Should/do You Ever Just Lube The Chain??

So after you clean it, you never lube it ?? It's the O'rings that need a little lube generally and not the rollers so some sort of lube may benefit the rubber O'rings. If they dry out, the side plates will simply rub against the rings and thus may cause premature wear. A good dry lube like Wurth works well and does not spray all over the place.

 

Lube it AND clean it. It will minimise the wear on the sprockets.

 

Here you go, the Ducati way, https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10169796-0001.pdf. Andy
Edit : Need to say I make no claim to this link, I book marked it from a post on here a few months ago.

 

I use gear oil SAE80 or 90 works well but I have some SAE140. Put it on, leave for a bit and wipe with a cloth so most of it is gone.

 

Another vote for Wurth dry lube here. No fling, no mess. I apply after every clean. Clean is paraffin (kerosene to you Rex) with a brush, wipe down, then Wurth.

Sometimes I even polish the outside gold links with Brasso

 

After many years of bike ownership .....using my first can ever of Wurth lube. I'm getting through the can a bit quick though...I apply too much as it never looks like there's enough on due to it being a dry lube ....

 

Seems to do the job though ......didn't splatter all over the place like a wax type lube.

 

I think what you’re asking is if the chain just looks a bit dry but not “ dirty” as such , then should you just lube it ?
Personally I wouldn’t. I would still give it a wipe over with paraffin to remove deposited dust and grime in there before you lube it. As there will be some dirt in there which is inevitable during riding , and sealing that in with lube on top will just make it like grinding paste.
As for Wurth , I never got on with it to be honest. I find XCP much better and lasts way longer.

 

Old school, back in the day before chain lubricant and cleaners could be bought in pressurised cans. Automatic chain oilers like the Scottoiler use ordinary oil. This is XCP, https://xcp-protection.com/products/xcp-chain-lubricant/, highly rated by some. Andy

 

I’m going to give that a go when my can of Wurth has run out

 

That's where Ed China went !

 

Yes, regularly as my motorbikes are my main transport. So are used daily & cleaned usually weekly then würth dry-chain-lube once dry.

 

The O or X rings are there to stop dirt getting in between the pins and inside the rollers.

 

and they seal in the grease that was put in when the chain was assembled, don't they?

 

I like the Motul stuff myself, works well on the Diavel so far 27K miles and the sprokets look new.

 

Ref the photo you should lube the at the rollers as well as at the side plates with a lube that is thin enough to get between the roller and the pin, oil will do this or an aerosol lube if it goes on thin and then thickens, I wonder if some of the wax type lubes are thin enough to get between the pin and roller?

 

Surely the O or X rings are there to stop anything getting between the roller and the pin and to stop the grease that is in there from getting out, thus lubricating the pin/roller interface.

My understanding of the purpose of chain lube to be :- prevent the O or X rings drying out, lubricate the roller/sprocket teeth interface and prevent corrosion of the steel plates and rollers.



Also my Ducati workshop manual says to clean the chain with paraffin or petrol.