Newbie Qn about chain lube & servicing

[Idono]

Dear bros,

 

Please be gentle with me. I'm a total newbie rider currently riding a S4 specII. Newbie coz I got 2B 10+yrs ago, nvr ride since and then recently got 2A and got myself a specII.

 

After 2mths with my bike, seems like chain is getting noisy. And when I look at it, its starting to look shiny.

 

Qn: Do bikeshop offer chain lube service? I'm not sure how to DIY for this, moreover, my bike does not have a main stand.

 

When I got my specII, the shop assure me that they've did a full servicing so I didnt intend to service till 5,000km. But somehow I worry that oil level is low.

 

Qn2: How do i check oil level?!

[FilthyCradle]

You don't need a main stand to diy lube. you can get a friend to lift ur bike for u (till ur rear wheel not touching grd), then u turn ur wheel as u lube ur chain. it's pretty quick so think ur friend can tahan haha

[yeukeong]

He riding a HONDA S4 Super four not HONDA wave la.

Lucky I not ur friend.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Dear bros,

 

Please be gentle with me. I'm a total newbie rider currently riding a S4 specII. Newbie coz I got 2B 10+yrs ago, nvr ride since and then recently got 2A and got myself a specII.

 

After 2mths with my bike, seems like chain is getting noisy. And when I look at it, its starting to look shiny.

 

Qn: Do bikeshop offer chain lube service? I'm not sure how to DIY for this, moreover, my bike does not have a main stand.

 

When I got my specII, the shop assure me that they've did a full servicing so I didnt intend to service till 5,000km. But somehow I worry that oil level is low.

 

Qn2: How do i check oil level?!

 

Hello;

 

Firstly, chain lube is best done yourself weekly or whenever you feel like it. Best done after a ride when the chain has expanded, lube it and let it rest.

 

Why? Lube the chain and start racing away, whatever lubricant you put in will start flying off immediately.

 

If you're not the type to get your hands dirty, get a can of spray chain lube ($8-$22) and have fun spraying away. As you don't have a main stand, spray-on is easiest.

 

As you can see, the lazy option is expensive; the other traditional way is get a bottle of cheap engine oil, sewing machine oil, cheap 2T or whatever and brush the oil on the chain manually. As above, lube whatever you can, push the bike to expose the hidden parts of the chain, lube the rest.

 

You can also invest in an automatic chain oiler which dispenses oil onto the chain while the bike is moving. Scottoiler costs $180 but there is a $30 DIY solution on the market.

 

Why lube the chain? As you found out yourself, riding on a worn out chain is prone to be noisy, inefficient and worst of all, very unsafe after a while. Lubricating the chain frequently prevents metal to metal contact thus enabling yearly or later chain replacement intervals.

 

A dry chain won't even last a few months, and is likely to overheat and snap without warning on the highway. My recommendation is start lubing. Immediately.

 

You're riding a relatively powerful modern machine and the chain is the only thing transmitting power to your rear wheel.

 

--

 

Topic 2 : Checking oil level

 

First, you need to know what a dipstick is and how to measure the correct level of oil.

 

Oh and of course, where the oil filler cap is. Consult the bike's manual when in doubt, it'll tell you location of the oil filler cap, how to read the dipstick and more importantly how much oil your CB400 needs.

 

Can download a manual if you don't have one.

 

The key note here is try and check your oil levels at least on an occasional basis (ie, weekly), although best is every morning if you're riding an ancient bike like mine.

 

Too little oil and you risk lubrication failure and metal-metal contact which will ruin an engine fast, too much oil and you're running with excessive manifold pressure which is bad for the seals and bad for performance.

[stwb1981]

Chain still oiled or not...

look at the bearings on the chain, if shiny spray chain lube then.....

 

Washing of chain is available at some bike wash shop...

it no easy feat...

but cost just $8

there is one such bike wash Dgapz at Republic Motor

usually aft i service my bike at Republic, my ride will go for a wash....

 

Try it & u will love it!!!

 

Chain lube is always the cheapesty way to go abt if U are on a budget....

Strongly rec

Liquid Moly Chain Lube

Agent: Equipment Extreme

Authorised Dealer: Republic motor (just 1 of the agent i know)

one of the best i ever used....

all dirt will stick to it & get fling off instantly (keeping yr chain looking new & prolonging the life) but gt to wash rim more often lah....

plus 1 application last much longer than other brands of lube surprisely...

ps: I'm in no way afflicated to Equipment Extreme ,

do note that if a product is good I will always stand by it...

 

or try motorworld Motul 300v chain spray used it & found it nt too bad but the choice will still be liquid moly....

 

Cheers!!!

[Idono]

Thanks all the bros for replying.

 

Actually, I've experience with bicycle chains (long long ago) being very enthusiastic cyclist . If bike chains are lubed the same manner, I can understand its a very long job & very messy as well. Esp. no main stand, was hoping someone offer such service at a reasonable cost

 

I'm only v. surprised abt only put abt 700km on this bike & I see the chains getting shiny. I had assumed the bikeshop that sold me this used v. lousy lubes. But after listening to you guys, I guess every 500km need to lube.

 

Just a question abt auto-oilers. How safe are they? I'm v. newbie biker & hence quite uncomfortable with the idea of having something near the chains / wheels that could potentially be loose.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

700km is about a week of constant abuse - very soon you'll see the chain getting looser and looser, and the rollers getting blue! Followed by funny sounds, poor performance and... (imagine the rest)

 

Not as hard as it sounds; just pour/brush oil over the chain or even easier, spray on.

 

The DIY chain oiler mepkoh mentions is simply a plastic tube attached to the chain guard. Won't fly around or cause damage even if it was knocked loose somehow.

 

was hoping someone offer such service at a reasonable cost

 

My labour charges are one kopi o for 1 minute lmao. Do it yourself.

[CSV]

put on main stand, if you have the main stand.

 

engage gear 1, release clutch fully, let the wheels turn and spray the lube on as it turns.

 

if no main stand, buy a paddock stand. done.

 

else, get scottoiler, its the best!

[KRANKKED]

One more point, its best to lube your chain when its warm. So ride around for a while, then lube it. Leave it to dry first else your pants will be full of lube!

 

Not to mention your rims being coated with lube as well.

[Idono]

I got a spray type lube from the shop stwb1981 mentions. But they dun hv Liquid Moly Chain Lube. Then I sprayed the chain while pushing the bike around...haha. Well, it doesnt appear to help with the noisy part that much. Think have to do a thorough cleaning of chain???

[stwb1981]

I got a spray type lube from the shop stwb1981 mentions. But they dun hv Liquid Moly Chain Lube. Then I sprayed the chain while pushing the bike around...haha. Well, it doesnt appear to help with the noisy part that much. Think have to do a thorough cleaning of chain???

 

Erm u gt it from republic or equip x??

 

republic had a washing service provided by dgapz...

mayb u can get them to wash yr bike & chain as well think it $8....

 

it could b yr chain is long gone...

time to change them....

have them verified by yr mech...

if u nid 1 juz let me noe...lol

 

Cheers!!!

[Blahhh]

I am surprised nobody mentioned about getting a scissor-jack? It's an easy way to lift up the bike so you can do DIY on it. Also you are riding a super four spec2, those can be fitted with mainstands. Install those in and you don't even need a scissor jack.

 

As for me, the way I take care of my chains is I spray degreaser on the chain, it removes the impurity and dirt found on the chain. Then brush it with used EO, rinse with water then spray with maxima chain lube. Let the lube break into the chain, meaning let it be for 15 mins or so then ride around the neighbourhood. Some might disagree with my method, but I have been using the same chain for almost 1 and a half year on my s4 still running good. No funny noise, no rust and sprockets look good too...