Newbie Question - How to clean my chain? [Archive]

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apteryx_haasti

20th September 2006, 22:32

Hi everyone,

Total newbie question. MY manual that came with the GN says I can clean my chain with kerosene. It is due for a clean according to the maintenance schedule.

Question - how does one actually go about this? I know total dumb newbie question but there you go.

Apologies in advance if I could have found the answer in a search - I haven't done one.

Thanks all!

A_H

degrom

20th September 2006, 22:43

One tip... KEEP YOUR FINGERS FAR AWAY FROM SPROKETS!!! They will cut them off!!!

Best way I can think of doing this is to put your GN on it's main stand and in neutral. Then rotate the rear wheel very carefully while spraying on the cleaner stuff. Use a dry cloth to dry of all the dirty liquid that are dripping from the chain. Rotating the wheel to the back may the best way to do it.

Hope this could help.

degrom

20th September 2006, 22:45

Ixion

20th September 2006, 22:47

Little brush and rotate wheel slowly by hand. Then klube

Dadpole

20th September 2006, 22:48

From the "GS Forums"

This is mainly for the newer riders but others may be interested. This is the spray lube method,so this does not apply to those of you that prefer to soak a chain in motor oil. Motor oil is cheap but does not protect against rust very long,it makes a mess and is not good for o-rings.
First, if the chain is too dirty,take it off and clean it with KEROSENE. It works very well,especially if you let it soak about a 1/2 hour or so and it is safe for o-rings. Use a "softer" bristle brush,especially on o-rings. Hang it out to dry. When you re-install the chain,make sure the CLOSED end of the master clip is pointing in the direction of travel.When sitting on the bike, you should have about 3/4-1'' of slack at the mid-point between sprockets. If you don't need to clean the chain,lets lube it.
Go for a quick ride,enough to warm up the chain. The chain MUST be warm to do the best job. Put the bike on the centerstand and lay out some newspapers. Shake the lube up good and insert the spray tube. From the rear of the bike,place the tip of the tube on the left side of the sprocket (about 5:00.) It should be touching right between the sprocket and chain. This is the best angle to try to get the lube down inside the rollers,which is where the lube is most needed. Turn the wheel backwards so the master link is at the bottom of the sprocket. This is just for a reference point when you spin the wheel. Slowly spin the wheel backwards as you apply the lube. Let the spray tip drag along between the sprocket and chain. Watch the master link come around 3 times. Now do the same on the right side of the sprocket. This side can be a little more trouble because the wheel can get in the way of your hand. Now spray each side of the chain,pointing the tube directly at its side and a few inches away. Try to pick a spot where you will have the least chance of getting the spray where you don't want it,such as brake parts or hard to clean up areas. To get the right amount of lube on will take a little practice depending on how fast you turn the wheel and how much you press the spray valve. After about 1 minute,rotate the chain 1/2 way around,this will help the lube to stay on the chain and not drip off as it is setting up and thickening. After 1 more minute do the same thing. Wipe off any over spray with a paper towel or rag. You may want to use a little mild cleaner. LET THE LUBE SET UP for about 20-30 minutes. Go riding! Depending on your driving conditions,you may want to re-lube every 400-600 miles or so? I don't ride in the rain and I don't apply it as often as some people say you should, but the way I do it has worked well for me. No rust,no unusual chain stretch.
PS:I have found the newer "Chain Waxes"(I use Maxima's brand) are much better than regular lubes such as "PJ". The chain wax is not as sticky so it attracts less dirt. It also protects o-rings MUCH better than regular lubes. It is about $7.95 for a 13 oz. can and if applied correctly, will give you many applications(I have'nt counted.) Hope this helps!

car

21st September 2006, 00:54

One tip... KEEP YOUR FINGERS FAR AWAY FROM SPROKETS!!! They will cut them off!!!

Best way I can think of doing this is to put your GN on it's main stand and in neutral.

With the engine off.

degrom

21st September 2006, 06:45

With the engine off.

Yes... That's what I ment. I don't hope that's your fingers!!!

imdying

21st September 2006, 07:58

With the engine off.

You mean that happened even when the engine was off? :eek:

car

21st September 2006, 09:26

Yes... That's what I ment. I don't hope that's your fingers!!!

It certainly is. Mighty stupid, mighty sore.

car

21st September 2006, 09:30

You mean that happened even when the engine was off? :eek:

:)

No, I didn't turn the engine off until I went back out to the garage to look for the missing bit, in the deluded hope that the magicks of modern medicine would be able to stitch it back on.

degrom

21st September 2006, 09:47

:)

No, I didn't turn the engine off until I went back out to the garage to look for the missing bit, in the deluded hope that the magicks of modern medicine would be able to stitch it back on.

:sick: :sick: :sick:

Why am I just feeling the paint behind that thumb???

car

21st September 2006, 09:57

:sick: :sick: :sick:

Why am I just feeling the paint behind that thumb???

Ach, it didn't hurt a bit. Not one bit.

IMLE, only the most cursory injuries hurt at the time. Anything irreversible is largely painless at the time. Mind, I've not been shot in the gut, yet. Form an orderly queue.

It did get me off nappy-changing duties for six weeks, though, so one and a half thumbs up there!

B'dum-tish.

merv

21st September 2006, 11:02

I just use kerosene its cheap from the supermarket, pour a bit into a 2 litre icecream container and then use an old toothbrush to do the cleaning. I clean all the grease crap off my bikes like around the sprocket cover etc with kero and the back wheel where there's grease flung off the chain, then just hose it down, let it dry and then relube the chain. Can't do it easier and cheaper than that I reckon.

Terminated

21st September 2006, 11:34

Question - how does one actually go about this?
A_H

Hi A_H, here is an extract from my newbie training updates:

I use kerosene in a squirt bottle, and hold a sheet of cardboard behind the chain so as not to splatter the wheel. Also use a toothbrush [get a packet of 5 brushes from the $2 shop in Lower Hutt]. Wipe off the chain as you proceed with old clean cloth.

Here's a tip: Use a black marker pen to put a blop on a chain link, use this as a guide as you progressively clean the chain - just wait for the blop mark to return to your starting point.

One more tip: Use a pair of rubber gloves - recommend 'Nitrile Disposable Gloves' a box of 100 for approx $12.50 [get these from the Safety shop in Ngauranga Gorge near LV Martins. Generally whenever working on your bike always wear gloves, not only for chain work.

Another tip: don the riding gloves and helmet after degreasing the chain and take the bike for a half kilometre ride to flush out the chain.

When you get back from the half kilometer ride put the bike back up on the stand and commence your lube, once again put down a marker point on the chain link.

Oh Yes Another Tip:
Every second time you degrease and lube your chain - remove the front sprocket housing and get in there and give it a good clean out too. Surprising how much gundge builds up in there.

I recall you mentioned months back about squeaky front wheel/brakes, my GN has off and on developed squeaky noise too - purchased 'Contact Brake Cleaner' from TSS it has done the trick. Gave it a good squirt wiped the disk and rotated and repeated etc.

Heads Up and Enjoy

degrom

21st September 2006, 11:44

Hi A_H, here is an extract from my newbie training updates:

I use kerosene in a squirt bottle, and hold a sheet of cardboard behind the chain so as not to splatter the wheel. Also use a toothbrush [get a packet of 5 brushes from the $2 shop in Lower Hutt]. Wipe off the chain as you proceed with old clean cloth.

Here's a tip: Use a black marker pen to put a blop on a chain link, use this as a guide as you progressively clean the chain - just wait for the blop mark to return to your starting point.

One more tip: Use a pair of rubber gloves - recommend 'Nitrile Disposable Gloves' a box of 100 for approx $12.50 [get these from the Safety shop in Ngauranga Gorge near LV Martins. Generally whenever working on your bike always wear gloves, not only for chain work.

Another tip: don the riding gloves and helmet after degreasing the chain and take the bike for a half kilometre ride to flush out the chain.

When you get back from the half kilometer ride put the bike back up on the stand and commence your lube, once again put down a marker point on the chain link.

Oh Yes Another Tip:
Every second time you degrease and lube your chain - remove the front sprocket housing and get in there and give it a good clean out too. Surprising how much gundge builds up in there.

I recall you mentioned months back about squeaky front wheel/brakes, my GN has off and on developed squeaky noise too - purchased 'Contact Brake Cleaner' from TSS it has done the trick. Gave it a good squirt wiped the disk and rotated and repeated etc.

Heads Up and Enjoy

Really good answer!!!

merv

21st September 2006, 13:33

All clean with kero like this http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24439&d=1137911587 or this http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3205&d=1093676652

crashe

21st September 2006, 14:27

cheers you got me motivated before...
I got my bike out and cleaned up the chain with a old toothbrush
(well it was new when I started with it)
kero in a small jar.. and old towel on the ground... do a section..... push the bike forward...... do another section... push the bike forward.... you getting the picture... time consuming..... but you get there in the end.
I was also drying each section as I went along with another small cut up towel and moving the bigger towel along as well.
(One cant have a mess left on the driveway)

Pushed the bike back to where I started from... and then lubed a section..... pushed it forward.....lubed that section and so on and so on......

I dont have a stand to use to have the back wheel up off the ground...... so this is the way I always clean and also lube the chain.

My bike also doesnt have a center stand either.:(

Firefight

21st September 2006, 14:30

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=13563

F/F&highlight=cleaning+chains

apteryx_haasti

21st September 2006, 20:34

Thanks all! This is why I love KB - always a helpful answer and patient as. I am gonna get my chain all prettied up this weekend! Then I might have to go for some ride(s)...

RantyDave

24th September 2006, 11:45

So, my old bike has a centre stand and my new one doesn't. Other than the "lube, scoot along a bit, lube" technique, does anyone have a good way of working on the chain of a sprotsbike ... or do I need to pur-chase a wheel stand?

Dave

imdying

24th September 2006, 13:07

Man, you should get a paddock stand anyway, great for cleaning, lubing, and taking photos :)

Someone on here makes them... I know because I brought one, and they're excellent. I'm sure he'll pipe up when he sees this :)

RantyDave

28th September 2006, 15:45

Man, you should get a paddock stand anyway ... Someone on here makes them
Swanman. Bought. Arrived. Good. Problem solved.

Dave

MSTRS

28th September 2006, 16:05

Point to note:- very few chains use the 'key' link now. So removing a chain completely for cleaning is not always/really possible. Paddocks stands are the biker's friend.

Fatjim

30th October 2006, 11:57

Unless you have a firestorm. You can pull the chain off without having to break the links.

Colapop

30th October 2006, 12:08

Paddocks stands are worth 10 times the cost!! Get one or two (front and rear - two rear ones aremuch good unlees you have two bikes..) With two stands you can lift the whole bike off the ground and do all sorts of maintenance. Even take the chain off completely... Well worth learning how to do.
front stands (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=31900&highlight=paddock+stands) and rear stands (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=25363&highlight=paddock+stands)
They cost $99 for the front and $110 for the rear.

vifferman

30th October 2006, 12:15

I just use the HandyDandyNoMessChainCleanerAndLuberDooofer. :done: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=11793

vifferman

30th October 2006, 12:16

Unless you have a firestorm. You can pull the chain off without having to break the links.
Now you farkin' tell me.... :slap:

xxblackbirdxx

30th November 2006, 15:01

Please take that advice on keeping your thumb clear of the sproket very seriously. One of my friends can no longer give people a thumbs up. well atleasst not a complete one...not kidding. He had his wheel spinning and was using a rag to wipe off excess kerosene when the cloth grabbed the moving chain and pulled both his thumbs in between the chain and sproket. I had to rush him to the doctors....not a pretty sight

Cajun

30th November 2006, 15:06

Thats the reason you should never your motor running when doing this, do not put it in gear and hold a rag to dry, lube etc chain,

Maha

30th November 2006, 15:11