Some cleaners: penetrating into chain o rings, some of them also them damaging rubber compound of the o rings between chains. and also attrackiing dirt and splatter.
lubrication needed for: rollers and anitrust purpose only
Best & cheapest Chain Cleaner & Lube
Kerosene: it won’t damage the 0 rings but penetrate into them. slight..
Gear oil: perfect lube non sticky and cheap 90 grade gear oil.
Wd-40: act as chain cleaner & lube. its solvent it damages the rubber o rings but not penetrating based on the test.
Bike chain maintenance schedule
Please read the manufcature guide for regular cleaning & lubing chain.
Lets say every 500KM or 1 month whichever is earlier.
2nd: every 200KM or 15 days which ever is earlier
Based on chain conditions
if chain looks dirty or dry you can lube it.
wd40 as chain lube motorcycle
wd 40 only cleans the chain by removing dirt, you need lube for lubricating.
WD-40 to Clean a Motorcycle Chain? No Way!
when compare to chain spray it will slightyldamage the o rings just like petrol, kerosene etc.
gear oil vs chain lube
90 grade gear oil desinged for gear box, due to its no sticky natue it will spill, it won;t last as a sticky chain lube.
chain Lube storage: it will evaporate within 1 year in the bottle. for 150ml you can use 3-4 times.
motul 80w90 gear oil
Cheapest options
Kerosene to clean, then gear oil for lube. Works a charm and both are very cheap
Chain lube Spray vs Gear oil (80 W90 Grade)
Chain lube 250, gear oil 79 castorl.
bike chain cleaning options
bike chain cleaning Kerosene vs Diesel vs Motul Cleaner vs wd 40
Kerosene anti rusting property, All above prodcuts cleans the chain But joints in the chain any problem?.
Mechanic use disiel, kerose to clean to engine parts.. so it depends on quality of the prodcut. no problem to use kerosens, diesile, wd 40 as a chain cleaner. tip: petrol is more cleaner than diseiel
Diesel can be harsh and may degrade the rubber O-rings over time, potentially leading to leaks or reduced performance.
kerosene can damage O-ring chains:
Kerosene can soften rubber
Kerosene can cause rubber to swell and soften, which can lead to the rubber seal failing
Used engine oil for bike chain
It attracts more dirt leads to more rust. x ring o ring problem.
Greese also attracts dirts.
cheapest gear oil best option is buying a chain lube.
When to clean & lube the bike chain Best way?
The best way is inspecting the chain condtion.
- dry
- dirty
- rust
- any sounds..
- how long since it cleaned..
- wear & tear.
my suggestion: schedule interval for convient for human beings like every 500-1000KM or every month.
also keep track on your service schedule at authorized service dealer.
Bike Cleaning and Lubricating Process:
- Clean the Chain: Use a chain cleaner or degreaser and a brush or cloth to remove dirt and grime.
- Dry the Chain: Ensure the chain is completely dry before applying lubricant.
- Lubricate: Apply lubricant to the inside of the chain while pedaling backward to ensure even coverage.
- Wipe Off Excess: After a few minutes, wipe off any excess lubricant to prevent attracting dirt.
How often do motorcycle chains need maintenance?
How often do I need to change my bike chain?
based on experience: after chain sprocket wear Slipping, if lose chain can tighten them.
Don’t neglect slipping it will kill you. it will squid the bike & damage the wheel bearings.
Sound from bike chain
A bike chain can make a variety of sounds, including squeaking, rattling, or grinding, and these sounds can indicate a problem with the chain or other parts of the bike:
- Squeaking: A squeaking chain could be caused by a dry, dirty, or rusted chain, which can cause binding in the rollers. It could also be caused by dirty or seized bearings in the derailleur jockey wheels or chain guide pulley.
- Rattling: A rattling chain could be caused by a loose or excess chain that’s contacting the frame, also known as “chain slap”. It could also be caused by a derailleur that’s out of adjustment.
- Grinding: A grinding chain could be a sign of other problems with the bike.
Can I use petrol to clean motorcycle chain?
Petrol, destroy the o-rings in the chain by doing so, severely shortening the life of the chain.
petrol will entered in the 0 rings the chain and damage a little.
O-Ring vs X-Ring vs “Normal” Motorcycle Chains | What’s The Difference?
- Normal cheaper (need more frequnet cleaning and not lasts longer)
- o rings most common (upgraded by adding greese in seals buit in lube)
- high pressure water and harsh cleaning affect the seals broken and dry out greese , dirt in seize the link
- x rings for faster vehicles video,
- racers worried 0 rings making contact inner outer plates caused friction sapping more horse power from rear wheel.
How To Check and Adjust Your Motorcycle Chain
Most of the bikes they have written on the bike. or check owner manual ex: tvs raider 125c chain slack length drive chain slackness.
Lose chain slack
- jumpout of sprocket bind up and chuck on the ground
- Sound
- Increase the driveline lash lost motion when torque changes direction *gear shifting*
- Excess slackness leads to higher fuel consumption
tight chain slack
- too much tension between sprocket and chain wear out fast.
- inhibit your suspension action
Mesure the slack length 30-40MM
- for tvs raider 125cc The slackness of the drive chain should not exceed the limit (maximum 20 ~ 30 mm). from onwer manual here
- put the scale and middle, down the chain if its 40, and then up the chain id its 5
- then 40-5 = 35 is chain slack
- conver CM to into MM.
and tighs axle nuts both sides please do check a video.
Hi, am (rajuginni). writer since 2012, passionate about Knowing new things sharing the same, after engine failure, i became bike enthuaist , you may follow me yoututbe.
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