Chain Maintenance

I have an 80 kz650-E I was wondering what kind of solvent to use to clean my chain with would be before I lubricate it. I read some ware that brake cleaner or carb cleaner is bad for the O-rings and to use kerosene. Does this chain even have O-rings? I was also thinking of trying engine degreaser.

To be safe I'd suggest something along the lines of WD40. It's not a solvent but it will thin out the chain oil and you can finish the job with something like Simple Green rinsed off with water. After that relube the chain.

As far as I know you can't tell if a chain has o-rings without splitting it. It's probably safer to assume it does and use a lube that works with either type.

An oring chain is relatively easy to see vs a non oring. On a cheap non oring chain the sideplates are snug up against the roller part of the chain, where on an oring chain the sideplates sit outboard a little ways and you can look and actually see the orings if you know what you are looking for. In other words the oring type chain will always be physically wider and enough is easy to spot by eye. Of course none of this makes $0.02 worth of sense unless both were shown in pictures or you could look at the two side by side. But there is a distinct difference in the looks of the chains.
As to cleaning, there are lots of different views. My view is excess cleaning does more harm than good. You can get a rag and saturate it with WD40 and wipe off the vast majority of old lube and dirt, then relube. To me no need to overdue cleaning, most likely it will get dirty again in short order.

I use chain lube to clean my chain. Just soak a rag with it and rub the grime off the chain. It may take a couple rounds, but when you're done the chain will be clean and lubed. If you do that each time you lube the chain (every 300-500 miles) it is easy to do and will stay looking pretty good. Plus the chain will last a looong time assuming it is a quality item. Ed

I used to use a rag soaked in mineral spirits. can't harm rubber or plastic.

I am a big NON FAN of WD40. IMHO, it's useless for just about anything except driving water out of things which is actually what "WD" stands for: water displacer. It congeals to a slimy varnish over time so I don't use it.

A really good product for chains is the DuPont multi purpose spray lube with Teflon you can get at Lowes for about $6 huge can. Du Pont also makes a "dedicated" spray lube for chains, but according to the website, they are the same product just repackaged for a higher price market.

650ed wrote: I use chain lube to clean my chain. Just soak a rag with it and rub the grime off the chain. It may take a couple rounds, but when you're done the chain will be clean and lubed. If you do that each time you lube the chain (every 300-500 miles) it is easy to do and will stay looking pretty good. Plus the chain will last a looong time assuming it is a quality item. Ed

Attachment Countersprocket.JPG not found

Damn someone else that keeps their motors as clean as I do!!!

That nasty chain lube gets all over around the counter sprocket. I get in there with a little brush and a pan of Safety Kleen. Same with the back of the motor.

I take the rear wheel off and just run the chain through a pan of new Safety Kleen and clean it with a brush while its in the pan. Then wipe it down with a few shop rags, and its as good as new!!! Been cleaning my o-ring chains like that since the 70's!!!

The only chain lube I use is Kal Guard Chain Kote. Don't think they make it anymore. Make sure you always spray the lube on the inside of chain next to sprocket.

Kal Gard Chain Kote rocks for lube.

CRC 5-56 on a clean shop towel to clean before.

And by the way, that part of my engine looks that clean once a year,
when it rolls out of the garage for the first ride after a long winter :laugh:

MDawnz1 wrote: Kal Gard Chain Kote rocks for lube.

CRC 5-56 on a clean shop towel to clean before.

And by the way, that part of my engine looks that clean once a year,
when it rolls out of the garage for the first ride after a long winter :laugh:

BEST chain lube I ever used!!! Barely flys off even at 150MPH!!!

I made the mistake of having white wheels on my one bike. Thats the only chain lube that dosn't cover the whole rear wheel with little black dots of chain lube. It takes me longer to clean the brake dust off my front wheel than it does to clean the rear wheel of chain lube!!!

I got a case of Chain Kote back in 1982 or '83. I have I think a can and half of it left. Do they still make it. I know their Gun Kote coating got sold off to some gun supply company. I hope I will be able to find some more Chain Kote when I need more.

I got a case of Chain Kote back in 1982 or '83. I have I think a can and half of it left. Do they still make it. I know their Gun Kote coating got sold off to some gun supply company. I hope I will be able to find some more Chain Kote when I need more.[/quote]


If you find anyone with a stash let me know PLEASE

Mike

MDawnz1 wrote:

If you find anyone with a stash let me know PLEASE

Mike

I just went to their website. You have the right spelling.

You can order direct from Kal Gard,and they STILL MAKE Chain Kote. Its like 9.95 a can plus shipping. Or you can buy it by the case.

AND they make a CLEAR CHAIN KOTE now too!!! It doesn't list molybdenum as one of the ingredients like it does for the regular Chain Kote!!!

vstroma.com/Kal-GardORingChainKote.htm

www.kalgard.com/product/482/chain-kote

www.kalgard.com/product/483/clear-chain-kote

4TheKZ1000 wrote: vstroma.com/Kal-GardORingChainKote.htm

www.kalgard.com/product/482/chain-kote

www.kalgard.com/product/483/clear-chain-kote

Thanks for the video!!!

Can't believe he sprayed it on the OUTSIDE of the chain.

I always spray it on the inside of the chain when I came back from a ride.

A warm chain helps evaporate all the solvents in the chain lube.