care of sealed chains

[letter]

What is the proper way to care for a sealed chain? What do you use to clean it? Do you put chain lube on it? Is the top of the line DID x ring worth the money? Thanks for the anticipated response.

[642MX]

I spray my chain with Simple Green and then carefully pressure wash it. I use either Motorex chain lube or WD-40. I personally think Primary Drive O-ring chains are a better chain for the money.

[grayracer513]

I have used three Regina ORN chains, but never had to replace one. The first one I bought got sold with the bike I put it on. The one on my 450 is over two years old now, and is still in good shape. I don't know if the top of the line Regina ZRH chain is enough better than that to warrant the extra $15, but with that kind of service, I don't know if I'll bother finding out. X,Z,T,W, etc., chains are intended to improve sealing and reduce drag. Maybe they do, but the drag thing is overblown. I didn't care for the X-ring I got with my 250F, but I can't vouch for how it was maintained.

I also use Simple Green, followed by a spray from a garden hose, or sometimes a pressure spray. If I use a pressure washer, it's done from the sides only, and from no closer than 12-14". You want to avoid driving water under the seals.

I use Maxima Synthetic Chain Guard because it lubes the outer rollers and the sprockets, prevents rust, dries nearly grease free so it collects very little dirt, and washes off easily with the aforementioned simple green, taking the dirt with it.

[letter]

Thanks for the response Gray. I got the Tag sprocket, DID ERT (non sealed) combo from Motosport in December. The chain stretched after every ride. I measured the chain per the manual and according to the manual it is already at its limit. I know that non sealed chains stretch more, but this ERT has stretched faster than the stock chain. I had the stock chain on the bike for a year before it reached its limit per the manual.

[shanedut]

I second the regina o-ring chains, I had mine on for 2 years of hard riding and just replaced it. I didnt have to but I wanted new sprockets and I had a spare chain sitting around so I put the new one on.

[dbehr624]

Well I have the DID X ring VM pro chain ($130). I havent had a chance to try it yet, but from what i heard it is very tough and really the best chain on the market.

[One Louder]

I spray my chain with Simple Green and then carefully pressure wash it. I use either Motorex chain lube or WD-40. I personally think Primary Drive O-ring chains are a better chain for the money.

Chain lube is better than wd-40 in my opinion....But that's just me

[grayracer513]

Well I have the DID X ring VM pro chain ($130). ...from what i heard it is very tough and really the best chain on the market.

Damn, I hope so. That's nearly twice what an ORN can be bought for.

[barch88]

I use Gumout on chain to clean it, Spectrem Rust Preventor spray, sometimes Bel-Ray lube, or WD-40, and thats about it, its cleannn.

[One Louder]

The problem with WD-40 is that it flings off the chain and loads up with dirt.

[grayracer513]

The problem with WD40 is that it doesn't lube anything very well, doesn't prevent rust for more than a few days, and can attack certain kinds of rubber that might be used in some chains. It's mostly solvents, and is intended as a water dispersant, which it does well.

[SUnruh]

wd40 after washing to prevent rust.

then i use MX-1000 chain lube.

this stuff is simply amazing. a typical oem rear sprocket lasts 2 hours tops. since using a DID X-ring and MX-1000 chain lube i have over 12 hours on the oem rear sprocket!