Need help ! O rings falling off my chain

[tokillmob]

Good evening fellas,

 

Shall not waste your time with the long guest messages and shall get to the point straight.

 

Recently, around September, had a change of chains, from normal factory ones, to O rings chain, as recommended by the mechanic. Told me just clean and lube, and it will last a lot longer than my regular chains. No doubt, it was a lot smoother compared to the regular chains, maybe it was faulty already.

 

I clean and lube my chains every 400km - 500km, using a chain cleaner and brush, then use water to rinse away remaining cleaner, wait for it to dry, about 20 mins, then apply lube.

 

Till date, almost 10 O rings have snapped, I'm not sure what am i doing wrong, can't be the cleaner or lube as others have been using it without issue, my brush isn't those metal ones, is those standard blue brush that people are selling on the net.

 

If a change of chains is required, should i go back to O ring chains again ? Or should try X or Z.

 

My bike is Kawa KLX 125.

 

Need some chain expert's opinion, TIA

Edited November 12, 2014 by tokillmob

[0401897D]

can share wat bike u riding?

[tokillmob]

can share wat bike u riding?

 

Kawa KLX 125, never go offroad riding before

[0401897D]

checked whether the chain setting is it too tight?

[tokillmob]

checked whether the chain setting is it too tight?

 

Checked, the last time i went for service the mechanic say tension ok, he say O ring drop out normal, but i think at this rate it's dropping out, it's terrible !

[RoboTech]

Most probably your chain cleaner is not suitable for O-ring chains, if it is kerosene-based then it is definitely not suitable.... and using those bristle brush will make it worse.... can only use those paint brushes... O-rings dropping out is not normal, O-rings are used to keep the dirt out of the chain pins and to keep the lubricants in, wear and tear will set in soon, just like normal chains without O-rings....

[tokillmob]

Most probably your chain cleaner is not suitable for O-ring chains, if it is kerosene-based then it is definitely not suitable.... and using those bristle brush will make it worse.... can only use those paint brushes... O-rings dropping out is not normal, O-rings are used to keep the dirt out of the chain pins and to keep the lubricants in, wear and tear will set in soon, just like normal chains without O-rings....

 

I checked with the supplier before i bought the cleaner, they are O, X and Z compatible, i also thought that the brush will make it worse, so for the last clean, i just spray the cleaner, wait awhile, then use a rag and wipe off all the stuff, so am i even suppose to do cleaning, since O rings are there to keep dirt out.

[kaiq]

You need to tell us what brand of lube and cleaner are you using. Some brands may not be suitable for maintenance use.

 

I only spray lube every 200k. So far so good. I'm using double tt.

[superspeed123]

Should be your chain cleaner or you brush too hard that causes the O-ring to come off. Have been using RP7 or WD40 to clean my chains for many years. Never had the O-ring came off from the chains. Maybe you can start listing out what is the brand of chain cleaner , the type of brush , brand of chain lube you are using do that we are have a better picture what went wrong. Worst case , change a new chain now.

[tokillmob]

I'm using the brand S100, from germany, others have been using it and there isn't any issue at all, cleaner and lube, both from S100, the brush is those typical chain cleaning brush, those blue or red handle kind, considering of changing of chains.

 

Stick back to O ring ? Or go for X chain ? Or just use normal chains.

[Hydher]

My guess is that you are using a fake or cheap O ring chain

 

O rings dropping out at such a rate is not normal.

A snapped chain is very very dangerous.

[justforme]

just curious, how do you even know your oring is coming out? i cant even spot my oring in the chain. i've never cleaned my chain before cauz im using scottoiler, it's usually oily and bright.

 

anyway from what i know s100 will remove the dirt without scrubbing. just rinse your chain after your s100 does its work.

 

another possibility is that you are not spraying your chain lube correctly. not enough lube, alot of friction occurs when your chain spins and they could actually overheat and get damaged and make sure you spray it on the links too.

 

make sure you spray enough lube such that the lube gets into the chain and not on the surface of the chain.....

 

spraying of lube shld be done frequently, there is no fixed rule to when your must spray but just a guideline.

i'm assuming you are using dry lube, if you ride your bike everyday please spray lube every week and everytime after your chain gets wet.

[tokillmob]

My guess is that you are using a fake or cheap O ring chain

 

O rings dropping out at such a rate is not normal.

A snapped chain is very very dangerous.

 

Yes it is, might consider a chain change soon, spend $100 plus for that chain. Not sure how to tell if it's real or fake.

 

just curious, how do you even know your oring is coming out? i cant even spot my oring in the chain. i've never cleaned my chain before cauz im using scottoiler, it's usually oily and bright.

 

anyway from what i know s100 will remove the dirt without scrubbing. just rinse your chain after your s100 does its work.

 

another possibility is that you are not spraying your chain lube correctly. not enough lube, alot of friction occurs when your chain spins and they could actually overheat and get damaged and make sure you spray it on the links too.

 

make sure you spray enough lube such that the lube gets into the chain and not on the surface of the chain.....

 

spraying of lube shld be done frequently, there is no fixed rule to when your must spray but just a guideline.

i'm assuming you are using dry lube, if you ride your bike everyday please spray lube every week and everytime after your chain gets wet.

 

During chain cleaning, you can see this rubber coming out from your chains, I might consider what you say, lube it every week or when it get's wet. With such a dramatic weather nowadays, guess I will have to bring the lube out with me all the time.

[crazydj]

Wah, first time i hear this! So far, over the years, my chain use 5 years i dont think any o-rings drop off. The sprocket and chain still doing good. Been using maxima chain wax for years.

 

During chain cleaning, i have never ever seen rubber come out sia. I suggest you change to another brand of chain and sprockets, stop using your chain cleaner. Safety is important man.

[superspeed123]

Another tip is to lube the chains when is hot. After a ride back home, spray the chain with lube . Change to a normal O-ring chains will do. What brand of chain you are using now ??

[tokillmob]

Wah, first time i hear this! So far, over the years, my chain use 5 years i dont think any o-rings drop off. The sprocket and chain still doing good. Been using maxima chain wax for years.

 

During chain cleaning, i have never ever seen rubber come out sia. I suggest you change to another brand of chain and sprockets, stop using your chain cleaner. Safety is important man.

 

Wah, so good ah, i now every time i finish riding i will check my chains, so far nothing has came off yet since the last time the last O ring snapped.

 

Another tip is to lube the chains when is hot. After a ride back home, spray the chain with lube . Change to a normal O-ring chains will do. What brand of chain you are using now ??

 

I do my cleaning and lubing after riding back home, can't remember the chain brand, need to check again, mechanic told me once, then i forget already.

[superspeed123]

Get those good brand chains like DID , RK, Regina etc. Did you change new front and rear sprockets when you change the chains??

[tokillmob]

Get those good brand chains like DID , RK, Regina etc. Did you change new front and rear sprockets when you change the chains??

 

Nope, didn't change, reason for changing to O rings chain so that the sprockets could last longer, when i change the chains, the bike was at 3000km - 4000km mileage, it was still in good condition.

 

3rd day since i posted this thread, none of the O rings snapped yet.

[superspeed123]

Check for any uneven wear on the sprockets before you fix new chains. Good luck, ride safe. Raining season coming.

[tokillmob]

Check for any uneven wear on the sprockets before you fix new chains. Good luck, ride safe. Raining season coming.

 

Checked ! Both sprockets looks good, thanks bro, you too, probably gonna bring along the chain lube wherever i go.

[RoboTech]

I checked with the supplier before i bought the cleaner, they are O, X and Z compatible, i also thought that the brush will make it worse, so for the last clean, i just spray the cleaner, wait awhile, then use a rag and wipe off all the stuff, so am i even suppose to do cleaning, since O rings are there to keep dirt out.

 

Actually, you do not need to clean the chain often, unless you are riding a motocross bike daily through dirt track.... the chain may look dirty but it does not affect the chain much.... O-rings chain generally last longer than normal ones and does not need to lubricate so often because the O-rings keep the lubricant in.... externally it may appear dry but that's normal, what is important is the link pins inside.... also, if you need to lubricate the chains, do it after the ride.... the heat from the chain will make the oil flow easily inside the pins where it is needed, and when the chain cools it will lock the oil inside.... when you ride the bike next time, excess oil will be fling out, those inside the pins will lubricate it thoroughly for the first few kms.... you do not need to oil your chains daily....

[tokillmob]

Actually, you do not need to clean the chain often, unless you are riding a motocross bike daily through dirt track.... the chain may look dirty but it does not affect the chain much.... O-rings chain generally last longer than normal ones and does not need to lubricate so often because the O-rings keep the lubricant in.... externally it may appear dry but that's normal, what is important is the link pins inside.... also, if you need to lubricate the chains, do it after the ride.... the heat from the chain will make the oil flow easily inside the pins where it is needed, and when the chain cools it will lock the oil inside.... when you ride the bike next time, excess oil will be fling out, those inside the pins will lubricate it thoroughly for the first few kms.... you do not need to oil your chains daily....

 

Wow, thanks for the knowledge, so if i commute daily using the bike, how often should i do the clean or lubing ? Don't have much knowledge on chains, what i do is read on this forum first, which i see most people recommend a clean and lube every 500km, so i just followed as well.

[youngtiger91]

Can you share what kind of your bike?

 

 

 

 

 

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[RoboTech]

Wow, thanks for the knowledge, so if i commute daily using the bike, how often should i do the clean or lubing ? Don't have much knowledge on chains, what i do is read on this forum first, which i see most people recommend a clean and lube every 500km, so i just followed as well.

 

It is ok to lubricate the chain every 500kms, but do it sparingly and also correctly.... apply the lub at both sides of the chain, not the center... and use an old rag to wipe off any excess oil from the chain and sprocket when you ride your bike the next day...troublesome but then you do not need to clean the chain again because there is no or very little excess oil for dirt to stick onto...

 

One trick to prolong the life of the sprockets is to reverse mount the sprocket when the sprocket teeth is worn on one side... if it is possible on your bike...

[tokillmob]

Can you share what kind of your bike?

 

Kawasaki KLX 125

 

It is ok to lubricate the chain every 500kms, but do it sparingly and also correctly.... apply the lub at both sides of the chain, not the center... and use an old rag to wipe off any excess oil from the chain and sprocket when you ride your bike the next day...troublesome but then you do not need to clean the chain again because there is no or very little excess oil for dirt to stick onto...

 

One trick to prolong the life of the sprockets is to reverse mount the sprocket when the sprocket teeth is worn on one side... if it is possible on your bike...

 

No idea what does reverse mount means, can't picture it, i normally spray 3 times, 1 cycle in the middle, 1 cycle by the left, 1 cycle by the right. What about cleaning wise, every 500 as well ?