 Tools:
Chain
Cleaner, Solvent,
Chain
Lube
Time: 10-20 min
A lot of
bikers take their chains for granted and don't
realise that neglecting to maintain it properly
can cause serious problems. This is usually
discovered when it's too late; the bike no longer
shifts smoothly and the only option is replacing
parts.
The build up
of grit in the chain links gradually wears down
the pins causing the chain to stretch. The
sprockets and chainrings on your bike are designed
for chains that have rollers exactly half an inch
apart. A stretched chain will not mesh up exactly
with the teeth on the sprockets and chainrings so
will gradually wear these down as well. The end
result? You'll have to replace not only your
chain, but also the cassette and chainrings as a
new chain will not marry up with the worn
components.
Chain
Cleaning
One way to
clean a chain is to remove it (see Removing
And Replacing A Chain) and soak it in
solvent (NOT Petrol, you'll blow yourself up) but
this is not the best option for Shimano Hyperglide
chains as their removal and replacement requires a
special rejoining pin, so it's easier to leave the
chain on the bike.
The best way
to clean a chain is to leave it on the bike and
run it through a chain cleaner. Just fill the
chain cleaner with a solvent and then turn the
pedals to drive the chain through the cleaner.
Repeat until the chain is clean - you may have to
replace the solvent a few times. If the chain is
particularly grubby it might be a good idea to
hose or wash off some of the superficial muck
before you run it through the cleaner.
If you've
cleaned the chain, make sure you've also cleaned
the other parts of the drivetrain including the
chainset and cassette or it won't take long for
your chain to get dirty again, see Cleaning
Your Bike.
Chain
Lubrication
Once you've
cleaned the chain, spray it with a good quality
lubricant such as Finish
Line Chain Lube. Do this by holding the
spray can over the chain and turning the pedals
backwards. Trying to spray lubricant along the
length of the chain is a waste, as you'll get
through gallons of lubricant.
Using a
chain wax such is a great alternative to
spray-on lube for dry conditions as it picks up
very little dust, but it provides no protection
from rust, so shouldn't be used in wet conditions.
Checking For Damage
Once you've finished cleaning and lubing your
chain, it's a good idea to check your chain for
damage. Make sure they're are no stiff links,
loosening any that are stiff by gently flexing the
chain from side to side. Inspect the chain for
worn or damaged links, making sure neither the
link plates or the pins are damaged. If you find
and that are damaged, replace them or replace the
whole chain as necessary (see Removing
And Replacing A Chain).
If you find several damaged links then it's
definitely time to get a new chain.
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