I promise not to start the dreaded "what chain/lube should I use" thread, but I just have to ask. Is there any way to free up kinks in a chain, whether it be o-ring or traditional? The reason I ask is that I seem to be cursed with kinks. O-ring, traditional, whatever, I seem to kink up my chain long before it stretches/wears out. Yes, I'm lubing it up regularly, cleaning it, etc. But once a kink appears, I can't seem to be able to get enough lube in there to free it up. Does anyone have a secret penetrating oil/trick to unkink a chain?
If it's a non O-Ring chain try soaking it in WD 40 overnight. The only reason that I wouldn't recomend that on O-Ring chains is because the WD might get past the O-Ring and act like a solvent on the lube.
Are these real kinks or just the chain being a chain? If you are treating the chain well in its life, you should not be having a real 'hard' kink .... Can you press on the kink and it bends back down easily? If not, you may not maintaining the chain correctly enough .... Its just a metal device, WD40 or oil is what it needs ...
I hate it when people with o-ring chains say they never lube it and it lasts forever--drives me crazy!!! I've never had such luck. Maybe its the conditions I ride in--sandy single track with occasional peg-deep nasty mud ruts. Can't be easy on the chain. In this case, it's three links in a nearly-new non-o-ring chain on my 125. My original chain lasted a whole year with regular cleaning/lubing. It stretched like hell, and I had to replace both sprockets when I finally replaced it, but no kinks. This new chain has maybe three enduros on it and I've got three HARD kinks in it (RK 520 chain). I'll admit that I ran the last enduro without fresh lube on the chain, but c'mon. Haven't we all done that time to time? I'm probably venting more than anything. Thanks for listening. I'll give the chain a WD40 soak and if that doesn't work, I'll just replace it.
I have to lube mine also and I like thin oil so it will penetrate ... it needs to be oiled and then sit over night at least and over the entire week if possible ... spin it from time to time also to let the oil work in ... chain lube is good also from time to time ... Your riding conditions might be a little more harsh so maybe a little more care is in order ...
For the record- I only use o-ring/x-ring chains. DFeckel- I ride the same/similar conditions as you: sand, mud, lots of water, mud, loam, water, mud etc. I would never consider using a non o-ring chain. The WD-40 method doesn't work on plain (non o-ring)chains. It doesn't cause any problems with O-ring chains. I've pulled them apart to examine them after their service life is up and there is still lube in there. My last chain went over 6000km & was replaced cause the rear sprocket was worn out.