>
> What's the best type of chain lube? I won't touch that one with
> a 106 link length of chain. I use PJ-1 o-ring lube and/or gear
> oil.
>
> Professor A9 Federal Way, Wa. [USA]
>
Ah Professor, let me enlighten you. Maxxim Chain Wax. Its THE shit to use.
I use plain old WD-40 and a couple of rags to clean my o-ring chain, with
maybe a little scrubbing from a nylon tooth brush if the gunk is really bad.
Then start the bike up, and ride it for about ten minutes to warm the chain
up. Come home and spray on the chain wax and let it sit for 10-20 minutes.
The stuff dries to the consistency of cosmoline (which is the packaging
material that the military uses to preserve weapons for shipping.) It
doesn't attract dirt like that PJ-1 stuff does (I used to use that before I
switched.) Basically, I just give my chain a quick spray of wax after every
tankful of gas and its good to go. I only worry about cleaning it with the
WD-40 about every 2000 miles or more, depending on how many sand washes and
mud holes I've gone through in the mean time.
The only drawback I've seen with the chain wax is that it might not protect
the contact patches on the rollers as well as other lubes, but I have only
noticed this in very heavy rain and daily riding, combined with not lubing
the chain every tankful of gas. What happened was some very light corrosion
on the rollers that easily cleaned off, and like I said, I was riding in the
rain daily between Ft. Lewis and the University of Washington, and my bike
sat in the rain all day long, plus I won't lubing the chain as often as I
should have. So if it rains more, I just applied a little more chain wax
and there were no problems. Now that I live in Tri-Cities, Eastern
Washington, and with all the desert riding I do, it is imperative that the
lube doesn't attract dirt and sand, and the chain wax doesn't. I used to
not even lube the chain over here on my other bikes, and they'd last longer
than if I had used the PHI-1 on them, unless I cleaned the chain weekly that
is.
I'm here to say, after 8000 miles with the same chain and sprockets and
chain wax, my chain and sprockets have hardly worn at all. I've only had to
adjust the chain once in those miles, and that was right after I put them
on.
One more thing, to align the rear wheel I use a tape measure between the
swing arm pivot bolt and the axle.
Jeff
>
> BTW, and I hope this isn't too commercial, but the Shomer Tec catalog
> carries fresh Cyalume lightsticks for $1 ea, any color/duration (except
> infrared). I usually carry one/two of those, too. If anyone's
> interested, mail me off-list for the address.
>
> Chris
>
>
> --
> Dr. J. Christopher Krok Project Engineer, Adaptive Wall Wind Tunnel
> Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories, California Institute of Technology
> MS 205-45 Phone: 626.395.4794
> Pasadena, CA 91125 Fax: 626.449.2677
>
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