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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 31 Aug 2009
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Been worrying about this myself. Would a good squirt of WD40 each NIGHT be a good idea - clean the chain, keep the seals wet and being a very light oil it'll fling off soon as you start moving and not attract more sand?
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Old 31 Aug 2009
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I'd suggest a chain oiler. The difference to a normal lubricant is that the oiler uses - as the name suggests - oil, which get's thrown off the chain, taking most of the dirt with it.

The other way might be a teflon based spray. I think it's used for motocross bikes as well and keeps the chain completely dry.
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Old 1 Sep 2009
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Originally Posted by dave ett View Post
Been worrying about this myself. Would a good squirt of WD40 each NIGHT be a good idea - clean the chain, keep the seals wet and being a very light oil it'll fling off soon as you start moving and not attract more sand?

Dave I would have to say that it is not a good idea. The chain needs be dry so nothing sticks to it all all.

WD40 contains about half it's volume of Stoddart solvent aka white spirit!
The roller in the chain is surrounded by a lubricant which is sealed in by the 'X' ring - a 4 point of contact seal.

If you spray on WD40 (which stands for Water Dispersant batch 40!) the solvent will dry out this seal and damage it, possibly after repeated use perishing it and that will lead to the inner lube leaking out damaging the chain & sprockets even more.

Chain lube of anykind will not 'fling everything off' in sand even if you increase the flow (even if it sprays your wheel) but offer a material that will combine with fine, almost dust like sand particles as well as large ones and form a grinding paste.
This damages the chain, front and rear sprockets increasing wear on all 3.

When you are finished with sand riding, then give your chain a good clean and turn on the Scot-oiler or the like for road running.

My 2 pence.
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Old 1 Sep 2009
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Get yourself a chain brush. The usual mail order places in south Wales do them, like a three sided bracket with bristles inside. A couple of strokes on each run of the chain each day/sandy leg and you physically remove the bulk of what's stuck to it.

Andy
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Old 1 Sep 2009
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bertrand knows

definitely steel sprockets, definitely no lube.
cheers,
andy.
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Old 1 Sep 2009
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Wonder if the brush jobbie could be permanently affixed...

And I'm still amazed that fully enclosed isn't seen more often.
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Old 1 Sep 2009
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Originally Posted by dave ett View Post
Wonder if the brush jobbie could be permanently affixed...

And I'm still amazed that fully enclosed isn't seen more often.
It could, but it's a glorified industrial size toothbrush, so I'd bet it wouldn't last very long.

Ah, the economics of drive chains. I believe my MZ cost me something like 0.2p a mile in chains/lube etc. The Bonneville works out at 1p a mile. I can't think why DID or Regina didn't suggest Triumph fit an enclosed chain!

Andy
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Old 1 Sep 2009
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So what keeps manufacturers from offering a belt driven dirt bike/enduro?
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