i got a 04 yz125. im getting it ready for the year and i heard that after cleaning my chain i should soak it in tranny fluid for a day. is that somethin i should do? what does it do?
dirtbike chain
- Thread starter rob435
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aadougie
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Not sure, but it might git oil all up in the nooks and crannies of the chain - what do you think it's gonna doo?
I know people that do it after cleaning. I prefere to use chain wax, seems my chains last much longer than normal chain lube or rearend grease. That is with a ert gold chain.
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IF you have an open link (non-sealed) chain it is suggested that you soak it. The best way I've seen it done is with the old scool tins of chain wax. You roll the chain up, lay it on top of the wax and put the whole setup in the oven for a couple hours on low heat. Chain sinks into wax, wax fills up every little area on the chain. Racers used to do that every couple months.
Now... if it is a sealed chain, just hit it with some WD or some other such lube and call it good (especially if its a DID X-ring chain). Those o-rings on the chain links keep the lube inside the chain, no need to just add more wax to the exterior of the chain to get flung off when you get heavy on the right hand. There's a big argument still going on about if the WD damages the orings or not, but I'll tell you that in three years of using sealed chains I haven't had a single problem with the WD. I spray it down before going out riding and spray it down after getting back when I'm in a good maintanence phase. Otherwise I spray it down once a month. This method with an Ironman sprocket and DID X-ring has lasted me well over 1,500 miles on my 650 and both still look like new.
Now... if it is a sealed chain, just hit it with some WD or some other such lube and call it good (especially if its a DID X-ring chain). Those o-rings on the chain links keep the lube inside the chain, no need to just add more wax to the exterior of the chain to get flung off when you get heavy on the right hand. There's a big argument still going on about if the WD damages the orings or not, but I'll tell you that in three years of using sealed chains I haven't had a single problem with the WD. I spray it down before going out riding and spray it down after getting back when I'm in a good maintanence phase. Otherwise I spray it down once a month. This method with an Ironman sprocket and DID X-ring has lasted me well over 1,500 miles on my 650 and both still look like new.
I raced for many years and NEVER soaked a chain!!! LOL!! How long do you really think the oil will stay in there??? NOT very!!! When you wash the bike scrub the chain with a wire brush, If you won't be riding right away let it dry before you put chain lube on it. DO NOT USE WD-40, Your chain will run hotter, They tested this in a mag years ago and said you would be better off putting nothing on it if all you have is WD-40.
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Like I said, there's still an argument about it. Most of the desert racers I talk to only us WD down in Baja or BITD, etc. A few of the shops in Cali I talked to when getting my bike setup said they had tested the WD'd o-ring chains and said it didn't change anything. The reason they WD'd the chains was to prevent rust since he lube is encapsulated inside the rollers via the o-rings.
Now, an open chain on the other hand, I wouldn't use WD on at all.
For either,
Scrub with simple green and water
Blow dry with air
Spray with maxima chain wax
Soaking in oil will fling all over and attract dust/ dirt and wear out your sprocket/ chain.
Using any sort of oil on teh chain will also fling and attract dust/ dirt
Maxima chain wax does not fling and it does not allow dust/ dirt to stick to it
I have 60 hours on my DID X ring and sunstar sprockets on a CRF 450 riding at a B level, and they are being replaced this year. Above is what i do to maintain it
Scrub with simple green and water
Blow dry with air
Spray with maxima chain wax
Soaking in oil will fling all over and attract dust/ dirt and wear out your sprocket/ chain.
Using any sort of oil on teh chain will also fling and attract dust/ dirt
Maxima chain wax does not fling and it does not allow dust/ dirt to stick to it
I have 60 hours on my DID X ring and sunstar sprockets on a CRF 450 riding at a B level, and they are being replaced this year. Above is what i do to maintain it
k thanks didnt think it would do much but just thought id make sure
The only thing I've found WD-40 works well at is removing decal adhesive.
