everyone has their favorite method. I heard some real strange ones when i worked in the motorcycle industry. One guy used to take his chain off and soak it in grease heated in a frying pan so it would get into the chain. I didn't have the heart to tell him it was a lot of unnecessary work for his O ring chain since the rings prevented the grease from ever getting into the rollers. I guess it was something people may have done a long time ago before decent chains and lubes were available. Others just kept applying new lube on top of years worth of old lube and road grime. Some would spend hours cleaning with brushes, dental picks and then and then lubing the chain.

Too much trouble for me to try plus I have to wallow around in enough grease at work that I don't want to go it on my off time.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
I remember reading an article in an old motorcycle publication that detailed the "melted grease" method of lubing your chain. They even made note to not heat the grease to much because it could catch fire. yikes !!!!
 
#5 ·
yeah, I'm a WD40 guy too.
It's pretty simple, WD40 does not attract the 1/8" layer of road grime that any and every chain lube or grease I've ever seen does.
 
#7 ·
(imho) It's more about when and how much, than what...

When I get back from a ride (the chain is nice and warm) I spray my fav brand of lube on a rag (generously), then wipe the chain down good with the lube soaked rag.

That's it.

By the next day, it's soaked in good.

*If I'm worried about excess fling off (some brands are a little worse than others) another quick wipe with a clean dry rag before the next ride and I'm ready to go.

I do mine before every track day, and maybe every other week durring normal riding.

So far I've got about 8K on this chain and it's *maybe a 1/4 inch into the adjustment, the chain and sprockets still look like new.
 
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#9 ·
#10 ·
I use the chain wax spray, spray the inside of the chain rather than the outside, don't seem to get any flicking off, clean chain after first ride out with WD40 on the outside.
 
#12 ·
I used BelRay CLEAN with great success for several years, however I can't find it anywhere local. It's a hybrid penetrating lube and wax. Works great and does not fling.
I've been trying all kinds of different lubes (PJ1, Repsol, regular BelRay, etc) and ALL of them attract dirt, fling like crazy, and need to be reapplied after 100 miles or so. I have been using the dupont teflon-lube as of late and it seems to be working ok.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
I've tried using WD-40 for cleaning my chain before I lube it, and it works great. Only problem is I end up using most of the can before I get my chain clean. I'm sort of a tightwad, so I started using kerosene. I use an old coffee can and a parts cleaning brush, I put about a 1/2 pint of clean kerosene in the can and use the brush to get most of gunk off the chain, then wipe it down with a couple of clean paper towels. This also works good for cleaning the rear sprocket.
 
#14 ·
Blitzkrieg said:
I'm not looking for a debate, but WD-40 is ALL I use on my chains.
Click to expand...
That sums it up for me too. I clean the chain periodically, lube it with wd40 every 500 or so miles. lite spray then wipe off excess and let it sit overnight. Good for another 500 or so miles.

If on a long road trip, i can usually lube it with wd40 at the local gas station when i fillup. Real convinient and easy.
 
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#16 ·
ZuminaZX said:
I used BelRay CLEAN with great success for several years, however I can't find it anywhere local. It's a hybrid penetrating lube and wax. Works great and does not fling.
I've been trying all kinds of different lubes (PJ1, Repsol, regular BelRay, etc) and ALL of them attract dirt, fling like crazy, and need to be reapplied after 100 miles or so. I have been using the dupont teflon-lube as of late and it seems to be working ok.
Click to expand...

I have done all of the above! The BelRay is what I am using lately and by Accident! The new stuff sprays on White and fairly dry. I use it to keep a cushion on the rollers and to avoid the rust! If I was just going to clean the chain then I would clean it with WD 40 but if I wanted to clean and lub it I would use Tri-Flow which is teflon impregnated Oil than does a good job. Remember, the chains come white with grease and the BelRay uses some of the same lube and your Chain looks good also!
 
#18 ·
WD40.... Anything else is drag on the chain... My chain is so free rolling that when I start my bike on the stand with the trans in neutral it will free spin the rear wheel 15MPH !!! That's ZERO DRAG from anywhere.... Most people have so much crud on their chain they give up HP to frictional loss..
 
#20 ·
Actually the chains come white with rust preventitive/corrosion inhibitor not grease Vince.

For years I was a Bel-Ray/Whatever Is Most Expensive chain lube freak and then we started having the discussion about WD-40 here years ago. Many years ago... LOL

So I cleared my paradigm and decided to give it a shot.

No more shit flung all over my rim, swingarm, etc... Chain stays clean because WD-40 doesn't attract dirt like chain lube and my 12 chain has almost 13K miles on it and has surprisingly little wear, flex or stretch.

And if thats not enough to convince you, I understand God himself uses WD-40 on all eight of his ZX-12's including his favorite, his A-1. ;-)
 
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