Chain Maintenance

[Shortline]

Ok, i am sure this has been hashed, and rehashed ad nauseum, but I never paid attention to any chain maint. discussions, having been ridint a belt drive for the last 5 years. So, now Im on a Bandit 600. The owners manual says to clean with kerosene, and then lube with Suzuki lube. My question, is is how often is it REALLY neccessary? Book says every 600 miles. Is that about right? Do I have to use Kerosene, and lube, or will WD-40 every so often do the trick just as well? (My first ride was a CB 750, and i never did anything BUT spray the cahin with WD-40 once in a while) What do you all use? Preciate it!
TR
El Centro CA
(TX bound in 5 weeks!)

[VFRinAustin]

I usually try to lube my chain at least every 1000 miles or earlier. You can use the WD 40 to clean your chain (it is essentially Kerosene with a few other additives) but do not use it as a lubricant. Being that it is kerosene based nearly all of it will evaporate off eventually, leaving your chain unprotected, even worse since the WD40 will have eaten away any risudual lube that was on the chain. You dont have to use Suzukis lube, but it is good and not that expensive. You can also use chain wax, as I do, which works very well and isnt nearly as messy as using some gear oil or other lubes.

Hope that helps

[hillcountry]

I'm a HUGE WD-40 fan!!! As long as you lube with it often (every 300-500 miles) you should have no problems and a long chain life; however, it's main purpose in life is Water Displacement (that's what the WD stands for). I found that a good cleaning with WD-40 and then a lite coat of PJ-1 works great. The PJ-1 doesn't fling off but it does seem to collect a little more grime. I figure for a couple dollars, it cant hurt, it's easy to do, and one can lasts a pretty long time.

[Anonymous]

I have also a Bandit 600, and I clean it with diesel, and then spray it with brake cleaner cause it evaporates really fast and leaves no residue, then I spay PJ 4, let it dry for about 10 minutes and thats it, I do this every 20 miles (600 miles seems to me like a 'stretch", and thats what we hate about chains, right?).

The good thing about PJ 4 is that it doesn't fly all over the rear wheel, thats a big plus, but im sure there are many prducts with the same features.

[AggieVFR]

I'd stay away from the brake cleaner. It has a nasty habit of eating up the o-rings. If it hasn't happened to you, consider yourself lucky. Kerosene and WD-40 are pretty decent cleaners. I use WD just because it is convenient and keeps the rust away after rainy riding. Just my $0.02. :)

[mlinkibikr]

Cycle Gear carries this stuff called Maxim Chain Wax. After you clean all the old oily grunge off your chain and sprockets and swing arm and fenders and chain guard and rear wheel ...) you can use this stuff. It's sanitary and won't fling off all over your shiny ride.

[kawi jm]

Get some WD-40 & a good plastic brissel brush. Spray - scrub - spray - scrub. Wipe it off w/ a towel them spray down w/ one of the many chain wax products on the market. :chug:

[irondawg]

I've always rode the bike to get the chain a little 'warm' or stretched and then clean with WD-40. I then used Honda chain wax. Stuff was really clean and never flung off. With this method, your chain/sprockets should last 20k. Rinse and repeat every 1k.

Or, get a shaftie bike! Drain and change gear oil every 6k. NO MESS!!! :-D

[onetrack]

I also used WD-40 & Maxim chain wax. Worked well. I have shaft drive now.

I use PJ1 Blue on my dirt bikes but it's sticky stuff and is hard to clean off.

Scott