White Lithium Grease for Chains?

[Jacl-Kampuchea]

I used a tin of aerosol lithium grease by 3 in 1 on my last trip.

The stuff is made specially for use on chain/cog/sprocket systems, if the can is to be believed.

Thing is, I never saw any traces of it after half an hour on unsealed roads, and am thinking it's pretty shit. . . I normally use burnt engine oil.

Opinions?

[Jacl-Kampuchea]

This stuff:

[divimon2000]

I may try it, not having any luck with the stuff I use.

[Zecatfish]

I just use regular wheel bearing grease.
I idle the bike and put it into second gear on the stand.
Then just pump it on the inside of the chain.
Works quite well, the chain still had grease on it after over 200 miles and looked well lubed.

[elsalvadorklr]

Originally Posted by Jacl-Kampuchea

I used a tin of aerosol lithium grease by 3 in 1 on my last trip.

The stuff is made specially for use on chain/cog/sprocket systems, if the can is to be believed.

Thing is, I never saw any traces of it after half an hour on unsealed roads, and am thinking it's pretty shit. . . I normally use burnt engine oil.

Opinions?

that white stuff flings off in seconds, just like the white powder "dry" stuff...it sucks

I have used many things and your last sentence made me REALLY think

I am recycling my old engine oil with little miles 500 or so on my xr600

I want to use my old oil on my chain...

whats your technique? do you soak the chains or just slap it on

I used to for a while use SMOKE STOP or thick gear oil but it became quite tacky like foam filter oil, it worked though but atrracted too much crap...

cheers

[elsalvadorklr]

Originally Posted by Zecatfish

I just use regular wheel bearing grease.
I idle the bike and put it into second gear on the stand.
Then just pump it on the inside of the chain.
Works quite well, the chain still had grease on it after over 200 miles and looked well lubed.

I also was thinking about light grease too...like you its the inside you lube not the outside

cheers

[Jacl-Kampuchea]

Originally Posted by elsalvadorklr

that white stuff flings off in seconds, just like the white powder "dry" stuff...it sucks



I want to use my old oil on my chain...

whats your technique? do you soak the chains or just slap it on

I use one of the pump action oil cans, like you may lube a door hinge with.

I have a friend hold the back wheel off the ground on the stand and I apply it while spinning the wheel around and around. Flings off a little, but my bikes get filthy anyhow.

[elsalvadorklr]

thanks man

got a race tomorrow wil try out the old oil method

cheers

[LittleRedToyota]

my opinion:

if you are running a sealed chain (o-ring, x-ring, etc.), all you are doing by putting grease or oil on it is making dirt stick to it which will probably wear it out faster.

all the lube the chain will ever need is sealed inside it at the factory. putting lube on the outside does no good and can do harm by attracting and retaining dirt.

spray it with WD-40 after washing to displace the water to prevent surface rust and call it good.

[/opinion]

[elsalvadorklr]

Originally Posted by LittleRedToyota

my opinion:

if you are running a sealed chain (o-ring, x-ring, etc.), all you are doing by putting grease or oil on it is making dirt stick to it which will probably wear it out faster.

all the lube the chain will ever need is sealed inside it at the factory. putting lube on the outside does no good and can do harm by attracting and retaining dirt.

spray it with WD-40 after washing to displace the water to prevent surface rust and call it good.

[/opinion]

I specifically use non oring chains, standard did roller, exra tensile strength, for one it has less rolling resistance and I buy in bulk and replace every 4-5 months or so

keeps my sprockets nice...

for orings your just have to wipe down and keep clean, you are right for oring xrings you do not under any circumstance want to put on any lube that will become tacky

in fact no lube is a standard when riding on sand

[Foot dragger]

Or,you could use a chain wax built just for o-ring chains,engine oil on a chain is straight out of the mid 60's but what ever floats your boat. O-ring chains do indeed have grease injected in them but I have seen chains rust from the outside in if not lubed,the outer rollers and sprockets still like some good lube on them.
WD-40 is a good water dispersant and works great on a chain after washing it,the water just sheds right off.
I dont use much lube on dirt bike chains as it does mainly attract dirt.

[Foot dragger]

Originally Posted by elsalvadorklr

I specifically use non oring chains, standard did roller, exra tensile strength, for one it has less rolling resistance and I buy in bulk and replace every 4-5 months or so

keeps my sprockets nice...

for orings your just have to wipe down and keep clean, you are right for oring xrings you do not under any circumstance want to put on any lube that will become tacky

in fact no lube is a standard when riding on sand

Is that really more cost and energy efficient then just using a nice quiet o-ring chain that lasts 20,000 miles or more? I dont think I would notice less rolling resistance on my 1200 Triumph. The rear sprocket on my 1200 still looked new after 20,000 miles,chain was fried though and everything gets replaced at once.

[elsalvadorklr]

Originally Posted by Foot dragger

Is that really more cost and energy efficient then just using a nice quiet o-ring chain that lasts 20,000 miles or more? I dont think I would notice less rolling resistance on my 1200 Triumph. The rear sprocket on my 1200 still looked new after 20,000 miles,chain was fried though and everything gets replaced at once.

it is

at least for me down here, its a no brainer...why

a good xring chains costs over $300

did roller chains(straight out of the last century ajaja) cost $40 a chain....

span that over a year...thats 3 chains a year or so...maybe 4....

My last oring chain on my klr lasted all of 10k miles...just wd40 to keep it clean...it has to do I guess with where I ride...we ride sand, beaches, etc,,,

no chain lasts 20k in those conditions unless you are just farting around...

not trying to be "old school" it just works for me

you are right on one poiny though...rolling resistance is not noted on a 100bhp bike, yes on a 40bhp bike ladden with mud, or crap etc...

cheers

P.S. one day I would just like a set and forget chain...but I do equal maintence to riding ratio so its a daily affair and costs me nothing...

[Jacl-Kampuchea]

Something my mechanic swears by is that o ring chains dry out in four or five months in this climate ( extremely hot and extremely humid).

Then again he also swears by the white lithium grease and reckons it just changes colour. On that, I disagree, though he got 30k out of his last chain and sprocket.

[shearboy2004]

Does anyone remember the big round tins off chain grease you could get many years ago before Oring chains ?

We would take our chains off the bike and wash them in gasoline then coil it in the tin of grease then heat the whole thing on Mum's oven when she wasn't home , you would take it up to a simmer and it would really grease that chain so well.

Then hook a wire to the hot chain and hang it above the tin so the excess would fall back in the tin.