Basically I don't want any lube anywhere except on the O-rings. If it's muddy I wash the chain with detergent, spin it dry, lube it with Boeshield T.9, a wax-based lube with anti-corrosion properties. I wipe it off the outside of the chain after applying but this stuff will not attract or pick up anything. Excess seems to just flake off when dry. I use it for tons of stuff, basically just kerosene with paraffin wax. Nice, clean, dry lube for cables, chains, pivots etc. Originally developed for Boeing hence the funny name.

 

I used to run 26psi but my tires started wearing in the middle so now i run 22PSI.

 

i do mine with old tooth brushes, takes about 30 mins to get it REALLY good. with my busted foot right now, i got the time.

 

Did you fall off riding?

 

some of you guys really worry about the little things.. its pretty simple if u can hear ur chain when your riding then its dry and needs chan oil/wax. its not gonna kill it to run it dry for a few minutes. i have never taken my chain off to soak it in kerosene.. i just keep lubing it up every once in a while, 11,000 miles later it still works like it should. in the next couple thousand miles i plan on replacing my sprockets and chain. =)

 

I just play it safe and change out the chain at about every 10km. They are always stretched a bit and don't pivot and the pins as easily by that stage in their life. I go on farely long rides, so having a chain fail would really blow. You guys that run them 10,000 Miles in the dirt are flirting with disaster, but to each his own.

 

Frankly I don't get the chain wear issue on my '06 KLX. I've owned tons of street and dirt bikes with chains, and I've never seen anything like this. I installed a 14-47 steel sprocket set from JT. I then installed a 520 DID X-ring chain that was recommended by a good friend that was designed for Quads. I'm assuming it is just the 520VM X-ring model, so I don't know where or how the quad recommendation comes in. Regardless, I have run this chain for about 2000 miles. At least 80% of this mileage has been off road, and I've wailed on this bike quite noticeably. I have not had to adjust any slack out of this chain whatsoever. Now this sounds like total bunk, but it's absolutely true. I don't have any stock in DID, JT, or any other loyalties here. This chain and sprocket set have exhibited no adjustment wear since I installed them. I didn't even have a "bed-in" adjustment necessary, which I fully expected. I don't clean my chain with anything.

I use either BelRay Super Clean...only because I had 2 cans of this expensive stuff left on hand...or the Dupont PFTE Dry Wax stuff you can get in Lowe's for $5 a can. I sort of alternate between the 2 lubes, but I think this has nothing to do with the wear performance in this case. My only critical routine is to lube the chain after every ride. I don't ride in a bunch of mud, but you know you can't avoid creek crossings and such.

I don't get it. I've never seen a dirt bike go this long without an adjustment. It's amazing to me. Maybe it just shows that quality chains are the real secret...I don't know. Even 2+ weeks of riding in Moab didn't stretch this chain.

 

+ 1 on those thoughts. I've got over 8000 km on my Renthal R3 O ring chain and have just adjusted it half a number (1 notch) on the snail cam. Regular oil (LITTLE but often.) It's obvious that a quality chain is the key to long chain life.

 

So I just spent an hour cleaning my chain this afternoon - what a pain. I am tempted to just spray it with degreaser next time, then crack out the pressure cleaner to blast the residue off. Once the chain drys (maybe after a short ride) I'll then give it a good spray it with my Maxima Chain Wax.

Not sure if this approach will damage the o-rings and compromise the chain because the grease in the rollers will also get blasted out - but because the degreaser isn't on for more than 5 minutes, and the chane wax should get in the rollers before the wax solvent evaporates if I give it enough of a spray, I figure it can't do too much damage.

Opinions welcome...

 

anyone ever use PJ1 chain lube? I just bought a can the other day, so far it seems ok it is almost a foam type of spray and it coats the chain, then i just wipe it off the excess. just wonderin if anybody else has tried it and what their thoughts are.