The Mobius Trip

[DR. Rock]

I know... it's starting to look the same.

OK... here's something different... a rain cloud. Over there.

[DR. Rock]

at Teslin... open grate.





and long.



thank god for TKC-90's, eh?

[timk519]

got to love those open - grate bridges!

[DR. Rock]

we considered our options:

We still had a few miles in us, (as did the sprockets), but Whitehorse was further than we wanted to ride. We sat down and checked the maps...

OOoohh... that looks good.



Chatting with the kid on the left, who rode motocross himself, he provided promising intel, that the Yamaha dealer in Whitehorse would likely be able to help us out if the Suzuki dealer couldn't... but also confirmed that everything would be closed on monday, for the Victoria Day holiday.

At least we found a big-ass can of WD-40.

[DR. Rock]

we pulled into a campground at Johnson's Crossing



they had a kitchen and so we decided not to cook. It had been a long day.



The good news is that we were close enough to Whitehorse, that if one of the chains broke, one of us could ride to Whitehorse, rent something, and we could manage our own extrication.

At supper, we watched a kid on an ATV tear across the bridge, pull into the parking lot, and use the pay phone.



strange stuff that sticks in your memory.

[DR. Rock]

had more energy to take pichers than I did...



I lubed the chains one more time... and photo-documented the wear:



keep your fingers crossed.

I think I was starting to get over-tired.... the long hours of daylight were messing with my sleep.

At least we figured out that it wasn't a great idea to wait for the sun to set before lighting the campfire.

[DR. Rock]

to make this TKC-90 video update:



and took a few more pichers.

[DR. Rock]

pretty much daylight, at 10:30PM... I threw the last of our firewood in the pit,



and stumbled off to sleep.

[DR. Rock]

(click for larger)

[timk519]

Originally Posted by DR. Rock

to make this TKC-90 video update:[/IMG]

LDF recommended - only if they're cheaper!

[NorthernTraveler]

Doc -

WD40 for chain lube?!?!?

On an o-ring chain you really are only lubing the o-rings, but more importantly, the sprocket/chain interface.

WD40 is too thin - it's a penetrating lube - OK for the o-rings but does nothing for the sprocket.

I've tried the chain wax.... didn't like it. Seems more like a storage lube than a working chain lube.

Ended up trying NAPA chain and cable lube.... works great and widely available. Got over 10K on the current chain/sprockets on my XR650L and no sign of wear what so ever. It's an RK x-ring with cheap steel sprockets from Parts Unlimited (Moose countershaft). This is with really tough riding - CDR, SOR and TetS.... on this chain.

Just my 2 cents worth... don't want to ignite the chain lube wars....

[EnduroRdr]

Daylight at 10:30pm???? I would struggle going to sleep too. Dang maybe you need a black tent for your next summer trip to AK

[JMB_ADV]

[Drizzt]

Originally Posted by NorthernTraveler

Doc -

WD40 for chain lube?!?!?

On an o-ring chain you really are only lubing the o-rings, but more importantly, the sprocket/chain interface.

WD40 is too thin - it's a penetrating lube - OK for the o-rings but does nothing for the sprocket.

I've tried the chain wax.... didn't like it. Seems more like a storage lube than a working chain lube.

Ended up trying NAPA chain and cable lube.... works great and widely available. Got over 10K on the current chain/sprockets on my XR650L and no sign of wear what so ever. It's an RK x-ring with cheap steel sprockets from Parts Unlimited (Moose countershaft). This is with really tough riding - CDR, SOR and TetS.... on this chain.

Just my 2 cents worth... don't want to ignite the chain lube wars....

+1, I use korosene to clean. Kerosene is known to swell the oring, and make it seal better, rather then make it shrivel, which is what wd-40 does.

Of course, I suppose wd40 is better then nothing

Great report though, I'm loving the pictures!

[DR. Rock]

Originally Posted by bemiiten

He said, "Clean and lube while hot."!!!!

Truth be told... my previous maintenance routine for a high-quality o- or x-ring chain has been to do absolutely nada nothing, zip, ziltch until it starts to wear, then change it asap.

That works for about 11,000 miles, in my (well-documented) experience. But it will trash the rear sprocket, and if you have just started a long, remote trip, you may get stuck in Whitehorse without a replacement.

My NEW and improved maintenance routine for a high-quality o- or x-ring chain will be to do absolutely nada nothing, zip, ziltch for 8000 miles, and then change it.

The only time I'd done anything for these chains is after they were exposed to salt and sand on the beach in Oregon.

Careful attention and frequent lubrication with appropriate chain lube will squeeze plenty more miles as evidenced by Doug, but frankly, I'm more than happy to subject the chain to daily abuse and neglect and then say "Thank you, chain. Job well done." at 8000 miles, give it a watch and a one way ticket to Boca. The additional miles aren't worth the headache and mess (to me).

The WD-40 was all that was available for damage control, and better than nothing for the last 450 miles at which point the chain was more like a non-o-ring chain anyway.