Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:33 am**

I know there are a lot of opinions out there on this, but I thought I'd just report the data. The reason I wrote today? I finally had to adjust my factory o-ring chain for the first time... at 12,000 miles!!. I've been using WD-40 as the only chain lube since new. I turned each adjusting nut one turn today, moving the rear wheel back a whopping 0.05 inch. Granted, I'm pretty easy on a chain - pretty unagressive riding - so take that for what it's worth. But I'm clearly a convert at this point, it is sure cleaner than what I've used in the past and I'm thrilled to have made it 12K on one chain adjustment. I'll continue using it as a lube and see how far I make it on the stock chain. Bill Watson Phoenix DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com wrote: --------------------------------- Blab-away for as little as 1 /min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:09 am**

On 4/6/06 11:33 PM, "Bill Watson" wrote:

> I know there are a lot of opinions out there on this, but I thought I'd just > report the data. The reason I wrote today? I finally had to adjust my > factory o-ring chain for the first time... at 12,000 miles!!. I've been using > WD-40 as the only chain lube since new. I turned each adjusting nut one turn > today, moving the rear wheel back a whopping 0.05 inch. >

This would be a great time to change the front sprocket, Bill. About now it should be visibly asymmetrical. It's easily the first part of the drive train trio to wear. If you put in a new one everything will last longer. Oh yeah, congratulations on your wise lube decision. Bogdan, who is glad it's Friday

Posted: **Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:53 am**

On 4/7/06, Bill Watson wrote:

> I know there are a lot of opinions out there on this, but I thought I'd just report the data. The reason I wrote today? I finally had to adjust my factory o-ring chain for the first time... at 12,000 miles!!. I've been using WD-40 as the only chain lube since new. I turned each adjusting nut one turn today, moving the rear wheel back a whopping 0.05 inch. > > Granted, I'm pretty easy on a chain - pretty unagressive riding - so take that for what it's worth. But I'm clearly a convert at this point, it is sure cleaner than what I've used in the past and I'm thrilled to have made it 12K on one chain adjustment. I'll continue using it as a lube and see how far I make it on the stock chain. > > Bill Watson > Phoenix >

Hi Bill, everybody, I normally lurk (I don't have a KLR) but I'd like to insert a little tech info re WD40 and o-ring drive chains. 1) WD40 is not a good lubricant, it's a cleaner. Think Kerosene in a spray can. You don't want dirt/sand/grit rubbing on the moving parts of your chain, and WD40 cleans that stuff off well. 2) The chain is internally lubricated; hence the o-rings. Lube stays on the bearing surfaces so long as the o-rings are intact. This should be a long time, if you keep the grit off the chain as much as possible. (that's where the WD40 comes in). Spraying the chain with WD40 rinses the grit off the chain, and away from the o-rings. 3) The chain should last a long time if most of your riding is unaggressive. Clutch dumping wheelies and all-out hill climbs put the most stress on a chain. Keep the chain clean and inspect and replace sprockets regularly and your chain should last a very long time. -Greg Guithues. 800 miles from home, I ride a BMW Dayton, Ohio / Oklahoma City

Posted: **Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:01 am**

snip To clarify, I didn't mean to say replace sprockets regularly, I meant to second Bogdan's suggestion of inspecting sprockets and replace as necessary. The way you ride, your chain will likely outlast two or three front sprocket and maybe more than one rear sprocket - if you keep things clean and adjusted. -Greg.

> > 3) The chain should last a long time if most of your riding is > unaggressive. Clutch dumping wheelies and all-out hill climbs put the > most stress on a chain. Keep the chain clean and inspect and replace > sprockets regularly and your chain should last a very long time. > > -Greg Guithues. > 800 miles from home, I ride a BMW > Dayton, Ohio / Oklahoma City >

Posted: **Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:11 pm**

You are correct in that it is a good cleaner and most longtime listers who use wd-40 will not dispute that. It may be that it is not a good lubricant. But I have had the opportunity to put wd-40 on non- o'ring chains in a industrial setting and there is a residue , greasy type left after drying.and usually after several applications. Your milage may vary. I only mention this because at one point I thought maybe the oily residue on my oring chains was grease from w/ in the orings being washed out. Some applications in the industrial setting will get you into a lot of trouble using wd-40 or any other lube for that matter. One being a rack and pinion gear drive for a very accurate and fast long travel plasma burning machine. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Greg Guithues" wrote:

>> Hi Bill, everybody, > > I normally lurk (I don't have a KLR) but I'd like to insert a little > tech info re WD40 and o-ring drive chains. > > 1) WD40 is not a good lubricant, it's a cleaner. Think Kerosene

in a

> spray can. You don't want dirt/sand/grit rubbing on the moving

parts

> of your chain, and WD40 cleans that stuff off well. > > 2) The chain is internally lubricated; hence the o-rings. Lube

stays

> on the bearing surfaces so long as the o-rings are intact. This > should be a long time, if you keep the grit off the chain as much as > possible. (that's where the WD40 comes in). Spraying the chain

with

> WD40 rinses the grit off the chain, and away from the o-rings. > > 3) The chain should last a long time if most of your riding is > unaggressive. Clutch dumping wheelies and all-out hill climbs put

the

> most stress on a chain. Keep the chain clean and inspect and

replace

> sprockets regularly and your chain should last a very long time. > > -Greg Guithues. > 800 miles from home, I ride a BMW > Dayton, Ohio / Oklahoma City >

Posted: **Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:25 pm**

I have not been a long time participant in this group although, it would appear that to me that Mr. Watson has credentials worthy of respect. In addition to his apparent knowledge, his trial of WD40 and publication of his results would lead me to believe that he has proven that WD40 does a suitable job as either a lubricant or at least a cleaner that has no negative effects on O-ring chains. Possibly, if used appropriately, it may have a conditioning effect on the O-rings thus prolonging chain life. It's hard to argue the facts. If what Mr. Watson has said is true, and there is no reason to doubt him, I'd have to agree that applications WD40 is conducive to reduction in chain wear. I picked up a small can today to carry on my KLR. I'll give my report in 15,000 miles or so. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Greg Guithues" wrote:

> > On 4/7/06, Bill Watson wrote: > > I know there are a lot of opinions out there on this, but I

thought I'd just report the data. The reason I wrote today? I finally had to adjust my factory o-ring chain for the first time... at 12,000 miles!!. I've been using WD-40 as the only chain lube since new. I turned each adjusting nut one turn today, moving the rear wheel back a whopping 0.05 inch.

> > > > Granted, I'm pretty easy on a chain - pretty unagressive

riding - so take that for what it's worth. But I'm clearly a convert at this point, it is sure cleaner than what I've used in the past and I'm thrilled to have made it 12K on one chain adjustment. I'll continue using it as a lube and see how far I make it on the stock chain.

> > > > Bill Watson > > Phoenix > > > > > Hi Bill, everybody, > > I normally lurk (I don't have a KLR) but I'd like to insert a

little

> tech info re WD40 and o-ring drive chains. > > 1) WD40 is not a good lubricant, it's a cleaner. Think Kerosene

in a

> spray can. You don't want dirt/sand/grit rubbing on the moving

parts

> of your chain, and WD40 cleans that stuff off well. > > 2) The chain is internally lubricated; hence the o-rings. Lube

stays

> on the bearing surfaces so long as the o-rings are intact. This > should be a long time, if you keep the grit off the chain as much

as

> possible. (that's where the WD40 comes in). Spraying the chain

with

> WD40 rinses the grit off the chain, and away from the o-rings. > > 3) The chain should last a long time if most of your riding is > unaggressive. Clutch dumping wheelies and all-out hill climbs put

the

> most stress on a chain. Keep the chain clean and inspect and

replace

> sprockets regularly and your chain should last a very long time. > > -Greg Guithues. > 800 miles from home, I ride a BMW > Dayton, Ohio / Oklahoma City >

Posted: **Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:55 pm**

Great point, Bogdan. At 9K miles I was installing a new rear tire (wow, there's proof I'm not an aggressive rider) and inspected both sprockets. The front did have some visible wear (not a lot, but surely visible) and I flipped it over and reinstalled. Maybe someone will correct that line of thinking, I'm all ears if someone has a convincing argument - but my feeling is that the only significant loads are on the drive side of the sprocket teeth... thus this is an effective way with doubling sprocket life. Since I have an '04 I did build a spacer and locking feature on the lathe before doing so, thus the sprocket is still aligned correctly. Clearly the time spent making that stuff would have been better used in simply sending in a few bucks to Fred and buying a new sprocket! But I didn't have a new sprocket in hand, the bike was apart, so I finished the job. I also flipped the rear sprocket while the rear wheel was off the bike - very, very hard to discern any wear but after looking carefully you could see it so I flipped it. So far my plan was to order another front sprocket with my next order from Fred and throw it on when convenient, certainly before 18K miles. Good plan or bad plan? Bill Watson Phoenix Bogdan Swider wrote: This would be a great time to change the front sprocket, Bill. About now it should be visibly asymmetrical. It's easily the first part of the drive train trio to wear. If you put in a new one everything will last longer. Oh yeah, congratulations on your wise lube decision. Bogdan, who is glad it's Friday --------------------------------- New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:04 pm**

On 4/7/06, dbs52a wrote:

> > I have not been a long time participant in this group although, it > would appear that to me that Mr. Watson has credentials worthy of > respect. In addition to his apparent knowledge, his trial of WD40 > and publication of his results would lead me to believe that he has > proven that WD40 does a suitable job as either a lubricant or at > least a cleaner that has no negative effects on O-ring chains. > Possibly, if used appropriately, it may have a conditioning effect > on the O-rings thus prolonging chain life. It's hard to argue the > facts. If what Mr. Watson has said is true, and there is no reason > to doubt him, I'd have to agree that applications WD40 is conducive > to reduction in chain wear. I picked up a small can today to carry > on my KLR. I'll give my report in 15,000 miles or so. > > > > >

DBS52A (sorry, I don't know your other name), I hope I didn't give the impression that I disputed Bill's observations. My only objective was to clarify the fact that the o-ring chain is permanently lubed. The WD40 is affective at keeping abrasives off the exposed parts and away from the o-rings. Under normal use, the chain will last as long as the o-rings remain intact. Indeed the WD40 may help condition the o-rings. I also qualified the fact that Bill appears to be using his KLR chain far below it's abuse threshold, and therefore predicted that it would last a long time if he continued to care for it properly. Respectfully, -Greg Guithues.

Posted: **Fri Apr 07, 2006 6:48 pm**

Sounds like a fine plan. I never thought of flipping the sprockets. Very creative in the best klr tradition. Bogdan

On 4/7/06 3:55 PM, "Bill Watson" wrote: > Great point, Bogdan. At 9K miles I was installing a new rear tire (wow, > there's proof I'm not an aggressive rider) and inspected both sprockets. The > front did have some visible wear (not a lot, but surely visible) and I flipped > it over and reinstalled. Maybe someone will correct that line of thinking, > I'm all ears if someone has a convincing argument - but my feeling is that the > only significant loads are on the drive side of the sprocket teeth... thus > this is an effective way with doubling sprocket life. > > Since I have an '04 I did build a spacer and locking feature on the lathe > before doing so, thus the sprocket is still aligned correctly. Clearly the > time spent making that stuff would have been better used in simply sending in > a few bucks to Fred and buying a new sprocket! But I didn't have a new > sprocket in hand, the bike was apart, so I finished the job. > > I also flipped the rear sprocket while the rear wheel was off the bike - > very, very hard to discern any wear but after looking carefully you could see > it so I flipped it. > > So far my plan was to order another front sprocket with my next order from > Fred and throw it on when convenient, certainly before 18K miles. > > Good plan or bad plan? > > Bill Watson > Phoenix > > Bogdan Swider wrote: > This would be a great time to change the front sprocket, Bill. About now > it should be visibly asymmetrical. It's easily the first part of the drive > train trio to wear. If you put in a new one everything will last longer. Oh > yeah, congratulations on your wise lube decision. > > Bogdan, who is glad it's Friday > > > --------------------------------- > New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save > big. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >

Posted: **Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:09 pm**

Flipping the sprockets works fine on bicycles that have symmetrical cogs, so I don't see why it wouldn't work on motorcycles. ed A7, and about 15 bicycles

Wilsons Sandbox

thinking about selling ... advice?

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