I've used kerosene to attempt a rejuvination of a chain on several project bikes, soak it in a pan for a couple of days, attack with a bristle brush, wipe it dry, then hang it and apply oil of choice.  All non-o-ring chains, of course.  Worked OK.    Scott oiler on my daily bike.

  I must admit to having shaft drive happening on my high mileage machines. My chain maintenance is thereby spotty, inconsistent.  My biggest use chain drive bike is my big red pig. I just swapped out chain/sprockets at 21,000 kms, which I've been told is decent lifespan for a big suspension movement on a big thumping single. which does offroad stuff.  Which is a hard place for a chain.
 Cleanliness with cosmetic forethought is I think a completely different aspect of looking after a chain. A completely dry chain looks very lovely, but the chain to sprocket mating surfaces will not do well.
  With that on all my chain bikes, WD40 is the go-to with a sacrificial rag for cleaning, with a mix of chain wax and WD40 in between cleaning. WD40 is a mix of diesel and 5w oil, the diesel slightly liquefies the chain oil.

I recall one "OLD" biker back in the day advising me to use a lot of VARSOL on my chain to clean it, then apply lube.  Others used to remove the chain, clean it then soak it in a bath of Lube.  Newer "O" ring chains a LOT easier to maintain.

You’re on the right track.

I stopped lubing o-ring chains about 30 years ago on the advice of motorcycle a chain rep and it made a huge difference in chain longevity. As per their packaging they recommended wiping the chain with gear oil. The gear oil was only intended to prevent surface rust. Sticky chain lube just attracts dirt and creates a grinding paste that will kill the chain. The key is keeping it clean (very clean) which I do by wiping the chain down with a clean rag and copious amounts of WD40. If you start with a really clean chain it’s not hard to keep it clean. Easy to pack a small can of WD40 and a few shop rags for trips. I have Triumph Speed Triple with 40,000km on the original chain and it has never seen a can of chain lube.
For non oring chains I flood a clean chain with chain wax, wait a several hours then wipe the chain clean.

I stopped lubing my o-ring chains on streetbikes about 6 years a go. I clean them really well with wd40, wipe them down and go. I figure the orings are packed with grease and I haven't noticed extra wear or needed chain adjustments. Anyone else do this ?

This song has a strange title, explained by being the main song in a prison movie called "Unchained" back in the '50's.  The Righteous Brothers sang it, but so did this guy with his wonderful voice.  If you listen closely you can almost believe it's a woman singing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV8XwoIGo5M

I rewound my own once (for a KZ1300).  The local electric motor rebuild shop didn't want to do it, but they gave me the wire for free and even dipped and baked it for me when it was done.  I simply unwound the wire, counting the number of turns, then wound on the new wire.  Aside from being hard on the fingers, it wasn't difficult and worked like a charm.

That was a big song amongst us high schoolers back in 1968!

This guy was on the leading edge of social change back in the 60's and a fantastic singer.  This is one of his many hits.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3ncYwtsQWY

I see you're selling your 550.  It's a really nice bike.  Did you get all the fuel issues sorted out?

 RIP , at 78, Doug Ingle, founding member and lead voice singer of Iron Butterfly. No cause of death announced.

 In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida   December 1968.       


 Original 17 minute lead album track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIVe-rZBcm4&pp=ygUraW4gYSBnYWRkYSBkYSB2aWRhIGlyb24gYnV0dGVyZmx5IGZ1bGwgc29uZw%3D%3D