Chain lube for non-o-ring chains

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scott12180

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Mar 12, 2010
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Just wondering what the current wisdom is for a good chain lube for NON O-Ring chains? I'm running a standard 530 on my Norton.

A lot of the modern lubes like Chain Wax and other sticky stuff seems to be mostly for O-Ring chains. I think you need something that can get between the side plates as well as into the rollers.

Any suggestions?

--Scott
'75 Commando Mk III
 
I've been using Putoline ceramic chain spray for a few years and had good chain life and it doesn't flick off. Best to spray it on when your chain is hot after a ride. It sprays on thin and seems to penetrate well, wipe off the excess and it doesn't make a mess, lasts a long time too. Graeme
 
Ps, if you put a plastic shopping bag over your hand and hold it below the chain when you spray it on, and roll the chain through the bag it stops it being wasted by spraying on the ground or anywhere else you don't want it.
 
Scott

The best way is to take it off every once in a while, clean it, and then soak it in a heated mixture of parifin wax and gear oil. I use a mix of about 2/3rds wax and 1/3 gear oil. I have a can of this mixture I have been using for about 15 years. I have had most of my chains last over 10,000 miles. I spray them in between treatments with chain wax. The wax seals the chain up a bit like the o rings do. It even works on dirt roads.

The O ring chains however will go for 6,000 miles without even needing adjustment. They really are a lot better. All I ever do with those is spray them with chain spray.

I still use the old un sealled chains on my old bikes. I will have to convert my Norton one day.

Nigel
 
Years ago when I was young :lol:
Used to remove chain, clean in petrol, stick it in a tin of Linklife & boil it on my mothers stove. She still reminds me of it now.
I just use Silkolene chain spray now. Most of them are O ring compliant so that they can go on any chain. Still flicks off onto back wheel & no. plate.
My 750 has the riveted extra bit on the end of the chainguard which stops a lot of it.
 
For $35 delivered you can get a new chain from Old Britts. Hardly worth worrying about oiling the chain, just change it after a few thou. Like a fill up in the car. I used to mess with them on the stove with wax, etc, too, but I have better things to do now for $35.

Dave
69S
 
DogT said:
For $35 delivered you can get a new chain from Old Britts. Hardly worth worrying about oiling the chain, just change it after a few thou. Like a fill up in the car. I used to mess with them on the stove with wax, etc, too, but I have better things to do now for $35.

Dave
69S
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You guys throw your cars away when gas tanks empty don't you?
 
DogT said:
For $35 delivered you can get a new chain from Old Britts. Hardly worth worrying about oiling the chain, just change it after a few thou. Like a fill up in the car. I used to mess with them on the stove with wax, etc, too, but I have better things to do now for $35.

Dave
69S
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Don't last that long without lubricating do they?
 
520 chain, spockets upgrade. Is it worth it? I am doing a clean mod/restore and looking at the 520 mod. CNW & Old Britts has the mod for around $400-$500. Thats a lot for a chain mod, but I do plan on keeping this bike for a long, long time and now would be the time to do it. The OEM 530 chain has to be lubed or replaced from time to time and it seems like a hassle or a weak link in the drive system, (pun intended.) Alternatives???

Chain lube for non-o-ring chains
 
Good Grief, youse guys are worrying about $35 for a chain. How much did you spend on the last mudguard or silencer you bought? I spend twice that amount filling up my P/U when it's near empty. Better a new chain on the sprocket too. The chain is a replaceable item, just like windshield wipers. Unless you're buying those X chains or whatever they are for $$$.

Dave
69S
 
Hi

I use gear box oil, just dip a small paint brush into it and brush it on the chain, I do this on all my dirt bikes before a ride and on my Norton when it is needed and once every so often I will take the chain off and give it a good clean and let it soak in gear oil over night, I have been doing this way for over 30 years and I get long service out of my chains, my dirt bike has a O'ring chain and been using it this way since new in 2007 and I am still running the orginal chain and sprockets, this is a cheap way of looking after your chains and you aren't paying over price's for spray on chain lub.

Ashley
 
DogT said:
Good Grief, youse guys are worrying about $35 for a chain. How much did you spend on the last mudguard or silencer you bought? I spend twice that amount filling up my P/U when it's near empty. Better a new chain on the sprocket too. The chain is a replaceable item, just like windshield wipers. Unless you're buying those X chains or whatever they are for $$$.

Dave
69S
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You gas up a pick up for $70??? I need to move south. I gassed up yesterday for $124 for a 98 liter tank.
 
Greetings,
This is almost as good as a motor oil thread, so I'll throw my two cents worth in. In the past I have removed the chain cleaned in kerosine hung on a nail over night to drip dry. Then soaked in oil hung on a nail the next night to drip off before re-installation, that and probaby every brand of aerosol spray lube ever made including WD-40 and even drain oil. However, presently I use a spray can of white lithium grease from Home Depot stores (and others), its half the price of the chain lubes sold at bike shops and works very well.

GB
 
Wish I could buy a chain for $35. About 4 x the price here.
They don't call this rip off britain for nothing. :lol:
They are actually quite expensive.
 
jesterday said:
You gas up a pick up for $70??? I need to move south. I gassed up yesterday for $124 for a 98 liter tank.
Click to expand...

Yeah, about $3.50/G for regular and if It's not completely empty 17 Gallons US comes to about $60. The Dakota doesn't do that good on the mileage either, maybe 16-17mpg.

You'll pay out the nose for health care here though.

I didn't realize chain threads are equivalent to oil threads, now I know.

Dave
69S
 
DogT said:
For $35 delivered you can get a new chain from Old Britts. Hardly worth worrying about oiling the chain, just change it after a few thou. Like a fill up in the car. I used to mess with them on the stove with wax, etc, too, but I have better things to do now for $35.

Dave
69S
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Unless the chain breaks while you are passing through the middle of nowhere Nebraska...

I have had good luck ( and chain life ) lubing it with whatever is handy at every other ( ~200 miles ) gas stop. I do like the chain wax that sticks to everything when it does fly off.

Greg
 
I have been using PJ1 Chain lube. Not all that expensive, large can lasts forever, shoot it once every couple hundred miles or so, spray it on, wipe off the excess and go on my way. Does it fling off and make somewhat of a mess. Yep, sure does. But, when brand new Nortons were never a clean bike to ride...... auto oiler always dripping, other oil coming out of other orfices, hell I still have an old Brooks Leather jacket with the "racing stripe" up the back.

Built to ride......... although I do like the cleanliness of a shaftie
 
Yeah, I've been using PJ1 forever on my non-oring chains. Works fine, lasts a long time. :)

On the oring chains I started using Maxima Chain Wax. Less mess, seems to work just as well. 11K miles on my Ducati chain so far, still doing fine.

As for the $35 chains, I don't know. Seems kind of like buying a $50 helmet. If that cheap chain breaks it's going to do a lot of damage.

JMO,
Debby
 
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