WD40 for chain lube

Goofy Foot
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Goofy Foot
Edited Date/Time 4/30/2021 10:24pm
Who uses only WD40 for chain lube? It’s a non messy solution that works correct?
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TXDirt
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TXDirt 4/22/2021 8:06am
4/22/2021 8:06am
It’s too light for the chain IMO. I think you are better off with true chain lube. It’s heavier and stickier and works into the chain better long term.

I use to use 4D40 on my pipe to keep it from rusting. Spray a thin coat on it after power washing.
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 4/22/2021 8:08am
4/22/2021 8:08am
I use crc rust inhibitor and lube. Similar to wd40. I like it better than any chain lube I’ve tried. Most lubes attract more dirt and are messier than they help to me.
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J-Mill
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J-Mill 4/22/2021 8:08am
4/22/2021 8:08am
For our o-ring and x-ring chains we use only WD-40. For our smaller bikes with roller chains we’ll put a shot of WD on after the bike gets washed but use Maxima chain wax for lubrication.
O and X-ring chains seal grease inside the rollers so you can get away with WD only and have a nice clean chain all the time.
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PNWRider
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PNWRider 4/22/2021 8:09am
4/22/2021 8:09am
I use it for O/X/whatever ring chains as rust prevention/water dispersant since the lube is sealed in.

I only use it on a standard chain for rust prevention/water dispersal post-wash, then follow with chain lube after it drips dry on a hook in my garage.
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tspiller13
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tspiller13 4/22/2021 8:09am
4/22/2021 8:09am
I've been using WD-40 and no problems for me.

Used to use chain lube but it attracts so much dirt and causes a mess.
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mx510
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mx510 4/22/2021 8:09am
4/22/2021 8:09am
WD-40 works great to keep rust off your chain after washing. Before riding I use gear oil as my chain lube.
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kage173
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kage173 4/22/2021 8:10am
4/22/2021 8:10am
incorrect
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kevinr
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kevinr 4/22/2021 8:13am
4/22/2021 8:13am
I don't like a ton of gunk of my chain and sprockets so I only use WD-40 on all mine, my sons and wife's bikes. Never had an issue. I think my chain/sprockets last about 30 hours. MX only.
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Steve125
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Steve125 4/22/2021 8:13am
4/22/2021 8:13am
WD every single time I go out... Maxima Chain lube every 3rd moto or so,,
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Robbirob25
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Robbirob25 4/22/2021 8:13am
4/22/2021 8:13am
WD stands for "Water Displacement". It is not considered a true lubricant. I was previously the North American Sales Manger for RK Chain. WD40 is great to assist after washing a bike, but then follow up with chain lube.
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kb228
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kb228 4/22/2021 8:14am
4/22/2021 8:14am
Maxima chain wax is the only thing ive found that doesnt fling off.
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Robbirob25
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Robbirob25 4/22/2021 8:20am
4/22/2021 8:20am
kb228 wrote:
Maxima chain wax is the only thing ive found that doesnt fling off.
If you apply after a short ride will the chain still has temperature, it is less likely to "fling off."
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ratbeagle139
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ratbeagle139 4/22/2021 8:23am
4/22/2021 8:23am
WD40 is solvent based, not petroleum. As soon as your chain warms up all it's doing is attracting dust. It has zero ability to penetrate and lubricate roller pins. As others have said, its great for preventing rust after washing but try and use a real chain lube/wax before riding. In comparison your chain and sprockets will last wayyyy longer as well.
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Graybeard 4/22/2021 8:35am
4/22/2021 8:35am
Back in the late '70s or early '80s, we did a study at Dirt Bike Magazine and found that a chain with WD-40 on it actually ran hotter than just a dry chain with no lube. Interesting stuff. But as many others have already said, I use WD-40 after a wash, then chain lube before every ride / race.
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MyBobbym
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MyBobbym 4/22/2021 8:38am
4/22/2021 8:38am
Goofy Foot wrote:
Who uses only WD40 for chain lube? It’s a non messy solution that works correct?
Try chain lube as a replacement for WD40.
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mxaaron
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mxaaron 4/22/2021 8:40am
4/22/2021 8:40am Edited Date/Time 4/22/2021 8:43am
I actually did a comparison, and ran one full life of a DID ERT3 chain using only WD, and one full life of the exact same chain using Chain Wax. Of course with the WD, you have to lube every moto as it slings off pretty quick. Final results, I got the exact same life out (measured in hours) of both chains. And of course, I use WD after every wash.

That's about as scientific as this dirt biker can get. The moral of the story though, is that I try to use chain lube, but if I have WD, i run it without any worries.
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Black Diesel Bomber 4/22/2021 8:41am
4/22/2021 8:41am
ratbeagle139 wrote:
WD40 is solvent based, not petroleum. As soon as your chain warms up all it's doing is attracting dust. It has zero ability to penetrate and...
WD40 is solvent based, not petroleum. As soon as your chain warms up all it's doing is attracting dust. It has zero ability to penetrate and lubricate roller pins. As others have said, its great for preventing rust after washing but try and use a real chain lube/wax before riding. In comparison your chain and sprockets will last wayyyy longer as well.
I would rather have a clean chain than have a chain with tons of sand/dirt stuck to it. This sand/dirt grinds between the chain and sprockets. The WD flings off but it wipes off easily compared to a messy gooey fling off like other chain lubes.

Soaking a chain in gear oil is the best but a fresh coat of WD40 after a wash and a fresh coat before a ride has always worked and doesn't shorten life of chains or sprockets.

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sandman768
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sandman768 4/22/2021 8:42am
4/22/2021 8:42am
For my non orings I run Maxima products, after chain is hot from a moto, I clean it off with a chain brush, then apply the chain lube. For my oring chains, I have been using a silicone based lubricant that is safe for the rubber orings, I buy it at Advance auto parts...
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Black Diesel Bomber 4/22/2021 8:43am
4/22/2021 8:43am
Goofy Foot wrote:
Who uses only WD40 for chain lube? It’s a non messy solution that works correct?
MyBobbym wrote:
Try chain lube as a replacement for WD40.
It's the other way around actually...plenty of guys use only WD40 with no issues.
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musrat88
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musrat88 4/22/2021 8:56am
4/22/2021 8:56am
Goofy Foot wrote:
Who uses only WD40 for chain lube? It’s a non messy solution that works correct?
MyBobbym wrote:
Try chain lube as a replacement for WD40.
Black Diesel Bomber wrote:
It's the other way around actually...plenty of guys use only WD40 with no issues.
WD40 is not a lubricant. It prevents rust (water displacement), not sure why this is so hard to understand. Go buy some chain lube and help support the dirt bike industry.
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GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 4/22/2021 8:57am
4/22/2021 8:57am
I use WD40 as a solvent to clean my chains and a rust inhibitor after a wash, but it's not a lubricant. I prefer less drag.
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Falcon
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Falcon 4/22/2021 9:00am
4/22/2021 9:00am
WD-40 or a similar penetrating oil to prevent rust. Then, after my first few laps of warmup, real chain lube.

I prefer Bel-Ray Super Clean - that stuff doesn't fling off and does not attract dirt - at all. It dries into a slippery, dry white paste. Spectro makes basically the same product, but I don't remember its name.
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rob27ma
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rob27ma 4/22/2021 9:00am
4/22/2021 9:00am
Goofy Foot wrote:
Who uses only WD40 for chain lube? It’s a non messy solution that works correct?
I switched last year and it's been working great. I was using motorex and maxima chain lubes before, but I found the WD40 keeps the chain cleaner and seems to stay on longer.
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Black Diesel Bomber 4/22/2021 9:04am
4/22/2021 9:04am
MyBobbym wrote:
Try chain lube as a replacement for WD40.
Black Diesel Bomber wrote:
It's the other way around actually...plenty of guys use only WD40 with no issues.
musrat88 wrote:
WD40 is not a lubricant. It prevents rust (water displacement), not sure why this is so hard to understand. Go buy some chain lube and help...
WD40 is not a lubricant. It prevents rust (water displacement), not sure why this is so hard to understand. Go buy some chain lube and help support the dirt bike industry.
I have a garage full of dirt bike industry lubricants. I've tried them all. Settled on WD40 and it works for me and you can see I'm not the only one it works for. If I'll be going on a long ride where I won't have access to refresh the chain with WD then I would use Dupont Chain-Saver.
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Teej317
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Teej317 4/22/2021 9:04am
4/22/2021 9:04am
Goofy Foot wrote:
Who uses only WD40 for chain lube? It’s a non messy solution that works correct?
MyBobbym wrote:
Try chain lube as a replacement for WD40.
Black Diesel Bomber wrote:
It's the other way around actually...plenty of guys use only WD40 with no issues.
WD40 for me.
TooOld4WFO
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TooOld4WFO 4/22/2021 9:09am
4/22/2021 9:09am
WD40 for me.
Travis_Hudson 4/22/2021 9:24am
4/22/2021 9:24am
The Factory's only used WD40 on the chains. Of course they change the chains a lot, but I have been using this only for years. I too change my chain and sprockets a lot, I have a huge fear of failure from these parts.
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slipdog
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slipdog 4/22/2021 9:28am
4/22/2021 9:28am

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