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Should I bother with spare chain/sprockets? Should I bother with spare chain/sprockets?
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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #16  
Old 19 Dec 2007
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ahhhhhhhh LYNKLIFE!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lone Rider View Post
as a teenager, making my Mom mad because I'd use one of her cooking pots, pour some oil in (probably some kinda junk SAE 30, don't remember that) and bathe my bike chain in warm oil over a burner. Then the messy chain was placed in a plastic bag and put in the freezer overnight.
Remember LYNKLIFE? the black wax stuff in the 12" across flat round tin?
clean the chain in paraffin, coil onto the block of LYNKLIFE and then onto the stove for half an hour... that stuff used to stink the garage out! i used an old Primis stove and then you would hang the chain up overnight to cool and it would be as stiff as a frozen snake. come to think of it, it must have worked because I dont EVER remember replacing a chain on my old bikes as a kid.
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  #17  
Old 19 Dec 2007
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Quote:
In fact, I've known riders who've matched the mileage of Scott Oiler equipped bikes, riding the SAME bike, and they only ever used WD40. Of course type of riding, conditions and rider aggressiveness all figure in.
A note of caution; I find WD40 works well to disolve spattered chain lube when cleaning the bike. I suspect it would do the same to the factory grease on an o-ring chain if it seeped past the o-rings. Just guessing - never tried it.
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  #18  
Old 28 Dec 2007
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ive heard from various places that WD40 doesnt soak into the o-rings on the chains like real lube either. meaning that the o-rings wear out quicker than they should.
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  #19  
Old 28 Dec 2007
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Running a chain dry or with WD40 only should still see the O rings lasting quite a while.
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 08:17.
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  #20  
Old 28 Dec 2007
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Thanks for "busting the myth" around WD40 for chain lube Patrick. I will definately give your advice a try when off road.

Cheers
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  #21  
Old 28 Dec 2007
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Dirt riders here in the US don't use chain lube....but most aren't going RTW.
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 08:17.
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  #22  
Old 16 Jan 2008
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I would think about taking at least a spare chain, as heard of a few people who have had them snap just for no reason. But if weight/space is a real issue then as someone else said bring plenty of chain links so you can at least fix the broken chain and get to a bigger town where you might be able to get one sent out.

As for oiling the chain most people have answered that but i really dont like the sound of a dry chain with sand. I think i might try the opposion of over oiling it to try and flush the sand out. but dont know yet because i havent tried any sand riding yet.
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  #23  
Old 17 Jan 2008
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Hello.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by maxwell123455 View Post

i really dont like the sound of a dry chain with sand. I think i might try the opposion of over oiling it to try and flush the sand out. but dont know yet because i havent tried any sand riding yet.
Maxwell123455 PLEASE listen to people who KNOW.... Ie have experience......
The 'O' rings or better still 'X' rings keep lube IN where its needed.... and keep sand OUT... all you do if you oil that chain on sandy territory is turn the sand into GRINDING PASTE...... a Dry chain will not let any sand stick to it, and if you keep it clean with a rag, and WD40 it wont wear much either.
The HUBB is here as a knowledge database to let you and me and others learn from other peoples experiences, both good and bad, so we dont have to have the same heartache/ stress/ cost/ pain in the ass they had.

Oiling the chain WILL KILL IT IN THE SAND... over oiling it will make a HUGE MESS!! ..and a lot of crap to clean up...

Mollydog (Patrick) knows what he is talking about, he wasnt behind the door when brains were being dished out.... so listen to his advice!
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  #24  
Old 17 Jan 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martynbiker View Post
......Oiling the chain WILL KILL IT IN THE SAND... over oiling it will make a HUGE MESS!! ..and a lot of crap to clean up...

Mollydog (Patrick) knows what he is talking about, he wasnt behind the door when brains were being dished out.... so listen to his advice!

Yes, but.....

Over-oiling a chain, while being messy, actually does clean it of solids. True...
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  #25  
Old 17 Jan 2008
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im not disagreeing
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Originally Posted by Lone Rider View Post
Yes, but.....

Over-oiling a chain, while being messy, actually does clean it of solids. True...
yeah, i know it does clean it if, and only if, you turn your oiler up high ( in my experience, others may differ or have used thinner oil...so dont flame me, OK? )

I hate cleaning the overspray of oil off the bike, the wheel, and the tyre! not to mention that when you do get on to the Tarmac road there is so much oil on the rubber it can be Dangerous. I know this because about 6 weeks ago i NEARLY slid my back end round to meet the front because my (home made) chain oiler was set too high....... also the mess both on the bike ( and nearly in my trousers) was a nightmare......

Martyn
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  #26  
Old 19 Jan 2008
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If you do oil....oil lightly and clean
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 08:17.
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  #27  
Old 19 Jan 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post

Yes, it is counterintuitive running the dry chain...but its the way to go...(snip). If you know and understand how an O ring or X ring chain work and why....then you know you really do not ever have to lube them. And many sports bike riders never do. ....and still get 20,000 miles out of a chain.

If you do oil....oil lightly and clean frequently with WD40.....but never oil in sand or loose dirt, just makes grinding paste.

Patrick
I understand the rationale for avoiding sticky oils when riding in sand or dirt. However, my 520 x-ring chain begins to squeak and chirp at me shortly after I clean with WD40—within maybe a hundred miles or so. When I lube with some form of spray (recently a can of spray lithium grease because that's what I found in a shop in Italy, previously a can of foaming chain lube which was confiscated as "dangerous cargo" by the airline which shipped my bike), the chain runs silently for 3, 4 or 500 miles before it starts making the same racket. All that squeaking sounds like it's got to represent something bad happening; is this wrong?

Thanks for any and all insights.

Mark
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  #28  
Old 19 Jan 2008
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Maintenance of the chain is important.

IMHO it is smart to carry a set of chains and sprockets or have a set at home that someone sends to if when/if you need it. After all it is 15-25kkm and you will probably not lube it in northern Africa. When (if) you start to lube it when the deserts end everything can happen…

I have met several overlanders in Africa waiting for chain and sprockets. Some has got sprockets made in a local workshop but the quality varies.
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  #29  
Old 19 Jan 2008
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The next time you lube your chain, feel the effort needed to spin/turn the wheel before lubing and then after. It's a marked difference.
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  #30  
Old 19 Jan 2008
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Don't misunderstand guys....I do not advocate running a dry chain on tarmac
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 08:18.
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