TOPIC:

I lube my chain with Maxima Chain Wax, and that's also what I use to clean it. I just spray it liberally with the chain wax and then wipe off all the excess with paper towels. I have an o-ring chain. Ed

Mikaw wrote:

Attachment Chain1.JPG not found

Difficult to tell from the lateral view, but looks like a non-o'ring chain.







Z1 was first produced with a non-o'ring chain and a separate oil supply tank with an owner-regulated pump to control continuous lubrication of the drive chain. It functioned okay, but was messy. And Kawasaki soon converted to an o'ring chain absent the on-board chain lubrication system.

Properly lubing a non-o'ring chain will likely prove to be extremely messy.

The only reason I can think of for using the non-o'ring version is for racing application, especially drag racing, in order to remove the very slight resistance imparted by the o'rings.

Good Fortune!

However, if it's a Tsubaki brand drive chain, Tsubaki HT series

www.ustsubaki.com/pdf/L10940_full_gen_cat.pdf

see pages A-36 and A-38

seems to indicate being an o'ring chain.

Being 25 years old could make a difference in design, strength, manufacturers' stamp on the links, whatever, as top brands are continuously improving their chains.

Good Fortune!

If the chain on-hand is an o'ring chain, I would use it.

If a non-o'ring chain, I wouldn't use it because of the more extensive and messy maintenance requirements.

On the other hand, those going for the "rat-look" often prefer the messiest and nastiest appearance possible.

Good Fortune!

It's an ES630HT chain. Not an oring chain. Might as well use it til it's worn out. Just using a rag and Kerosene or WD40 wiping off the chain is about all you can do to clean, then apply lube. I still have my reservations about motorcycle chain lube after some bad experiences. The only brand I ever used that worked was BG. Hard to find. If not using the BG, I would just lube with regular motor oil.

RonKZ650 wrote: It's an ES630HT chain. Not an oring chain. Might as well use it til it's worn out. Just using a rag and Kerosene or WD40 wiping off the chain is about all you can do to clean, then apply lube. I still have my reservations about motorcycle chain lube after some bad experiences. The only brand I ever used that worked was BG. Hard to find. If not using the BG, I would just lube with regular motor oil.

This works well for me on the o'ring chain, even the chain-saw chain, and a multitude of other lubing applications where cleanliness is desired.
Perhaps it would be as good as or better than anything else on the non-o'ring drive chain.







Knowing Ron will just love the second pic.




Good Fortune!

I think it is non-o-ring. Izumi (see www.izumichain.co.jp/bike_e.html ) shows a chain with the ES630HT number. Ed

Again the knowledge base of the contributors here is outstanding. Thanks for all the help. Here are a few more pictures, Form what i see its non-oring. That confuses me because I could swear when I purchased it 25 years ago I though I was buying an oring. Either way its staying for know because I do know the chain has very low miles on it, and as long as there isn't concern for deterioration form years of sitting i'm gonna clean it and run it. Thanks again.

Strange the BG chain lube is made in China according to Patton. I went out and looked at mine, I have 4 cans of it, all made in USA. The bottom line on the can where Patton circled reads"contains a non-fluorocarbon propellant" I've got the Teflon lube too, have 2 cans of it, it doesn't work near as good, trust me. If one doesn't ride much it is a lot cleaner for sure and better than nothing, but nothing works like real oil lube. I always got 65,000 plus miles out of a chain using the BG.