The chains on motorcycles get grimy, and awfully soiled. Whether you're riding on a clean track or tearing through the woods, they pick up dirt and debris. Here's how to properly clean a motorcycle chain to increase its lifespan and the longevity of your sprockets.
Examine Your Drivetrain
Checking your chain and sprockets for wear is a good idea before you begin cleaning your chain. You know it's time to replace your sprocket's teeth if they appear sharp and curve to one side. Check for rust, kinks, or any damage to the rollers or plates when inspecting your chain. Do you notice any deterioration or broken parts?
When that happens, it's time to replace your chain and sprockets. These components should be changed together to prevent your old sprockets from wearing out your new chain, and vice versa.
Fix Your Motorcycle on a Stand
After a ride, when the chain is nice and warm, this is the ideal time to clean it. This is helpful in removing the dirt and grime that has stuck to your chain. Put your bike in neutral and place it next to a hose on the center stand or the rear stand.
Spray Chain Cleaner On
Now comes the exciting part! Putting a piece of cardboard under the lower rung of your chain to protect your tire and wheel from the effects of overspray.
Apply an O-ring-safe chain cleaner liberally to the whole chain. Make sure the degreaser has been applied to the entire chain and the sprockets by rotating the wheel. Before grabbing your go-to chain cleaning tool, give the cleaner five minutes to rest and loosen the gunk.
Clean Your Sprockets And Chain
Scrub your chain and sprockets using an old toothbrush or a chain cleaning brush designed for motorcycles, just as you would when performing a routine chain cleaning. You can use a grunge brush to complete the job here.
Spend some time cleaning your sprockets just as thoroughly as you did your chain, paying particular attention to the spaces between the teeth that the chain's rollers come into contact with.
Give the Chain and Sprockets a Wipe Down
Clean your chain and sprockets by dipping a clean cloth in some solvent. You can use a plastic putty knife to scrape away any stubborn grime that just won't budge. Do you really go above and beyond? To scrape and clean the debris from the countershaft-sprocket pocket, remove the front sprocket cover.
Give Your Chain a Rinse
This is why we advise to clean your chain close to a water source. If you don't have access to a hose, you can wipe down your chain with a few wet rags or fill up a bucket with water and pour it over it. Avoid using your thumb to pressurize the hose's stream, and don't even consider turning on the pressure washer.
Chain Lubrication
With a clean rag, dry your chain. Then, ride up and down the block once for five minutes to warm it up and prepare it for the lubricant. Then, place it back on the stand and lubricate the overlapping links of the chain with your preferred product.
With a beautifully cleaned and lubricated chain, just wipe off the extra lube and check the chain slack.
With the right guidance from a comprehensive motorcycle manual or techbook, you’ll be well on your way to carrying out motorcycle maintenance tasks like cleaning your chain.