How to ensure your motorcycle chain stays clean and healthy |
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| Wednesday, 12 May 2010 10:17 | |||
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One of the skills you need to develop as a motorcyclist is need to learn how to perform some basic maintenance tasks. One of the most important is the care of your drive chain. Simply put the chain transmits the power from your engine to the rear wheel and like tyres and brakes is one of the consumable items on your machine. Regular maintenance is a must to ensure that you get the most out of it.  It needs to regularly lubricated using a good quality chain lubricant. There are many different brands and types on the market and it can get very confusing trying to choose between wax’s, gels, greases and the myriad other things that come in a can. In the trade we are always reluctant to recommend one type over another as we find that people have their own favourites for different reasons.The main tips we can pass on are; Always try to lubricate your chain when it’s warm, just after a ride before you put it away is best as this give the lubricant time to settle and penetrate. Little but often is the best way to apply. Too little and your chain will wear out quickly and be prone to rust, too much and it can attract small particles of grime which will end up acting as a grinding paste. Make sure your chain is adjusted correctly. Check your owner’s manual for the specification as it can vary by a substantial amount between models. How often you need to do this depends on you the rider. Lot’s of fast starts, wheelies and high speed runs can see it get slack after less than a 100 miles. Take it easy and it can be good for a couple of thousand before you need to move it. Try to lubricate the chain after a wet ride and also do it more often when the roads are salty in the winter. It’s a good idea to clean your chain regularly as well. We recommend a good quality chain cleaner, from brands, such as Silkolene or Motrax, which specialise in motorcycle accessories. This can also be good for cleaning excess lube from your rear wheel. Some people swear by dispersants such as WD40 or GT85. These are great but can be too efficient if not used correctly as they have the ability to penetrate and remove the grease in ‘O’ and ‘X’ ring chains. It’s best to spray these on to a rag and then wipe them over the chain rather than point them directly at the chain. GT85 contains Teflon which helps keep dirt at bay. You can see how worn your chain is by lifting it from the rear sprocket when it’s correctly adjusted. If you can move it more than about 3-4mm it’s time for a new one. If you take a new chain and hold it out like a child’s snake toy it should only bend by 10-20 degrees from the horizontal. A worn one will typically go through 90 degrees. A lot of modern bikes don’t have centre stands which can make simple routine maintenance awkward. Investing in a paddock stand (£30 and upwards) can make your life a lot easier as it raises the rear of the bike and means you can lube and adjust your chain very easily. It will also make it easier to check your tyre pressures and if you’re really keen it will mean you can take your wheel out. Very handy if you have a puncture and need to get it fixed. Article source: Infinity Motorcycles
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