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Chain lubrication


Guest Crusty

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Hello folks.

Sorry if this has been asked before (have have searched but couldn't find the answer.)

My NC is my first chain driven bike. I use it to commute to work, so will average at least 1500 miles per month.

How often should I be both lubing and cleaning the chain?

I'm not really interested in any of the auto lubing systems out there as I get plently of time off, my bike has a centre stand and I don't mind getting my hands dirty. :D

I've already armed myself with a proper chain brush, some good quality chain cleaner and lube spray. All I need is advice from you good people. :cheers:

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.... that's the big debate people have been having Shigsy. I'm going with the clean all the gunge off then just use acf50/wd40. Looking OK so far. Mike

I agree Mark. An auto oiler isn't for me as I prefer to do it myself rather than rely on something that does it automatically. I'd be too worried whether or not its working properly. Besides, it only

Isn't 'tight spot' misnamed ?   Isn't the rest of the chain 'stretched' ?  People may claim they do not thrash the bike, but all it takes is just one quick start from the traffic lights and that's it

In dry weather I lube every 400 miles but you will be riding in all sorts of crap weather so I would do it every 300 miles. So easy to just get off the bike and get chain lubed straight after a ride when chain drive is warm. Clean the chain only when it needs it as no point cleaning it everytime you lube.

Edited by tc3
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Guest Whiteyez

I use Castrol chain spray every 300km ( and after a rainy day ride ), in every 1000km i clean the chain with parafine oil and lubricate it with valvoline.

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Guest jorgegofio

My dealer does it for free. I go in whenever I want and they lube it in 20 mins. They also tense it if necessary. They recommend I come in every 800km or so.

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Mike5100

I just 'lubed' mine in 20 seconds last night. squirted ACF50 on to one of those specialist chain cleaning brushes and did the whole chain in 20 seconds - well maybe 30 perhaps :D

Mike

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I also wipe the chain down with ACF50 but if you only use ACF50 I would say you are cleaning the chain not lubing it. Although O-ring or X-ring chains have their grease 'sealed' into the interior of the rollers I think the exterior where it gets metal on metal contact with the sprocket benefits from having oil on it.

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Mike5100

.... that's the big debate people have been having Shigsy. I'm going with the clean all the gunge off then just use acf50/wd40. Looking OK so far.

Mike

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Rev Ken

.... that's the big debate people have been having Shigsy. I'm going with the clean all the gunge off then just use acf50/wd40. Looking OK so far.

Mike

WD40 is NOT a lubricant - and it will destroy the 'O' rings. It is great for many things, but use a proper lubricant on your chain! You might even use SAE90 oil as recommended in the handbook - it is cheap enough and although it will spread it's presence around Teh back of the bike if not used sparingly, it does the job. Otherwise 'Wurth' chain lubricant is generally accepted as a good 'non-fling chain lubricant.

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Looks like it'll be a regular job for me. With my current mileage every 3 days or so! :drool:

I'm going to be commuting 80 -100 miles a day so I decided to fit a chain oiler, the one I went for in the end is the Tutoro, it doesn't need any electrical or vacuum connections and only took about 15 minutes to fit.

http://www.tutorochainoiler.com/index.php/store/product/view/1/13

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Mike5100

.... that's the big debate people have been having Shigsy. I'm going with the clean all the gunge off then just use acf50/wd40. Looking OK so far.

Mike

WD40 is NOT a lubricant - and it will destroy the 'O' rings. It is great for many things, but use a proper lubricant on your chain! You might even use SAE90 oil as recommended in the handbook - it is cheap enough and although it will spread it's presence around Teh back of the bike if not used sparingly, it does the job. Otherwise 'Wurth' chain lubricant is generally accepted as a good 'non-fling chain lubricant.

you may be right Ken, but there are many people in various forums who have been using wd40 for years without problems and I have yet to come across a post that says "I used it and my chain was goosed'. In any case I'm using ACF50 and since it is claimed to be harmless to all plastics I'm assuming that would be silicone rubber O-rings too. I am prepared to trade the benefits of cleanliness and convenience against the risk of having to replace a chain and sprocket which wouldn't be the end of the world. So far it doesn't look to me like I will need to use the Kettenmax chain cleaner with paraffin very often a the acf50 is not attracting gunge.

Mike

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Yeah, WD40 destroying o-rings is a myth, I have been using it for decades to clean chains.

I have always used a Scottoiler but switched to the PDOiler for the NC700X as the gravity Scottoiler can't be used on it and their electric one is stupid expensive and over complicated. The scottoiler always produced a bit of fling onto the rear wheel but the PDOiler with its 'wick' seems to have eliminated this, the wick soaks up the oil as it exits the pipe and the chain wipes itself on the wick so the chain doesn't end up with a sudden splodge of oil which it can then fling off. The problem with the wick is if its too long it can 'shred off' which is want happened to mine and I started getting fling again.

I could have pulled the wick down and used a fresh bit but wonded if I could improve things a bit. I ended up taking a small brush suppplied with an old Phillips Shaver, drilling a couple of holes in it and threading the oil pipe through it so it exited into the the bristles. Think I have it set just right so the chain is just hitting the bristles. Sofar seems to be working very well, no fling and nicely oilded chain. I also have the controller mounter on the handle bars so I can adjust as required on the move.

Edited by shiggsy
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Mike5100

wow shiggsy - sounds like you should have patented that, but for me the faff of chain oilers just doesn't seem worth the effort.

Mike

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You can see the crap I ride through each day at the moment, bike was spotless last weekend. I haven't done anything to the chain all week but its pretty clean and has a thin sheen of oil over it. Note lack of fling on rear wheel. Maximum setting for the PDOiler is 9, I had it up as high as 7 for one journey.

SP_A1311.jpg

Patent Pending :)

SP_A1315.jpg

Edited by shiggsy
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Guest jorgegofio

You can see the crap I ride through each day at the moment, bike was spotless last weekend. I haven't done anything to the chain all week but its pretty clean and has a thin sheen of oil over it. Note lack of fling on rear wheel. Maximum setting for the PDOiler is 9, I had it up as high as 7 for one journey.

Patent Pending :)

What kind of terrain do you ride through????!!!!!

Edited by jorgegofio
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Guest jorgegofio

Looks like it'll be a regular job for me. With my current mileage every 3 days or so! :drool:

I'm going to be commuting 80 -100 miles a day so I decided to fit a chain oiler, the one I went for in the end is the Tutoro, it doesn't need any electrical or vacuum connections and only took about 15 minutes to fit.

http://www.tutorocha...oduct/view/1/13

Dave, does it drip when the bike is parked? I think it is interesting.

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Looks like it'll be a regular job for me. With my current mileage every 3 days or so! :drool:

I'm going to be commuting 80 -100 miles a day so I decided to fit a chain oiler, the one I went for in the end is the Tutoro, it doesn't need any electrical or vacuum connections and only took about 15 minutes to fit.

http://www.tutorocha...oduct/view/1/13

Dave, does it drip when the bike is parked? I think it is interesting.

No it works on vibration, so the oil is only fed to the rear sprocket when the bike is in motion.

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Guest chickenflaps

Looks like it'll be a regular job for me. With my current mileage every 3 days or so! :drool:

I'm going to be commuting 80 -100 miles a day so I decided to fit a chain oiler, the one I went for in the end is the Tutoro, it doesn't need any electrical or vacuum connections and only took about 15 minutes to fit.

http://www.tutorocha...oduct/view/1/13

Hi Dave - where did you mount the reservoir? if you could post a photo, that'd be a great help - I was thinking of getting one of these and would welcome your thoughts about it. cheers, Neil

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Looks like it'll be a regular job for me. With my current mileage every 3 days or so! :drool:

I'm going to be commuting 80 -100 miles a day so I decided to fit a chain oiler, the one I went for in the end is the Tutoro, it doesn't need any electrical or vacuum connections and only took about 15 minutes to fit.

http://www.tutorocha...oduct/view/1/13

Hi Dave - where did you mount the reservoir? if you could post a photo, that'd be a great help - I was thinking of getting one of these and would welcome your thoughts about it. cheers, Neil

I fixed it to one of the blind sockets on the inside of the rear foot peg support, using a stainless steel M8 x 12 allen head bolt.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to leave it where it is or not when I fit pannier racks.

I'm working at the moment when I get chance in the daylight I'll take a picture.

Edited by Dave D
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Pictures of the Tutoro chain oiler fitted.

NC700XTutoro.jpg

Second picture show the routing of the pipe, held in place with self adhesive cable clips, and the single nozzle feeing onto the rear sprocket.

NC700XTutoro2.jpg

Seem to be working ok :thumbsup:

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Guest chickenflaps

Pictures of the Tutoro chain oiler fitted.

NC700XTutoro.jpg

Second picture show the routing of the pipe, held in place with self adhesive cable clips, and the single nozzle feeing onto the rear sprocket.

NC700XTutoro2.jpg

Seem to be working ok :thumbsup:

Looks like you did a pretty neat job there Dave - thanks for the info and taking the time to click the snaps - I reckon I'll give it a go. If you're ever over Welwyn Garden way, stop by for a cuppa! cheers, Neil

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