Well oiled chain, what a difference!

Motorbike Wanabe · #1 12-31-2009, 05:54 PM

I just got my first motorized bike together a couple of weeks ago and I've been working out the bugs as I've been riding it. I keep looking for ways to make it run smoother, better and more enjoyable. I had a constant "popping" from what I thought was the chain due to either too much slack, too tight or, too close to the frame. None of those changes seemed to help so, I was starting to fear that the bearings might be going in the rear wheel. I got looking closer at the chain and noticed that there were a few links that were stiff to move and some were actually staying angled from going around the sprockets. They weren't straightening out between sprockets. So, I decided that I would oil the chain with some air tool oil that I had laying around. I started at the master link and oiled each link's joint with just a drop or two and let it soak in. Time consuming, but thorough. I took it out for a ride and you could tell instantly that it helped. By the time I got back from my 1.5 mile ride, the difference was AMAZING! It runs so smooth now! I was having a lot of chain slap when I pulled in on the clutch going down hills, now, there's just a slight buzz as the chain moves around the idler pulley. I always wondered how everyone was running with such slack in their chains and it wasn't slapping all over the place. Now, I know. I'm pretty mechanically inclined and, sure, I KNEW that chains needed oiling but, being my first motorized bike, I didn't put so much importance into it as I do now. The difference is well, amazing! Hopefully this helps someone else out. I've got some pearly wide whites on my bike and I had to clean them off after my ride, but for the difference that it made in my bike, it's well worth it!

XFired · #2 01-01-2010, 10:16 AM

You know,I think this is the first post on oiling the chain,I agree with you 100%,it does make all the difference in the world....

Motorbike Wanabe · #3 01-01-2010, 11:26 AM

It made me a believer!

Venice Motor Bikes · #4 01-01-2010, 06:30 PM

I've had the same problem with many chains! What I do (before oiling) is use a utility knife & force the blade between the stuck links to pry them apart just a bit. It works very well!!

Motorbike Wanabe · #5 01-01-2010, 06:45 PM

Thanks for the tip Venice. So, is that typically for the china-based kits that we play with or are you seeing that on a variety of chains? Most of the stuff that I play with doesn't have chains, just got into that recently with this build.

Cannonfish · #6 01-01-2010, 08:03 PM

I used to race mountain bikes, and a racing friend turned me on to this stuff called "White Lightning" - it's a teflon lubricant that dries on your chain and doesn't leave an oily residue. White Lightning I've been consistently impressed with the chain lubrication as well as the mud-shedding ability of this stuff. Just spray your drivetrain with a waterhose after a race and all the muck comes right off.

If you start with a clean chain and sprockets and then use this stuff regularly, your chain will be very quiet and you won't get that black gunk all over your hands when you touch it.

Humsuckler · #7 01-02-2010, 01:07 PM

hm no black gunk? well i dont know about that newfangled spray you speak of..... but i do know that spraying the chain with lube once a week liberally makes it happy. my chain is gummed in black gunk, so much that when i lube it it flings everywhere! lol another little tip, is to keep an eye on your large sprocket, look at the teeth to make sure they remain pointy. if they are getting fishhooked its time to replace your chain and sprocket

Elmo · #8 01-02-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannonfish

I used to race mountain bikes, and a racing friend turned me on to this stuff called "White Lightning" - it's a teflon lubricant that dries on your chain and doesn't leave an oily residue. White Lightning I've been consistently impressed with the chain lubrication as well as the mud-shedding ability of this stuff. Just spray your drivetrain with a waterhose after a race and all the muck comes right off.

If you start with a clean chain and sprockets and then use this stuff regularly, your chain will be very quiet and you won't get that black gunk all over your hands when you touch it.

I Have used this stuff for years on my road bikes and it is good.
Elmo

Venice Motor Bikes · #9 01-02-2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorbike Wanabe

Thanks for the tip Venice. So, is that typically for the china-based kits that we play with or are you seeing that on a variety of chains? Most of the stuff that I play with doesn't have chains, just got into that recently with this build.

Pretty much only on the china kit chains.

flybytaco · #10 01-03-2010, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venice Motor Bikes

Pretty much only on the china kit chains.

right? i've never seen chains so poor in quality in 16 yrs or wrenchin bikes. I'm used to working with regina chains and 200 dollar chains so i guess theres no comparing the 2 lol and yes a well oiled chain is a happy one. I mostly use Maxima chain wax..