Oiling chain

[redbirds_imp]

I like WD-40 as a cleaner but I always spray it on a rag and wipe the chain down. I worry that spraying it liberally on the chain it might seep past the O rings and thin the grease in the rollers. Afterwards I spray on Dupont Chain Saver and wipe off the excess. This has proven to work very well on all my chain drive bikes. The Dupont product does not collect grit and does not fling off on the rear wheel. When I used conventional chain lubes years ago, my chains often were binding and needing replacement in as little as 6000 miles.

[The Spaceman_imp]

I like WD-40 as a cleaner but I always spray it on a rag and wipe the chain down. I worry that spraying it liberally on the chain it might seep past the O rings and thin the grease in the rollers. Afterwards I spray on Dupont Chain Saver and wipe off the excess. This has proven to work very well on all my chain drive bikes. The Dupont product does not collect grit and does not fling off on the rear wheel. When I used conventional chain lubes years ago, my chains often were binding and needing replacement in as little as 6000 miles.

That's one of those internet legends that's been kicking around for years. A guy decided to test it and soaked a new oring chain in a bucket of WS for a few days. When he disassembled a few links there was so sign of WD past the seals.

But as my Grandma always said: "Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story."

[ClassicVW_imp]

I guess it all depends on who you believe, or even what part of a website to believe...

Too much conflicting info out there for me to trust WD-40 on my M/C chains.

*Gizmodo says don't use it where you don't want dust and dirt to collect.
*WD-40 website says it does not collect dirt.
*WD-40 website lists 2000+ uses for it, but I can't find where it says M/C chains or any chains for that matter. It says it's good for bicycle sprockets.
*My M/C dealer recommends lubricating with Chain Wax only, for all types of modern chains.
*WD-40 website states it is a wax remover.

[DAC]

I don't often use anything to clean the chain. If I'm going to spray anything liberally, it'll be chain lube. I find that if I spray a lot, it emulsifies a lot of the dirt anyway and it drips off or can be wiped off with a rag when I get the excess off. I use Honda's chain lube with graphite which is a little thinner than the Original Bike Spirits graphite version. I do use some Motorex cleaner maybe twice a year and then lightly spray some compressed air on the chain to do an air rinse and flash the solvents off before I put the lube on.

Bottom line: Heard a lot of plus and minuses about WD, so I just use a moto chain specific cleaner on a sparing basis.

[the Ferret]

Yea, using WD 40 goes right along with plugging punctured tires, wearing a modular helmet, using a headlight modulator, using different sized tires than your bike came with, using a K&N air or oil filter (or worse yet a Fram filter), not wearing hi- viz or motorcycle specific armored riding gear at all times, using handlebar mounted fairings or windshields, using a different air pressure in your tires than is written in the manual, using a clip style master link, exceeding mfgs GVWR rating, using 10w40 motor oil, etc etc

Violate any of the above and you are just begging to be killed in a fiery crash directly related to the particular issue you violated. For those that violate more than 1 of the above, there is absolutely no hope. Sorry.

[redbirds_imp]

I like WD-40 as a cleaner but I always spray it on a rag and wipe the chain down. I worry that spraying it liberally on the chain it might seep past the O rings and thin the grease in the rollers. Afterwards I spray on Dupont Chain Saver and wipe off the excess. This has proven to work very well on all my chain drive bikes. The Dupont product does not collect grit and does not fling off on the rear wheel. When I used conventional chain lubes years ago, my chains often were binding and needing replacement in as little as 6000 miles.

That's one of those internet legends that's been kicking around for years. A guy decided to test it and soaked a new oring chain in a bucket of WS for a few days. When he disassembled a few links there was so sign of WD past the seals.

But as my Grandma always said: "Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story."

That's one of those internet legends that's been kicking around for years. A guy decided to test it and soaked a new oring chain in a bucket of WS for a few days. When he disassembled a few links there was so sign of WD past the seals.

But as my Grandma always said: "Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story."
Based on my own reasoning since WD-40 is also pretty good at loosening rusted bolts. This fellow soaked a new chain, not yet worn by use, in WD-40. Knowing how effective WD-40 is at dissolving grease, I will trust my instinct on this and err on the side of caution.

If you spray WD-40 on your fishing lures you will catch more fish however.

[Deanohh_imp]

How'd another chain thread get started again, anyway?

[Pauley]

This could turn in to an "oil thread" (or a "fuel thread") really fast.....

I don't use WD-40. IMO it's a marginal lubricant, an ok solvent, a good moisture displacer and a great penetrant. I don't keep it around because I don't want it getting on any of my guns (uh oh, a gun thread) as trace amounts can penetrate the primers of ammo and render them inert which for ammo is a bad thing.

I just use Motul cleaner and Motul lube - easy to use and I like the stuff. I could probably save $10 a year by just using WD-40 and my chain will probably last just as long. But I don't.

[AzBob_imp]

Brake cleaner to clean and Honda Pro Chain Lube for lube. About every 1,000 miles or so. I have over 13k miles on my high-hp CBR's chain and it's still fine.

Anywhere where there's metal-to-metal contact there needs to be lubricant. The chain itself is internally, permanently lubricated, so there's no reason to worry about that, all you need to worry about is the sprocket to chain interface and the outside links/rivets.

Anywhere there is lubricant exposed to the elements, dust and dirt will accumulate and moisture will eventually break-down the lubricant as well as accumulate along with the dust and dirt, so those areas must be periodically cleaned of the dust and dirt, or accelerated wear of the parts will occur (both mechanical and corrosive).

[chrisross_imp]

Clean with WD40 and grunge brush, wax with PJ1 Blue and wipe away excess with rag. Wd40 is great for chains and does it's job well, but it's job is to clean chains, not lubricate them.

Edit: I do this every 250 miles to make it simple. Works best when the chain is hot (post ride).