This approach also had the huge disadvantage that it could only be applied to chains which were held together with a spring-clip type of joining link. I think the last bike I tried the technique out on was an RD400, which went well enough but certainly did not have the grunt to make Yamaha worry about fitting a riveted link. It was a messy job though and I would not fancy trying it again. The O-ring, and later X-ring, chains really were a huge leap forward (Kawasaki perhaps being first to fit one, on the Z1, perhaps?).
Paraffin in a spray bottle, great for getting tar of the body work, chainlube of the back wheel, tar off the car. Use it in the parts washer too. Kerosene is just a very slightly lower grade of paraffin. When I bought the last lot I think the kerosene was £1.30/ltr and paraffin £1.35. Clean with chain brush and clean off with a rag. I don't use water to wash it off the chain, I'm convinced the water gets in and has a party!
This is a very poor show of me and for risk of sounding more of a twat them I already am. I have a right old to do with chains. I like to see a nice clean chain. However mine are terrible and grubby. The problem is I can manage a paddock stand on my own I can't physically manage it now . Had a scottoiller on which I liked but it turned out has a bit missing so no wonder kept messing up and moving or not working at all. So my chain looks mucky as I can't spray it and spin the wheel to get a nice clean even coat . Just a big gunky mess. Any ideas that don't involve a lifting or paddock stand as poor chains suffering.
No excuse for a dirty chain Mel Clean the part of the chain that's accessible , then push the bike forward/backwards to expose another section, clean that part and repeat until it's all done. Not as easy as using a paddock stand, but acheaviable.
Mel, What bike do you have and does it have a hollow or solid axle? because, if its got a hollow axle whip out your stirrups on the paddock stand and replace with a solid bar that runs all the way through the axle. it just means that all you got to worry about is hoiking the thing on the stand rather than trying to balance it and get the thing on the stand. It means not being able to remove the wheel, but it make your paddock stand life so much easier
depends on the bike and the stand you're using. I have an old Micron stand with cups for under the swingarm on the Superlight and literally have to stand on the bugger to lift the bike, yet use a Tech 7 alloy one on the ZXR, KR1, 999 etc and it's so much easier due to geometry. Tech-7 Alloy Rear Motorcycle Paddock Stand Race Track with Hooks New | eBay But for easy of getting the bike on the stand an Abba stand is the way to go. A lot of people swear by then, personally I find them a bit of a guddle/time consuming getting it set up, but once set up it's very safe and easy to raise the bike Paddock Stand vs abba Superbike Stand
...or Guinees (that's spelt wrong, and I don't mean that sickly Irish beer). And why did almost everything I remember buying as a child cost seven-and-six? Including my first (part-shared) Bantam.
Heating oil / Kerosene these days is very oily and it generally contains bio-fuels which I guess means ethanol. Bio-fuels have been causing synthetic oil seals and O rings in boilers to break down, according to several oil heating engineers. However, I use it for degreasing metals particularly those tat rust quickly once cleaned.....paraffin seems to allow rust to form easily. On an O X ring chain, I just use a worn soft toothbrush, then wipe the side plates off with a WD40 dampened rag (not wet). AL
wd40 to clean the wheels,best ever,and parafin either applied with a paint or toothbrush or an old rag,wipe off the excess,let it dry for a few hours ,and i dont spin the wheel here to do that,then another wipe with a cloth and then castrol racing lube,last chain had 25000 with plenty more on it.
I use a cloth moistened with wd40 for wheels, mr sheen for bodywork - works a treat, but you have to remember its not got any uv protection, so not recommended for a bike kept in direct sunlight without a cover. For uv protection nothing beats Auto Glym
