 1Likes
 |
|
14 Jan 2011
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 296
|
|
|
Chain Maintanance in Sand ?
Hi All, i have always maintained my chains with regular use of high quality chain lube but what do you do in a sandy country like Morocco? Does chain lube and sand make grinding paste? Is daily cleaning of the chain and brushing on light weight oil the answer or am i worrying for nothing and should keep applying my chain lube? Andy
PS please no GS tractor boys gloating about the virtues of their shaft drives or i may be forced to put on a link to the Hitler VFR video, still the best vid out there.
|
15 Jan 2011
|
 |
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,187
|
|
|
I think just clean with parafin (correction - kerosene, sorry no option to score out) & toothbrush as it has some lube qualities, adding oil will just make the sand stick to the chain.
Last edited by MikeS; 2 Feb 2011 at 10:33.
|
15 Jan 2011
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 4,015
|
|
|
Not sure Morocco's more sandy than many other places in the world you'd be riding off pavement, but aside from that consideration I just sprayed with WD40 as often as I thought of it, and my chain lasted from Germany throughout southern Europe, ex-Yugoslavia, a month of Morocco and all the way up to Tromso...about 15,000 miles/25,000 km. Exactly as long, in other words, as it would have if I'd been taking proper care.
I wasn't taking proper care. My theory, which others share, is that anything sticky attracts stuff which I don't like. WD 40 is mainly just a cleaner which happens to come in an aerosol can, doubles for drying out wiring, and is easy to spot on store shelves. This self-justifying theory allows me to do what I'd do anyway, but with a clear conscience. I don't use a brush either: spray, sometimes wipe, then ignore.
Mileage, they say, varies.
Mark
|
15 Jan 2011
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Toronto
Posts: 9
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf
Not sure Morocco's more sandy than many other places in the world you'd be riding off pavement, but aside from that consideration I just sprayed with WD40 as often as I thought of it, and my chain lasted from Germany throughout southern Europe, ex-Yugoslavia, a month of Morocco and all the way up to Tromso...about 15,000 miles/25,000 km. Exactly as long, in other words, as it would have if I'd been taking proper care.
I wasn't taking proper care. My theory, which others share, is that anything sticky attracts stuff which I don't like. WD 40 is mainly just a cleaner which happens to come in an aerosol can, doubles for drying out wiring, and is easy to spot on store shelves. This self-justifying theory allows me to do what I'd do anyway, but with a clear conscience. I don't use a brush either: spray, sometimes wipe, then ignore.
Mileage, they say, varies.
Mark
|
YES, WD40.
|
15 Jan 2011
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 286
|
|
|
This is where you feel the virtues of a shaft drive. Where you don't feel the virtue is when a £3 bearing craps out and BMW want £1500 to swap it out for you. I went back to a chain.
There is a school of thouht that lubricating the chain is a bad move. The actual moving bearing surfaces are sealed internally and oil on the outside attracts dirt (or sand) and turns into grinding paste. I would just keep it clean with a solvent and keep my eye on it.
|
15 Jan 2011
|
 |
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,167
|
|
|
I do the chain each night, normally using chain cleaner to remove the crap, then either a light spray oil if I know I'm not piste riding, otherwise WD40.
All you are really doing is lubricating the chain/sprocket interface as the chain should have its own internal lubrication.
My Tenere has so far done 19000km inside Morocco on the first chain. No sign of hooking yet but will probably renew the chain and sprockets before the next trip.
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
|
3 Feb 2011
|
 |
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: St Helens
Posts: 763
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andysr6
Hi All, i have always maintained my chains with regular use of high quality chain lube but what do you do in a sandy country like Morocco? Does chain lube and sand make grinding paste? Is daily cleaning of the chain and brushing on light weight oil the answer or am i worrying for nothing and should keep applying my chain lube? Andy
PS please no GS tractor boys gloating about the virtues of their shaft drives or i may be forced to put on a link to the Hitler VFR video, still the best vid out there.
|
Am I the only Scottoiler fan out here ?
Approaching 14k (miles, not those new fangled Kms), the bikes have crossed Texas, Chihauhau, central/west Mexico and are currently in Peru... quite a lo of desert and sand IMO.
Only adjusted 5 times so far.
|
3 Feb 2011
|
 |
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 303
|
|
|
Personally, I don't like Scottoilers. Too expensive, too complicated and unfixable if they break. I've had a Loobman chainoiler installed on my Tenere. Very basic principle: plastic bottle, squeeze some oil into a tiny reservoir and let gravity do what it does best: gravitate. Unfortunately I had to sell the bike after about 20,000 km but didn't have to adjust the chain once!
Admittedly I haven't tried WD40 yet but I've been warned that it cleans and destroys more than it lubricates. I'll install another Loobman on my new Tenere, it's definitely worth the money. Oh, forgot to mention that: it only costs arout 20 quid.
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"
|
3 Feb 2011
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 296
|
|
|
Scotoilers
HI, i have always been a bit paranoid about getting chain oil on my tyres and have therefore avoided getting a scotoiler despite living only a few miles from their headquarters (nice people). I have good friends who love them. Would using one while off roading in sand creating grinding paste ? Leaving dry or WD40 is making more sense to me, but i don't know which is why i asked the questions. Andy
|
4 Feb 2011
|
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 994
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andysr6
Would using one while off roading in sand creating grinding paste ?
|
Short answer - yes!! Disconnected mine, it later caught fire whilst riding although this was not a problem to do with the Scottoiler! Great products away from sand though......
|
4 Feb 2011
|
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: St Helens
Posts: 763
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by henryuk
Short answer - yes!! Disconnected mine, it later caught fire whilst riding although this was not a problem to do with the Scottoiler! Great products away from sand though......
|
I beg to differ, I believe that by turning up the Scottoiler it will wash the sand out.
I'd say the best thing the OP can do is actually ring and ask Scottoiler them selves. It saves guess work and assumptions.
|
4 Feb 2011
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Sydney
Posts: 4
|
|
|
Silicone
A good friend of mine was once on the Australian International Six Day Enduro Team. Whilst training at the Australian Institute of Sport apart from fitness training they also do bike repairs and maintainance. They were told never use WD40 or simliar on your chain. It gets into the inside of the chain and waters down the chains internal lubricant. Its a drying agent not a lube as such. After cleaning the bike they were advised to spray the chain with a silicone based lube. After that they never lube at all. They have proven that all lubing or oiling your chain does is dirty your bike and make it harder to clean. It flicks off in the first kilometre and as stated above you are really only lubricating the contact between the chain and sprocket. The O Rings make it nearly impossible for thick lube to penetrate into the chain rollers. Correct adjustment is the key to stop snatching and pulling at the sprocket teeth. Thats just what I was told so take out of it what you will. Thanks. 
|
9 May 2011
|
 |
Seek and thou shalt find.
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Midlands/UK
Posts: 231
|
|
|
oilage
No Bruce you're not the only fan mate!
You can turn them down when you need to and up when you want.
Use them as a sort of "over lube" system to fling off the dust and sand that sticks to the oil before it turns to grinding paste but, they are a real marmite thing to folks!
Used them since the late 80's on and off and although I have had probs have always gone back to them for some reason?
You can get extra reservoirs for them so setting them on a high flow for dusty conditions isn't so much of a drain on the meager res of the main unit.
Each to their own though!
I do like the sound of the ATF, used to use old engine oil myself.
Always used to set the feed tube up on the front sprocket though on off roaders, opposite to the maunf recommendations.
Although, a tooth brush and WD40 (never had a prob with that either) on the chain works for me too.
Have fun.
Dave.
|
16 Oct 2011
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Derbyshire, England
Posts: 100
|
|
|
I concur with what Markharf has said. Run the chain dry and forget about it.
I rode to Morocco and back, riding on sand and trails then back at home for a while. I may of adjusted it once in a while but other than that ran it dry.
Now back home I never oil my chains on both my XT or my XR trail bike, just use WD-40 to clean them.
I have noticed no real difference between the longevity of an oiled chain as opposed a dry chain, but then like others I don't log it or anything. The only difference is the noise- a dry chain clatters a bit, but as far as I can see this does no harm and you soon get used to it.
Get a good quality x-ring chain and run it dry is my advice.
Dan
|
4 Feb 2011
|
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: St Helens
Posts: 763
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andysr6
HI, i have always been a bit paranoid about getting chain oil on my tyres and have therefore avoided getting a scotoiler despite living only a few miles from their headquarters (nice people). I have good friends who love them. Would using one while off roading in sand creating grinding paste ? Leaving dry or WD40 is making more sense to me, but i don't know which is why i asked the questions. Andy
|
Don't worry about the oil on the tyre, IMO you get less on it than you d with spray lube.
If not using scottoiler il, use chainsaw oil, "low sling, high cling".
Ask Scottoiler themselves about using off road in sand,.
As I have said I have ridden across deserts during the last 4 months (on tarmac) and no issues. We have just done some dirt roads and I am turning up the flow to "wash" the chain"
If using WD40, I'd suggest taking lots and using once or twice daily.
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Hybrid Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)
Ripcord Evacuation Insurance is available for ALL nationalities.
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books available from the author or as eBooks and audio books
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|
helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
