Oiling Drive Chains on 3 Point Attachments

[RidgeHiker]

My Woodmaxx snow blower augers are chain driven. The manual recommends oiling the chain with a good quality oil and states that chain saw oil is perfect. My question is how do you oil your drive chains without making a total mess, dripping, spaying, squirting oil all over? I am not into removing the chain to oil it.

I am fairly good at making messes so could use some help here :laughing:

Also, what do you recommend as a lubricant for the chain.

Thanks!!!

 

[Peter 315]

Any oil will work, bar oil use a small 1'' paint brush, motorcycle chain oil in a spray can , I use Fluid Film...But I see your in CA. so maybe just tap water.....:laughing:

 

[RidgeHiker]

What makes you think we have any water around here? You clearly are living on the other side of the continent. LOL

 

[Peter 315]

You can even use gear oil in a bottle and just cut the tip a little and dribble it on......Amazon.com: Valvoline High Performance SAE 8W-9 Gear Oil 1 QT: Automotive

 

[MHarryE]

There are all kinds of spray roller chain lubes available. I use Schaeffer moly chain lube on all of my equipment buts it’s not easily available - there are others. The way to keep from making a mess is to switch to a o-ring sealed chain. Any oil you put on a chain is going to fly off as it goes around the sprockets - centrifugal force will do it.

 

[hube2]

I have been using this chain wax Amazon.com: Maxima Racing Oils 7492-2PK Chain Wax, 27 fl. oz: Automotive

But after watching this video I am having having a rethink Never Buy Chain Lube Again? Comparison Test - YouTube

 

[Reb954]

I just use the old oil I drained out of the engine. I drilled a hole in the housing just above the chain, use a squirt bottle to lube the chain as it is turning at idle speed. It may not be the best oil to use but it is free. And so what if I need to lube the chain twice as often, its free oil.

 

[Mat4644]

A good spray on chain lube has a thin carrier that penetrates the chain joints. The carrier evaporates off leaving lubricant that sticks and doesn't fling off. All joking aside you may be limited in CA getting an excellent chain lube.

A good chain lube also drys less sticky and attracts dirt and grit much less than using straight oil or grease.

Using a spray can with the plastic stem inserted into the nozzle you can directly apply to chain and very little mess.

 

[oosik]

Go to your local motorcycle shop. They have chain spray lube that is designed to stay on the chain. Most will "dry" and have a waxy feel. Give this product time to soak in and dry. It will not fly off the chain.

 

[DMW]

Don't over think it. A spray can of chain lube from your local tractor store will work well. It's more important to lubricate the chain often,rather than over application, convenience is essential, or it doesn't get done. I spray after every use, just a quick spray on the chain while the blower is running, from the 3pt side, not the auger side. That way all the overspray is left outside.

 

[RidgeHiker]

What local motorcycle shop? What local tractor store? LOL None close to here. But after doing some research online and watching the video referred to above as well as this one Which Chain Lube is Best? Let's find out! Ultimate chain lubricant showdown! - YouTube by Project Farm I ordered Lucas Chain Lube from Amazon. I'm sure it will work fine.

If you have not watched Project Farm reviews on YouTube they are worth checking out. The guy is intensely thorough, seems pretty impartial, and there are tons of reviews.

 

[Peter 315]

Nice.......:thumbsup:

 

[JJT]

My Woodmaxx snow blower augers are chain driven. The manual recommends oiling the chain with a good quality oil and states that chain saw oil is perfect. My question is how do you oil your drive chains without making a total mess, dripping, spaying, squirting oil all over? I am not into removing the chain to oil it.

I am fairly good at making messes so could use some help here :laughing:

Also, what do you recommend as a lubricant for the chain.

Thanks!!!

If Woodmaxx recommends chainsaw bar oil, why use anything else? I've used bar oil for 25 years, reapply a couple of times per season and when I take the blower off in the spring. Bar oil is tacky and clings well. I simply drip a little on the chain while turning the auger by hand. I use 4-8 ounces of oil a season. I snow blow an 800' driveway at least 10 times a year, 20+ in a snowy winter.

 

[Cougsfan]

I agree we are overthinking this. Relatively speaking this is a low tech application and almost any lubricant will suffice. I prefer motorcycle spray lubes as they are easy to use.

 

[Captain Dirty]

As bicyclist with over 100K miles in the past 5 decades I have some knowledge and opinions about chains. The greatest wear is on the pins and side plates. Chain "stretch" is the result of this wear elongating the holes in the side plates and reducing the diameter of the pins. Getting lube to those surfaces is problematic because the inner and outer side plates are in contact with each other and the pins are shielded by the rollers. As the chain elongates the rollers wear against the sprocket teeth in an attempt to increase the pitch. A good lube should be thin enough to penetrate to the pins but thick enough to provide lubrication, tacky enough to be persistent and displace water but not so tacky as to attract dirt and form an abrasive slurry. Obviously these qualities are opposed to each other, and there will be trade-offs.

The most effective lubrication is by running the chain in an oil bath within an enclosed chain guard. I recall some snowblower having this, but it is an expensive proposition. I also recall a snowblower with an oil reservoir and a petcock that could be adjusted for a continual drip. I do not recall the brand name of either machine. Most blowers have an exposed chain. As might be expected, conscientious, frequent application is more important than the lubricant itself.

My blower manufacturer, Lorenz, calls for 30 weight oil. When I change oil in any of my motors, I invert the "empty" oil jugs over a gallon can to collect the drippings. I put this oil in a "flexible spout oiler" I think I bought at HF or TS. To lube, I tie a light wire (24 ga telephone or a wire twist-em) to mark the first link and pump a drop of oil big enough to extend across each bushing from side plate to side plate. I turn the auger by hand until I have come around to the wire-marked link. (The wire is much more obvious than the "master link").

 

[RidgeHiker]

If Woodmaxx recommends chainsaw bar oil, why use anything else? I've used bar oil for 25 years, reapply a couple of times per season and when I take the blower off in the spring. Bar oil is tacky and clings well. I simply drip a little on the chain while turning the auger by hand. I use 4-8 ounces of oil a season. I snow blow an 800' driveway at least 10 times a year, 20+ in a snowy winter.

I probably am using something else because there is a tendency here to over think things. :laughing: I actually have been working on under thinking. Its a significant relief when I do.

Also, I was hoping to find something that seemed a little less messy. Not sure if I have.

 

[jonsstihl]

plus 1 on the gear lube it has a convenient applicator nozzle and I lube my chain 3 or 4 times a season with the blower running at idle from the 3 pt side but make sure you don't have loose clothing or drawstrings on a hoodie because you will be kissing the body of the blower pretty quick if it gets caught in the rotating shaft.

I may switch to motorcycle chain lube spray. it is a low speed application with not much dust in the air when you are snowblowing.

 

[masscity]

I use the old style pump can with the long flexible spout and chain saw bar oil, which is what it calls for.

 

[RidgeHiker]

I used the Lucas Chain Lube. Very easy to apply. Very quick. Little mess. I agree that probably most lubricants that stick some would work fine. And certainly not concerned about attracting debris in winter. Probably some blown dust will settle on the chain in the summer while it is sitting. Problem that was never a problem solved!