Alternative to Chain Lube in the developing world

[theoverman83]

Hey,

I just ran short on some top quality chain lube while near the Lao/ Cambodia boarder. Been trying to get some more for days but when I present the empty spay can and pantomime application, people just stare at me like I have 12 heads. Even in a major city, Pakse, I couldn't find any, or anyone who seemed to get that I was looking for something, anything, to lubricate the chain to my motorcycle. That said, most of my searching/ antics/ and acting were in small towns :-)

Any alternatives?
I bought 'cup-grease' but I think its mainly for large, cold temp joints. In a pinch, I'm gonna mix that with motor oil and apply.

Its dusty and hot as balls here if that helps. My chain is currently dusty too :-(

Thanks

[MT350]

I use ep80w gear oil as chain lube

Easy to find anywhere

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[dash]

Engine oil. Because, you know, you might find it useful to be carrying some anyway.

[theoverman83]

Originally Posted by dash

Engine oil. Because, you know, you might find it useful to be carrying some anyway.

Yep, I've got some. But is hot as hell here and seems a tad thin. Thoughts on mixing it with standard cup grease? Lots of dust here too. Poor chain :-(

[dash]

If it's thin, it'll fling off and take the dust with it. Just keep reapplying.

I use grease on the road in the UK, because it doesn't just wash straight off in our lovely wet weather. Tend to switch to oil for dusty places, because grease just attracts the dust.

That's my theory anyway :confused1:

[anonymous1]

Just after the wheel was invented ..... and before O-ring chains

We boiled our chains in grease then hung them out to dry, it seemed to work well enough and ought not be too hard to arrange in the 3rd world.

[tigershel]

Honda recommended engine oil for my VFR, and that's what all the local mechanics use in Philippines.

I've gotten 25k miles out of a minimally maintained and cleaned chain on a ZX12R, that was still in spec (as were the sprockets) when I replaced it prior to a long trip.
Sprayed with a corrosion inhibitor to prevent rust when I remembered, usually 1000 to 2000 miles.
The ZX can put a little of stress on chains...



Sent from my chinaphone excuse the spelling

[Genghis9021]

Originally Posted by tigershel

The ZX can put a little of stress on chains...

Especially if the clutch is abused . . . wheelies, dropped clutches, etc. But overall, notwithstanding your bike's prodigious power and the grip afforded by that monster rear tire . . . it has a cush drive and delivers the power in relatively smooth pulses due to it's 4 cylinder configuration. Thumpers, and to a lesser extent, twins, deliver those pulses between longer intervals and so . . . tend to wear chains inspite of their smaller displacement and lower outputs.

A buddy's ZX10 has yet to wear thru it's first chain at 24,000 miles . . . he's adjusted it once, cleaned it a few times. No lube. That bike lives in Sacramento, CA.

[tigershel]

Originally Posted by Genghis9021

Especially if the clutch is abused . . . wheelies, dropped clutches, etc. But overall, notwithstanding your bike's prodigious power and the grip afforded by that monster rear tire . . . it has a cush drive and delivers the power in relatively smooth pulses due to it's 4 cylinder configuration. Thumpers, and to a lesser extent, twins, deliver those pulses between longer intervals and so . . . tend to wear chains inspite of their smaller displacement and lower outputs.

A buddy's ZX10 has yet to wear thru it's first chain at 24,000 miles . . . he's adjusted it once, cleaned it a few times. No lube. That bike lives in Sacramento, CA.

I'm guessing my ZX saw worse conditions, including a few thousand miles of dirt road, and quite a bit of winter riding.
Somewhere on Advrider there are some pictures of it keeping company with several adventure bikes, all on their sides after hitting glare ice on a dirt road during a post Thanksgiving weekend trip around Vermont.

But I hear you about the big power pulse issue. It's not just chains that get affected.

Sent from my Android chinaphone, please excuse the spelling