how do u clean a chain?

[Kasumi]

I give my chain a thorough cleaning when i do it. Normally keep lubing it up then for watever reason if im doing some maintenace or adjusting the chain i take it off completely. sit it in a tub of parafin and let it soak. Come back to it in an hour with a toothbrush and scrub it clean. Then i sit it on some newspaper to dry while i take a toothbrush and some of the parafin liquid from the tub and scrub off any crap on the sprokets then stick the chain back on and lube up!

How easy is it to take the whole chain off the clean it? on a quick flick through the stuff that came with bike it says, dont take it off upon pain of death....

Depends on what type of chain you have. I have an O ring chain on my baby Ninja with a split link. The split link looks like a normal link except on the visible side you should see a U shaped pin but obviously it will be rotated 90degrees clockwise to a 'U'  What it has is two little notches on its inside. You get a flat head screwdriver, push it to the front wheel of the bike both sides until it clicks off. Then with a pair of needle nose pliers pull it off. The link plate facing you now slides towards you and off, catch the little 'o' ring rubber bits then push on the two pins and the link will push all the way through and you can pull it out on the wheel side of the chain. Dont lose the two 'o' rings on that side. You should have now one link  plate with two pins fixed to it, and one flat link plate. 4 'o'rings and U shaped clip.

If you do all this with the removable link on the rear sproket it will take the weight of the chain off so its 1 millions times easier. Then when the link is off you can just pull the chain through and back off.

When it comes to putting it back on feed the chain towards the front sproket, then feel inside and turn the front sproket with your fingers, it should move easy enough to feed the chain round. Then pull it through at the bottom and put your removable link back on on the rear sproket same as before but in reverse.

Sounds complex but its actually really simple. I mean i wouldn't do it everytime i cleaned the bike, most of the time i just lube my chain but in the winter months it gets covered in crud as does the front sproket usually because it accumulates oily shite there so its good to take the chain off soak it free of everything and work any stiff links out with abit of oil. Then use your fingers to scoop the crap out of the nooks and cranies of the sproket.

[CndnMax]

spray on some chain cleaner,scrub it with a brush, hose it down, and finally relube.

[Eric_in_OR]

Any thoughts on using chain saw bar oil as a lube? It seems like it should work well, since it's designed to "stick" to fast moving chains.

[yooblonder]

Any thoughts on using chain saw bar oil as a lube? It seems like it should work well, since it's designed to "stick" to fast moving chains.

Haven't tried chain saw oil but it sounds logical.  I usually use chain wax but plan to use 10w40 as suggested by ohgood.  Anyone else used good ol' motor engine oil?

[GeeP]

Any thoughts on using chain saw bar oil as a lube? It seems like it should work well, since it's designed to "stick" to fast moving chains.

That's an interesting idea.  Maybe in conjunction with a chain oiler, but I just use Suzuki's chain lube in a can.  It goes on thin but becomes really thick and sticky in a minute or two.  Naturally, it flings everywhere.  I'm thinking chain wax when this can runs out.   

[qwertydude]

I've just been using gear oil, the cheap stuff of course. I use a flux brush and brush on gear oil. It seems to dissolve and suspend the gunk, and when I ride it all just flings off, I'm sure it's collecting underneath the front sprocket cover though.

[Kasumi]

...Common problem when you oil your chain is all the crud collects around the front sproket - you need to remeber to scoop it out with your fingers when your cleaning the chain. Its horrid oily gunky cruddy mess.

I use the spray on stuff, you spray it on and it foams up and soaks through the chain then goes all sticky until its warmed up. However the problem with it is it does get everywhere and when your riding and it gets hot it flings off and makes a mess of the inside of the wheel! Ive never used chain wax on my chain but ive heard good things about it!

[Eric_in_OR]

Any thoughts on using chain saw bar oil as a lube? It seems like it should work well, since it's designed to "stick" to fast moving chains.

I've been using Stihl bar oil now for a couple thousand miles, and it seems to work pretty well. Sticks real well to the chain, so you don't even get any drips when applying it. At the end of the 600 mile interval, the chain is still quite oily. Seems pretty effective, and doesn't make a mess. Don't think you can ask for more.

[guitarking135]

I just take my a few weeks or whenever it's really dirty from rain and go to the car wash and powerwash everything.  My chain is always nice and clean and so is the rest of my bike.

[Cal Price]

WD40 or Kerosine / Parafin wiped off with a rag then chain wax from a rattle can. GSJack once did a brilliant explanation doing it with the chain turning, "You guys should not do this but it's what i do"

[905mike]

use a chain cleaner brush, wd40 wipe it out, chain lube stuff 1 hr work (only do it every 5,000 miles.)

doesn't the manual call for this to be done every 600 miles?

[pbureau69]

I oil my chain every 500 miles (which in my case can be as little as 3 days of riding)...
I usually do +2,000/month
I oil it all the time, but I dont CLEAN it all the time...

I RIDE my bike....

Same goes with bugs... I do a quick wipe down... but I dont WASH my bike once a week... better things to do....

Cheers

[sledge]

......with one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350072822593

[b_long_1]

This looks like a great tool for the job. I just used my wifes "old" toothbrush and then told her she needed a new one anyway.

[sledge]

I just take my a few weeks or whenever it's really dirty from rain and go to the car wash and powerwash everything.  My chain is always nice and clean and so is the rest of my bike.

AARRGGGhhhh  ........ Think of all that water under high pressure forcing its way past the various seals and into all the wheel and headstock bearings, the chain-links, electrical connections and switchgear, the lights, the speedo drive etc etc.........Pressure washing your bike is asking for trouble 

[galahs]

I use WD-40 for cleaning and lube....

[905mike]

I just take my a few weeks or whenever it's really dirty from rain and go to the car wash and powerwash everything.  My chain is always nice and clean and so is the rest of my bike.

AARRGGGhhhh  ........ Think of all that water under high pressure forcing its way past the various seals and into all the wheel and headstock bearings, the chain-links, electrical connections and switchgear, the lights, the speedo drive etc etc.........Pressure washing your bike is asking for trouble 

only sponge baths for my baby!

[08GSSteve]

once a week clean chain with wd40 then lube with fav chain oil. 

[GeorgesNjr]

kerosene and toothbrush
wait 10 mins
clean all using Water

use Chain Oil , i like Repsol Chain Lub , don´t fly off don´t dirt wheels

[natewesselink]

me i usually douse it with wd40 (pretty high saturation after removing the chain cover of course) scrub it off with a brush till its nice and shiny than i have my little stepbrother spin the tire (you could use any little kid around) and liberally lube up with good ol rattlecan chain wax.  i wouldnt use anything else on my baby