Chain lube in Central Asia?
 

Hi,

My chainlube system stopped working properly & I'm fed up with using normal oil every 200 miles, so:

Is there any chain lube available in Uzbekistan or Tajikistan? (Samarkand/Tashkent/Dushanbe)

ANy ideas for brand names or how it's called in local lingo?

Cheers
Bjorn

Do they have chain saws? Similar oil.

Tim

I'm now in Kyrgyzstan, I use EP90 diferential oil for chain all the way to here (actually recommended as chain lube in my Suzuki's manual).

EP80/90 is a superb chain lube, unfortunately it flings off rather quickly. but itis o ring compatible.

If taking a chain off a bike for any period of time, it is well worth storing it in a small bath of ep90. Being a bit anal, I toothbrush my chain with ep90 when servicing the zrx1100, at the price of o ring chains for that thing, well worth it!

EP gear oil
 

I'm now back from Central-Asia tour, clocked about 23K km. I only used EP oil for chain (DID VM), total about 0,5 liters. Changed front sprocket at 15K.

I really like EP oil as chain oil. I can apply it very precisely on each chain roller gap and seal separately with a very small oil applicator bottle (the bottle was originally sourced with door lock oil from supermarket).

Positives:

1) You can apply it by hand on right places with high precision (no crappy aerosol)
2) Oil is not sticking to chain -- when chain collects dust or mud, just oil it and the oil will clean all the dust away quickly (oil will attach to dust particles and then these will fly off), so the chain looks almost like new.
3) Available widely
4) Chain oiling process with small oil applicator bottle is much more therapeudic then with aerosol. I found it to be relaxing process and suddenly found that I don't hate oiling chain! ;)
5) If you are going to a short trip, you can only take this very small bottle of oil with you, no need to carry big can of spray.

Negatives:

1) Biggest problem is when it is raining -- it is washed off in minutes, when raining
2) As it is not sticking to chain, it flies off more easily and gets dusty more easily

I oiled chain each day one or more times. Usually after about 200 km or more often when required. On pavement with dry weather it lasts more.

chain lube in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
 

I know it's not the countries you were asking about, but there's a guy in Bishkek that sells chain lube. He has a container in the big container auto parts market west of town off of Chuy Street. 3 or 4 options (all in spray cans).

this is on his business card:

Totenkopf, Bishkek 8-10-996-543-91-58-19
email: totenkopf-mg@yandex.ru

I may be way out of line, but isn't the lubing for the o-rings, not the chain itself. That's what I've always been told. And therefore it doesn't matter if it flings off so long as the o-rings have been having fun with it first.

I usually lube with oil or ATF at night so it can soak in each night.

Scott Oiler :thumbup1: and Tim's right - chainsaw oil works in there just fine.
DID 'X' ring chains well worth having IMHO

EP80/90 - I use it as standard in my Scottoiler. Recommended by Mr. Honda. Otherwise known as Transmission /Gearbox oil.

If you cannot get EP oil - use any old engine oil. Its not very good, but better than nothing.

You may not find chainsaw oil where you are.