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New chain...to lube or not to lube

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 9:40 am
by Caakman400
Proud new owner of gorgeous AFAM gold sprockets and RK chain and dayyyy-aaaam does the bike feel good.

Question is: that weird whiteish waxy gunk all over the chain - does it need to come off or not? Should I kerosene-clean and then lube, or just put lube over the top, or just leave it as is?

Searched around the internet, but got the typical 50/50 response of "Leave it on!" and "Clean it off!"...so much for google eh. Funny that the chain doesn't come with instructions telling you what to do :smt017

gonna have to update my signature pic with the tasty new sprocket... :smt016

Re: New chain...to lube or not to lube

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:47 pm
by masterofinsanity
its chain wax aint it? leave it on.

Re: New chain...to lube or not to lube

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 12:09 am
by Gemini
yeah its wax, leave it be

gem

Re: New chain...to lube or not to lube

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 2:19 am
by Caakman400
sweet - didn't fancy having to clean that stuff off :smt003

though just read somewhere else that the wax is called Cosmolene and definitely should come off...it's a crazy old world :smt009

Re: New chain...to lube or not to lube

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 3:12 am
by masterofinsanity
be worth checking with the place you got it from then?

Re: New chain...to lube or not to lube

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:52 am
by robracer
The white wax the factory's use on chains is the best stuff available, If you could get it readily in a can it would be on my shelf... the closest stuff I have found is the white Motul spray :smt017

Re: New chain...to lube or not to lube

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 5:13 pm
by Caakman400
masterofinsanity wrote:be worth checking with the place you got it from then?
might drop by tomorrow and attempt to make myself understood in my appalling pidgin-Japanese. the guys at my local bike shop always enjoy having a right laff at me anyways :smt005

well, went out for a ride today and it certainly feels nice and lubed - no chain noise, seamless gear changes, linear power, better engine braking...I'd never realised what a difference new sprockets and a chain could make :smt001