QuestionI've been reading Q&As here on the board and caught how important it is to make sure your chain is greased and flexible. I've looked for a bike shop to help me but many won't touch a cycle more than 10 years old. I asked if they sold lube for my chain, and have received mixed responses. Some recommend a white silicone/lithium DRY grease in a can, but when I asked to buy some, another clerk sent me to Autozone, saying I could buy something there. But THAT clerk told me that the Honda "E" series was self-lubicating. That every 300 yards or so, a drip of motor oil was released onto the chain, keeping it lubed.
But I've observed no drop in oil during 2500 miles this summer.
I'm stumped! No owners manual, though I've ordered one.
Why won't any of these clerks sell me chain grease...or is this a classic con that all "old men" pull on "the new guy?" Help!!??
AnswerI use 90 weight gear oil. This is what the service manuals recommend. You can buy it in a squeeze bottle. Just trim the tip real small and drip some on the chain every 200-300 miles. Wipe off the excess with a rag.
I've heard of automatic chain oilers which drip a little oil when the motor is running. I don't know if your bike has such a thing.
Follow up: yes you should oil the chain every 300 miles. You should also clean the chain (using a rag soaked in kerosene) every 2000 miles (I do this once a season). You should get 15-20k miles out of an o-ring chain if you follow this maintenance schedule.
