Cleaning Your Chain... Or not...

[Stenno]

I've got no interest in cleaning my chain whatsoever. Keeping it lubricated leaves it as clean as it needs to be.

 

[Crackn81]

its not so much about keeping the chain clean but by cleaning it, it will prolong the life of the chain and sprockets.

If you don't lube it, then this could happen...the guy following was lucky not the have his head taken off....
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-B0fh96l0s[/youtube]

 

[NastyEvilNinja]

Tbf It wont have gold visible for long im sure

Course it will - just get some Yoshimoto Gold Chain Wax! :lol:

I've had gold chains for years! :mrgreen:

 

[NastyEvilNinja]

its not so much about keeping the chain clean but by cleaning it, it will prolong the life of the chain and sprockets.

If you don't lube it, then this could happen...the guy following was lucky not the have his head taken off....

I suspect that the solvents most people will use to clean their chain will degrade the o/x ring rubber, anyway...

To break a chain it would need serious metal failure, or to be extremely badly fitted. I've heard of a few breaking and they've all come off the other way - through the engine block! :shock: ou definitely wouldn't want to ride into one coming off the back way!

 

[Nerb]

Well alot of people know ont his forum i am useless at maintenance and mechanics, however.....i weirdly always clean my chain!!

Well i say clean i normally stick the pressure washer in close proximity and slowly rotate back wheel untill it has cleaned it then just wait till it has dried a bit and back a load of chain lube into it.!!!

I think this is the worst thing you can do. The only lube that does anything is between the pin and sleeve behind a rubber oring. A pressure washer up close will blast that grease out.

Of course I cant speak, I only lube the chain when I hear the "chunk chunk chunk" sound. I change it when I run out of adjustment on the adjusters.

 

[TripleTwister]

Tbf It wont have gold visible for long im sure

Course it will - just get some Yoshimoto Gold Chain Wax! :lol:

I've had gold chains for years! :mrgreen:

I like your thinking

 

[TheDiabeticBiker]

Need your opinion folks. Took my chain guard off to have a look at my chain here's the pics.

Don't know much about chains yet so should I try and clean it or replace it?

 

[gpzDave]

RUST LEVEL IS OVER 9000!!!!!!!!

I think I would try spraying it with a lot of chain oil and then brushing it in with a toothbrush/paintbrush, they normally look a lot better after that.

 

[TripleTwister]

I would be replacing the chain and sprockets, and giving the rest of the bike a good going over to clear/treat any more rust or wear issues, lol

 

[Trinith]

I think I would try spraying it with a lot of chain oil and then brushing it in with a toothbrush/paintbrush, they normally look a lot better after that.

This. Clean it, then look at it again. A lot of that may just be a little surface rust which isn't all that bad. I sure as shit wouldn't ride with it as pictured though, you have no idea how deep that is and if there's even any real metal still in there or if it's just all rust.

 

[TripleTwister]

Replacement C & S kit is about £30 delivered on ebay.

 

[NastyEvilNinja]

AlfistiKid - has that been sat around for a few years?

I've never left a bike stood for long, but that's one case I might give it a bit of a clean-up!

If that was an o or x ring chain it'd most likely be fine, but it looks like just a standard or heavy duty one to me. What I would do is have a look for a split link and see if that comes off easily (it probably won't, anyway) to take the chain off completely - if not, then just slacken off the chain as much as possible with the adjusters.

If you're feeling up to it, get the rear wheel off so you can lay the chain through a tray with some engine oil in (old stuff will be fine for this). If you don't get the wheel off just brush and wipe oil onto the chain bit by bit and it'll come up fine again.

The important bit - check every single link for movement. You might find some links are seized together. Try and work them free and add extra lube where required. If any are still solid then it's new chain time.

 

[ToastToGo]

Wow! Give that bike some attention! Poor thing.

 

[thunderous71]

New bike time

hehehe. Give the whole bike a good clean, you never know surface rust isnt bad but rotate that chain and with you hand bend each link up and down. Find a stiff one? Dump it.

In all honesty new chain time tho

 

[TheDiabeticBiker]

Thought about getting a new chain anyway, will need to get a loan on money off my mum for one. Didn't notice the rust when I went to buy it but sure did once I got it home. I will be cleaning it up over the next few weeks/months so should start looking better.

edit: Just order a new c&s kit off ebay. Don't know when it was last changed or anything so better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Rhydian]

You girls!

I've spent more time on my knees cleaning my bike then I've been riding other winter. I thoroughly clean chain, sprockets (even remove the covers) about every 50 miles.

I enjoy cleaning the bike and making it shine so well the reflection of the floor makes it look dirty. I've also discovered ACF-50 and the product is just phenomenal (stinks and smokes at first). It not only stops corrosion but also seems to permanently bring out the original color of metals and plastics.

 

[ToastToGo]

I've also discovered ACF-50 and the product is just phenomenal (stinks and smokes at first). It not only stops corrosion but also seems to permanently bring out the original color of metals and plastics.

What do you use that on?

 

[ham]

Most manuals say to clean and lube your chain (sounds dirty) every time you leave the house.

We all know that doesn't happen.

 

[Mikesmotorbike]

when I'd stuck the new Renthal set on the Fazer I'd do it pretty much every 300 miles, I think I'm going to stick to that.

And alfisti, I've never seen a motorbike chain like that haha, I wouldn't fancy riding on that :O

 

[TheDiabeticBiker]

And alfisti, I've never seen a motorbike chain like that haha, I wouldn't fancy riding on that :O

Yep I know. Will chuck some lube on it and take it to college next week to get it replaced. Don't think the guy that had it before me took much care of it.