Cleaning My Chain

[Big Mac]

Need some advice please, brand new to motorbiking in March last year CBT was first time i sat on motorbike. I want to give my bike chain a good clean as i used wax on it and there is a build up which doesent look pretty, i have cycled competitively for about 12 years and would normaly use parraffin or deisel to clean my pushbike chains then re-lube them so my question is will this be ok for my Transalp 700 ? Thanks in advance ps i am ueless mechanically so may need further advice so my apologies in advance ... I have also noticed the spokes particularly on back wheel wont come entirely clean as there seems to be a wee bit of pitting which look like small black marks has anyone else noticed this ? the bike is an 09 and done 2K miles

[Curzon]

Parafin is absolutely fine for cleaning your motorbike chain. I use it all the time! Also great for cleaning excess chain lube and oil build up from other parts of the bike. The main difference from your push bike chain Vs motorbike chains, apart from the size, is that most modern motobike chains are sealed by little O' rings between the sideplates. The main objective when cleaning your chain, is therefore to avoid damageing these O'rings. Therefore be avoid the use of solvents and agressive brushing, and high pressure water jets directly on the O'rings.

I use parafin with an old tooth brush and this is absolutely fine. Rinse off with low pressure water say from a garden hose, and dry the chain with an old cloth before re applying the lube. Turn the chain / wheel by hand when doing this, and watch your fingers between the chain and sprocket. (Don't ask me how I know this, but it is extemely painful)

However, don't worry to much about the build up of wax on the chain. It may look unsightly, but it is still doing one of it's jobs of protecting the side plates from corrosion. However, if you really feel you must, and have the time and inclination to clean and re-lube the chain regularly, then that is no bad thing!

Regarding the corrosion on your nipples, (ooh, er) try Autosol polish! usually available in motorbike or push bike shop's. Ususally works wonders. However if the bike is that new / low mileage consider trying a warranty claim! In my view, this type of corrosion on nearly new bikes really is unaccpetable, its is about time the bike manuafacturers sorted this out. Car manufacturers have made huge efforts in this area over the last decade, it is about time bike manufacturers followed suit!

[stephen McG]

I agree with above
use a cloth to wipe away surplus gunk only.
There is no need to have chain spotless.
I use gear oil on a cloth to give sides of chain a wipe
as long as there is a film of oil/wax on chain it should not go dry and then rust.

SMcG

[tramp]

hi bigmac,


treat yourself to some ACF50 and say good buy to corrosion for ever

but dont get it on the brake parts

http://www.acf-50.co.uk/

ACF50

[Big Mac]

Thanks for the advice guys, think my pushbikes will be getting the ACF-50 teatment too

[jarl]

Thanks for the advice guys, think my pushbikes will be getting the ACF-50 teatment too

I've done my pushbike chains with ACF, really good results so far but I don't log many miles so can't comment on wear.

[cpp01]

I'm going to be contentious now and say how many miles a week are you doing? If you ride the bike on a daily basis for a reasonable number of miles I wouldn't bother cleaning the chain, just keep lubing it. This is in part because I'm lazy and its a messy job, but also because the chain is very good at flicking things off by itself. If you're riding off road ignore this because its completely different!

As for lubing the chain, I don't do this as often as what others have suggested either (once told by a mechanic it should be lubed after every ride), I check it regularly (press finger onto chain see how much comes off) and if there is a reasonable film of lube present then leave it alone. Generally lube it every once-two weeks (250-500 miles). Obviously when it rains or if you're loading the chain highly (speed/distance/weight etc) then lube more often (every journey if necessary). Havings lots of chain lube present is pointless as only a thin film is required for lubricity. Lots of chain lube is expensive, messy and will attract more dirt/grit to the chain.

If you're only use the bike at weekends etc then I would consider cleaning the chain as the dirt it picks up will be providing salts etc to promote corrosion and therefore a higher wear rate. Lubing should be more frequent and after rides so as to provide a barrier against oxidation. When you lube a chain it should always be after a ride as the heat encourages the lube to flow over the chain and the chain has opened up so any gaps between linkages are exposed. Having said that if a chain is dry it is better to lube it cold rather than ride it and then lube.

That's how I do it, but everyone does it differently.
cpp01

[Big Mac]

Only been riding the bike in the summer and on dry days at that, sometimes every day and usually only in the dry unless it rains on my way home from work. Only did 2.5k miles from March to Sept. I was working more on the premise of cleaning it really well as it is stored in the garage over the winter. I bought some doc 100 from Heine Gerick which seemed to do the job pretty well. I've also ordered some ACF-50 as someone else suggested. I don't mind cleaning the bike on a regular basis so will make sure i keep it well lubed afterwards just wasn't sure what gave best results so the advice was great thanks to all. The four coloured panels are away to a custom painter for respraying as it was working out to be around £600 to replace in another colour. I also sent off some pictures to the dealer i bought it from, for them to send on to Honda as the spokes on the back wheel are really badly pitted and discoloured which just won't come clean so will wait and see the result of that. Cheers

[Fruit Loop]

I've done my pushbike chains with ACF, really good results so far but I don't log many miles so can't comment on wear.

I think there could be some misunderstanding creeping in here. As far as I can make out ACF-50 is an anti-corrosion fluid, and is NOT a lubricant.

Your chain (and sprockets) need lubrication, and I very much doubt ACF-50 will provide that. The absence of a lubricant may not show up quickly on a pushbike, but it sure will on a motorbike.

Looking at it the other way round, I can't imagine needing anti-corrosion treatment on a chain if it's got enough lubricant on it!

[©-©]

Scottoiler ... or similar, very well worth the expense and effort of fitting to a motorcycle.