Chain refurb.

[timbo]

Hi folks, think I know what I'm doing, but please advise. Old style chain, no O rings. So was going to wash and scrub in petrol, then dry. A mate gave me a tin of Putoline grease. Do I just put the chain in the tin, and heat the tin on stove? What temperature, and for how long? I have done this before, but can't remember exactly the best way of doing it 

[Moto63]

Tim, I would advise the use of paraffin not petrol.  (Paraffin oil based) then pop ya tin of grease on a camping stove until it turns from solid into liquid, place chain in said runny substance turn stove off then as the grease starts to solidify pull chain out and hang from one end. Ideally over the tin let excess drain into tin, once fully set take chain down and pop onto ones steed (or motorcycle) if one prefers. OR one could just go n buy one o them there newfangled O ring jobbies. (I highly recommend a decent quality one)  Either way besto luck, oh and make sure one has plenty o them there latex gloves handy. It can turn awful messy. Either way best o luck.  Cheers.  Michael

[timbo]

Thanks Michael, pretty much what I thought, but good to get confirmation. The bike is old , small, and British, so no need for fancy pants chains. Its in good order so I'm just recommissioning for use 

[Propellor]

Blimey timbo, it must be 1978 since I last did that. A lot of so called progress I defo don't buy into, but o ring chains revolutionised things. Greatly increased chain life and a lot less mess. Less noisy too, because there's no wear. Sprockets last longer. What's not to like.

Pre o ring chain days, I did try the boil in the tin method but went back to dribbling gear oil into/onto it. Little but often.

Can one buy o ring chains for brit iron?

[SteveC#222]

Wot they said but definitely use a camping stove to heat the greasy gunge up ( the flat  jobbies are best )  '



UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES USE SWMBO's ELECTRIC/GAS COOKER!!! coz when you spill said greasy gunge all over the top  of her cooker and kitchen floor she will become somewhat irate....don't ask how I know...lets just say the physical scars have healed but the removal of the offending tin of 'Linklife' is currently beyond the skill of medical science

[iansoady]

I used to use that in the dim & distant but aerosols are much cleaner and IMO do at least as good a job. I find Silkolene sticks well and keeps it lubricated.

Agree about using paraffin rather than petrol for cleaning (or Jizer which is water soluble).

[Propellor]

I may be wrong but I think the paraffin thing is more to with being compatible with the o ring material.

[iansoady]

Modern petrol is full of carcinogenic stuff like benzene.

[Moto63]

Plus the use of paraffin (cos it,s oil based) means that you don't av to wait until it,s totally evaporated when you stick in the said tin of molten grease or spray chain lube onnit, oh yes defo use paraffin if doing an O ring type chain NOT petrol.   Cheers,  Michael

[Richard]

Spray lube ?  Exposed chains ?  Boiling it in grease ?

Are you all living in the dark ages ?

Get yourselves an old MZ and don't worry about it ever again (fully enclosed).

[iansoady]

I'm afraid that anyone who rides an MZ and accuses others of living in the dark ages is somewhat lacking in the irony department.......

[timbo]

Job done. Lit my waste oil burner in my shed for the first time this autumn/winter 

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[Moto63]

I'm afraid that anyone who rides an MZ and accuses others of living in the dark ages is somewhat lacking in the irony department.......

ha ha ha ha ha ha ....yeah good one but please stop as it still hurts my broken ribs when I laugh out loud

[SteveC#222]

Spray lube ?  Exposed chains ?  Boiling it in grease ?

Are you all living in the dark ages ?

Get yourselves an old MZ and don't worry about it ever again (fully enclosed).

+1

Those chain gaiters are great! - I used to wipe my chain over with grease once a year and tighten the chain about 1/8 turn and that was it for another year! Nowt wrong with MZ's - cracking bikes!

[manxie]

Here`s my MZ, nice eh.....? Believe it or not, the chain (enclosed) is in excellent condition 

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