WD40

[DoctorW]

Good for cleaning chains. Any good as a lube?
Thanks,

Doctor W. :???:

[jlzmeehan]

wd-40 should only be used as a cleaner.In the immediate sense,wd-40 will lubricate something when sprayed on to it.But it will quickly strip any existing lube and evaporate,leaving parts much dryer.It is a solvent or cleaner,and needs to be followed up by the proper lube for whatever part you're working on.

[Legman]

Wd-40 is a penetrating oil. It is the last thing to be putting on your chain. Use kerosine to clean your chain, there is not much that is better, or if you are addicted to spending money Motorex chain cleaner is also excellent

[wheelspeed]

I've got 23,000 miles so far on my chain and sprockets on my zx9 never having used anything but WD40.

Several touring trips, rain, sleet, a couple trackdays, lots of wheelies...

[HiVel]

My gun hobby also came into the WD-40 naysayer world-DO NOT USE IT ON YOUR GUNS -IT WILL RUIN THEM. HA! I have beeen using the stuff on semi-auto shotgun actions to clean and lube-anything thicker can make them jam. Also on revolvers and semi auto pistols BUT only for cleaning them up (not on the bore). Of course the best thing to use is the SPECIAL GUN OILS sold only in gun stores for $15.00 an oz. etc-follow my drift???? I have had zero problems over many years-used properly it is great stuff.
Use it all you want=I used to spray down my dirt bikes after washing them to coat the black expansion chambers and frame, dry out the electrics etc.......removes old gum too.

ALSO, I have a bad Knee (motorcycle injury) that responds well to occasional spray downs with WD-40!

The stuff will not hurt your chain IMHO.

We also used it to lube and clean our wheel bearings on our enduro racing karts-nothing else and never had a bearing failure in five years of hard and fast 45 min heats at places like Talladega etc. It is good stuff used properly.

[ This message was edited by: HiVel on 2006-08-11 06:54 ]

[lithium]

I have no experience of WD-40 as a chain lube but it was originally developed as a preservative fluid for maintaining Naval helicopter gas turbine engines. The engines would inevitably suck in seawater spray when the chopper was hovering at low altitude. When the aircraft landed the salt was washed out of the engines with fresh water which was then displaced with WD-40 Water Displacing fluid (WD – gettit!) which was sprayed into the engine. The principle is the same as the way rain beads up on a waxed car roof and runs off. This works for gas turbines but don’t try washing the inside of your favourite piston engine with water…

So there we have it, WD-40 works on chains, jet engines, gun actions and knee joints. Where can I buy shares in the WD-40 company!

[zooplancton]

i've used it for years on my mountain bike chain, derailleur, and cable housing (to displace water). problem with normal bike chine lube is it IS sticky and tends to gather muck and build up (thus quickly clogging the derailleur), and let's face it, most of us bicycle riders don't clean our drive-train after each use, so i've always used WD for that application. no build up!

i do like to use sticky chain lube for moto (dirt and street for o-ring reasons), but i have also used WD.
keep it off of paint though.
(that s*h*i*t will loosen ANY bolt on any undercarriage of any car or truck. amazing stuff really)
-b

[DoctorW]

Thanks. All opinions read / taken on board, but would seem fairly safe to use as either cleaner or lube.
Any other experiences more than welcome - seems this stuff can do most anything!!!

Cheers,

DoctorW. :chug:

[Limey]

Just cleaned and adjusted my chain then lubed it up with WD-40 lets see how it goes. Was using a sticky chain lube but I live on a dirt road and it was picking up sand deposits.

[DoctorW]

Post a report Limey?
DoctorW.