A better chain lube!

I recently read a review of Dupont Teflon Universal Lubricant by Web Bike World.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm

It looked promising, so I went out and bought a can. It's fantastic! No fling off, I mean none. Cleaning the chain was done with a small piece of scrap bath towel and kerosene. I cleaned it carefully for a while, though trace amounts of black old lube due still remain. I then coated it with the new Dupont Teflon lube. In contrast to my usual policy of using as little lube as possible, I hosed it down to the point it was running off the chain. I would have never done this with regular chain lube, as I would have had to scrap it off the back of my jacket after my first ride. The new spray dried almost instantly, leaving a film of 'teflon' slipery stuff on the chain. It says to wait 30 minutes before using, the same as regular chain lube.

The result...I'm totally sold!!

Only 30 minutes after application, I went for a 30 minute ride averaging between 50-65 mph with short trip to 100 mph. With my old lube(Golden Spectro, or PJ7) my rim would be covered with black sport and streaks. Covered!

After this ride there are only a couple of tiny black specs, probably from the left over old lube. The chain has a light white-ish film on it that is slipery to the touch. Rather than the thick sticky coating left over by my old lube.

I really hosed it too. 10 times what I would have put on with the previous stuff. I blasted out old lube, grit and grime, getting it deep into the links. This stuff looks like a winner. It dries so fast I will likely spray it on much more often than I would the old stuff, knowing I won't have to clean it for an hour afterward.

It can be had from Lowes Home Improvement, Ace Hardware, and True Value hardware for between $5-6.50

I'll run it for a week without any additional lube and let you know how the chain looks!

Pics: Before cleaning, after cleaning, and after tiding with the Dupont lube.

clean rim

Here's the rim after cleaning.

Post ride rim

Here's the rim after lubing with the Dupont Teflon spray, and going for a ride 30 minutes after applying the lube.

I've been using DuPont Teflon Lube since I started riding and I have never had any of the issues that people have complained about with chain lube (fling off, dirt build-up, etc). It's totally clear, sets in <1hr, and really does repel dirt and water like nothing I've ever seen.

I've put a little over 500 miles on the last spray down, and it's still as dirt-free and waxy as the day I put it on.

Thanks for the tip!

proper link

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm

says its wax based, so its parafin? I've heard parafin based lubes aren't all that great? I do like my Maxima chain wax because it doesnt' fling

I switched to this stuff from WD-40, and so far it is looking excellent. WD worked very well over the years, too.

zanshin said:

I switched to this stuff from WD-40, and so far it is looking excellent. WD worked very well over the years, too.

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Dude, I hope you're joking about using WD40 as chain lube.

WD40 works fine for 4 miles. It's too thin. You need something thicker.

ALANRIDER7 said:

WD40 works fine for 4 miles. It's too thin. You need something thicker.

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ORLY? Your pussy will cough up a few hairballs if I tell you how long my chains last (riding year round, incidentally).

WD40, no probs

I use WD40 to clean and degrease, then follow-up with Maxima Chain Wax.

I'm in the market for chain lube again and I'm wondering how this one worked out in the long run. Any updates?

zanshin said:

ORLY? Your pussy will cough up a few hairballs if I tell you how long my chains last (riding year round, incidentally).

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Just

FWIW....IMHO makes a good cable lube as well.

FWIW, I belive that the answer to chain longevity is a CLEAN CHAIN and sprockets. If you spray on chain lube it becomes a magnet for dirt. If you use WD40 you always have a clean often unlubed chain, which lasts longer than a chain that is sprayed with chain lube regularly and never cleaned.

I use chain lube and clean the chain OFTEN. My VFR chain has 12k of hard miles on it and is still in good shape.

afm199 said:

FWIW, I belive that the answer to chain longevity is a CLEAN CHAIN and sprockets. If you spray on chain lube it becomes a magnet for dirt. If you use WD40 you always have a clean often unlubed chain, which lasts longer than a chain that is sprayed with chain lube regularly and never cleaned.

I use chain lube and clean the chain OFTEN. My VFR chain has 12k of hard miles on it and is still in good shape.

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That's been my experience, too. I've been using teflon spray on stuff, wipe the chain down while warm before each application. I have a centerstand which makes it easy. I clean/lube every time I fuel, sometimes between fillups if it's been wet or dusty or sandy. Maybe it's not worth the trouble, that's a personal call. I don't mind, and I generally get 18K out of a chain (could go longer, but that's my risk tolerance point).

I read in British sources that the guys who run the automatic oilers go 20K before the first adjustment and get 40K+ out of a chain.

a clean rim is not the measure of a quality chain lube.

I would not use this stuff. messy, sticky oil with an extreamly thick and strong film is what works.

If you want to understand chains and lube first you need to understand the chain does not need lube, the x or o rings lube the rollers fine. Nor does it need lube to keep the o rings soft, those things are made of rubber that handlles EXTREME stress. What needs lube is the interface between the exterior of the roller and the sprocket teeth. The reason it needs lube is that metal on metal galls. If you run WD40 and clean often you will probably get some fairly equal sprocket wear and little chain roller wear, alu is soft and the front steel sprocket gets used 7 or 8 times for every chain revolution. More or less. The rear maybe three for every revolution of the chain.

If you run sticky goo and do NOT clean the chain often, road dirt and silicate sand get caught up in the rollers. Then you get some extreme roller wear, the rollers gall and once they do that, the sprocket teeth start to go quickly.

Long or short, clean the chain often if you want it to last. WD40 and regular cleaning will make a chain last much longer than regular application of chain lube without cleaning.