Topic: K7 750 - stiff drive chain

[Erny]

Since I bought and installed new drive chain (630) for my K7 750 I did ~3000 miles. Despite several rounds of lubrication, chain is still pretty stiff on many chain links. I suspect it is because the chain I bought was sitting many years in some warehouse and lubricant degraded...
I can imagine there is quite some loss of power due to this or at least uneven chain tension.

There is absolutely no sign of wear of the chain or sproeckets, just this stiffness.

So, I was thinking to remove chain from bike (as it is endless swing arm need to go off too) and soak it for some time in some motor oil or diesel fuel.

Any advice on it? Does anyone some experience with? What would be the best lubricant to soak in?

[newday777]

Did you buy an O ring chain or just a regular chain?

Diesel fuel as a soak first, followed with a stiff brass brush to scrub it, followed with a good chain cleaner like Motul and Sikolene make and then their chain lube.

https://www.silkolene.com/motorcycle/aerosols/brake-and-chain-cleaner/

https://www.motosport.com/silkolene-semisynthetic-chain-lube?variant[SLK0003]=SLK0003-X001-Y001

[BenelliSEI]

Erny..... assuming it’s not an “0” ring chain, go for it. Can’t hurt, and I’ve saved a few. Read any British bike manual and there is usually a section on chain cleaning and lubrication. They usually suggest heating a grease and paraffin mix on the kitchen stove!

I give the chain a good brush cleaning in my cleaning tank (on the shelf, don’t immerse it). Then, swill it around in a tray of used motor oil for a few hours. I then hang it above the tray and let it drip down, usually overnight. It will throw some oil, then lube, as usual....... 

[rotortiller]

Monster 630 o-ring chains are like that, stiff and high friction.  All the lube in hell will not fix that issue however the sprockets and chain seem to last forever and because its an old tank it really matters not. Some people change to a lighter chain/sprockets for reduced friction.

[Erny]

I was perhaps not clear enough - it is O ring genuine DID630V chain (88,endless)

I also tend to believe stiffness I'm observing is rather chain "feature" but still want to give a try to make it more smooth...
 

I regret a lot I did not change it for 530. Doing it now would be like wasting more than 120€ as sprockets and chain is like new