Well, I thought I had posted this once, but apparently I didn't because I couldn't find it anywhere......I got my 2003 Honda 400EX about 3 weeks ago and love it so far but I have a couple of questions for anyone that is willing to help. On my chain, should I use the 80-90 weight oil that the owners manual recommends or use the spray lubricant that my dealer says to use??? They contradict what the manual says because according to it, they say commercial lubricants can damage the o-rings in the chain..Why am I getting two different opinions on this??.. someone please steer me in the right direction??? Also, how often do you need to adjust your chain? I used to ride a Honda 350X ATC and a Honda 200X ATC years ago and it seems like I had to adjust the chain about everytime I rode them. Like I said, it's been years since I've ridden, but a wife and 2 kids later I'm riding again, however I'm a little rusty on my knowledge of these things. It seems very similar to my 350X but I'm sure it's quite different than my 85 Honda..I would appreciate any help I can get....

 

on an o-ring chain...you dont actually have to lubricate...they're already internally lubricated... the only thing you have to do is keep the chain clean.

 

yes you do have to oil an o-ring chain the o-ring just keeps out dirt so not to tear up the chain. i use pj1 o-ring safe spray lube . i have used it for years on my bikes and quads.

 

I think everyone is correct in this post somewhere. whatwasthat is correct the O/ring chain really doesn't need to be lubricated but the reason I do it(raptor chain) is for what trailride posted and it keeps the chain from rusting if your in or near water.

I wouldn't touch that 80-90 weight oil unless it was a non o/ring chain and then I would take the chain off and literally lay the chain in the oil or that how I do my dirtbikes non o/ring chains.

pj1 o-ring safe spray lube is probably good stuff because I have used there air cleaner products for years and all my old air filters are still intact.

I purchase Pro Hondas HP chain lube in the red can and its not one of those waxes or real sticky oils that comes out looking like foam. I found out about Honda's chain lube through a Kawasaki based web page. I would say its like pj1 but I don't know this and if you use that 80-90 oil it won't hurt anything other than create a nice mess all over the quad like it does on my dirtbikes but I except this. So this might be one time I agree with the dealer over the manuel.

Adjusting the chain on the 400ex is easy, just go by the owners manuel. I am going by my experience and after the initial chain stretch you will not have to adjust the chain at all or hardly ever unless your racing or doing extreme jumps which puts a lot of stress on the chain. As far as the chain slack or if the recommend lets say 1.2 to 1.6 I would rather run mine a little loose rather than tight but that's depending on how much you watch your chain and in my situation, a lot. I really depend on my chains not breaking so running near the high end of the slack is preferred.

ChetRacer[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

I also use PJ1, or BelRay chain lube. The O Rings seal the inner chain, but you still want to keep the outside lubed up to keep the chain "pliable", so as not to let the links kink up. I always ride the quad for a couple of minutes to warm up the chain. This supposedly makes the lube suck into all of the nooks and crannies.

Keep about 1 1/2 inches of slack in the chain while the quad is in neutral. I've had a DID Gold X ring chain for about a year, and it has not stretched a bit.

 

Tri-Flow [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Also works great for any and all steering pivot points.

 

Don't forget that if you run a dry chain it will eat sprockets up . metal to metal contact and throw in that thing called friction, will generate heat and weaken your sprocket strech your chain .

 

Hey, I appreciate all your help. I'm getting back into this and having a blast. Got it ready to go again for Saturday.......It will be a little cold, but I think it will be well worth it..I definitely know where to go if I have a question now..........Thanks all.......

 

Chain Wax!