chain lube: gear oil or wax?

[DimitriT]

Decided to try 80wt gear oil on the chain rather than the usual spray-on wax. Chain felt a little smoother (quieter) and wheel seemed to turn more freely on the center stand. Only other thing I noticed is the smell. I'm not seeing huge amounts of fling or mess. Seems to work ok.

What are people's thoughts?

[bonanzadave]

I noticed is the smell.

That has got to be one of worst smells. Worse yet when it comes out of an old differential. Cant believe its not flinging off. I just use a little PJ-1 every month. I dont really ride in the rain anymore.

[DimitriT]

Cant believe its not flinging off.

Same here. I put it on a hot chain and let it cool overnight. I was expecting it to be all over the wheel.

[Sandy]

For many years I used gear oil on my o-ring chains. It is what is recommended if you read the info that comes with most o-ring chains. It worked great and I applied it sparingly to a warm chain from a small plastic bottle with an eye dropped that stored neatly under the seat. Never had the o-rings fail prematurely and always had good chain life. If I didn't over do it the back wheel stayed nice and clean. It was way better than the old chain lubes. This was however before the days of PJ1 chain wax.

[Mark whiz]

over the years, I've probably used gear oil a LOT more often than I did the sprays. My chains have always given good service, so I can't complain.

[Clone]

I like wax on an oring chain, and oil on a straight chain.

[juicydangershow]

Plain motor oil or brush on WD40 for O-ring chains. I wouldn't use non-O-ring chains unless you are racing the bike at the track. Wax always seems to collect crud on it and is hard to get off.

I bought this for the Honda I used to have:

http://www.chainoiler.co.uk/

I thought it worked great (could probably assemble it from hardware store parts, but he has it all together for you). Install, ride the bike to warm the chain. Give the bottle a little squeeze and ride some more. Oils very slowly and didn't seem to get on my rear wheel or rims. Worked wonderful on long trips and my chain slack rarely ever moved with oiling regularly.

[Steve]

I use engine oil on my chain, but then the only chain I have, drives the cams.

.

[Agemax]

I use engine oil on my chain, but then the only chain I have, drives the cams.

.

lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kparkfan]

ok dumb question. how can i tell if i have an o-ring chain or a straight chain?

[Joe C]

ok dumb question. how can i tell if i have an o-ring chain or a straight chain?

Here's a 520 O-ring on the top and 530 non O-ring on the bottom. The O-ring is in the space between the sideplates. If there is no space, then no O-ring.

[Nessism]

Recently bought some PJ1 Blue label lube (I think). Sets up very tacky and doesn't seem to fling around. Lube on an o-ring chain is mostly for the inner rollers and sprockets so I think this stuff is pretty good for that.

[groundshock]

Bel-Ray Chain Lube here.

Can't say that I can give anyone a real idea of how well it works. Does ok I guess.

[NetBSD]

i just give give my chain a coat of 20w50 then some wheel bearing grease, been doing this for years with my off road chains and they held up great, o-ring or not i do the same. i have yet to try actual chain lube as im way to cheap to be spending money on it when i got a huge supply of oil and grease

[simon kuether]

This is very interesting.I've only ever used chain lubes.I thought oil would make an unholy mess of the back wheel and disc.Very interesting.You're a witty bugger Steve.We'll have to have a beer some time.Cheers,Simon.