Rear Drive Chain Lubrication

[Buzz Kanter]

Curious how often most Harley riders lubricate the drive chain on their Harleys. Of course this is not the case if you have a belt drive or newer style chain.

I was curious about this when I was lubing the chain on my 1948 Panhead the other day. I do this about every 500 to 1,000 miles or whenever it does not look or feel greasy.

[Hostile]

Buzz
When I travel I try to lube the chain

at the end of each day when it is still

warm. Doing this gets me between 20

and 25,000 miles per chain. Around home

like you said when it looks dry or dirty.

Skeeter

[Tbone]

When I had the 1976 Superglide, I think it dripped crankcase oil on the chain for lubrication. I don't remember for sure. I drank a lot back then.

[Bigincher]

What makes the "newer style chain" immune to needing oiled?

[evoKENevo]

Originally Posted by Bigincher

What makes the "newer style chain" immune to needing oiled?

Newer style chains are o-ringed...supposedly keeping orig. lube in and other stuff out...like dirt and fresh lube...but does'nt do any good for O.D. of rollers OR sprocket teeth...clean & lube IMO same as ANY chain.

[shovelmike]

I clean and lube the chain every 500/1000 mi. or sooner if needed...which is often the case on the gravel roads where I live.

[Bigincher]

Originally Posted by evoKENevo

Newer style chains are o-ringed...supposedly keeping orig. lube in and other stuff out...like dirt and fresh lube...but does'nt do any good for O.D. of rollers OR sprocket teeth...clean & lube IMO same as ANY chain.

Exactly my point, Ken, and I'm glad this subject was brought up. I wonder how many people think that O-ring chains don't need regular mainenance the same as standard chains? Yes, the O-ring keeps the inner portion of the rollers lubed, but the outside of the rollers still rely on some manual method of lubrication. I use an aerosol spray lubricant designed specifically for O-ring chains.
I've been using O-ring chains since the 80's, there is nothing "newer" about them.........

[evoKENevo]

Originally Posted by Bigincher

I've been using O-ring chains since the 80's, there is nothing "newer" about them.........

Apparently they're "newer" to Buzz .....

[Bigincher]

Originally Posted by evoKENevo

Apparently they're "newer" to Buzz .....

Well, if he's sitting astride one of his antique motorcycles, there's no doubt he could call an O-ring chain "newer".......

[Gas Man]

Originally Posted by Hostile

Buzz
When I travel I try to lube the chain

at the end of each day when it is still

warm. Doing this gets me between 20

and 25,000 miles per chain. Around home

like you said when it looks dry or dirty.

Skeeter

This is important too. Best to do it on a warm chain.

Originally Posted by Bigincher

What makes the "newer style chain" immune to needing oiled?

Originally Posted by evoKENevo

Newer style chains are o-ringed...supposedly keeping orig. lube in and other stuff out...like dirt and fresh lube...but does'nt do any good for O.D. of rollers OR sprocket teeth...clean & lube IMO same as ANY chain.

Exactly. I think the best thing for a o-ring chain is to keep it clean. You have to keep those o-rings free of dirt, otherwise they just fall apart.

I myself, had chains on my rice rockets... cleaned them with kero and a grunge brush. The kero is a good cleaner and being a fuel oil has lube properties as well.

Grunge Brush... hands down a real time saver with the task.