If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a new chain kit every season, learning how to take care of your bike is the solution. This is especially important since anybody can undertake basic chain maintenance without too much effort.
What about the mud?
Chains become filthy, so whether you ride on or off the road makes little difference. Off-roading just dirties your chain faster and needs the use of a bicycle chain cleaner more often.
Dirt alone is very damaging to the chain because it acts as fine sandpaper between the metal elements that come into contact. When lubricant is added, the combination transforms into a fine grinding paste that rapidly and simply consumes your chain and sprockets. As a result, it is essential to use a bike chain brush to clean the chain before lubricating it.
Although it may seem to some to be a daunting endeavor, things are really not that awful when done according to the book. You may also pay some money and have a workshop do this for you.
When it comes to cleaning the chain, there are a few key no-nos:
1. Never use a wire brush; it will damage your chain and create additional, unnecessary damage to the o/x-rings. A cloth and a plastic brush, even a toothbrush, will suffice.
2. Never use a pressure washer to clean the chain. Although it seems to remove the dirt, all it actually does is push a piece of it beyond the o/x rings and add water within the chain. You don’t have to be a scientist to realize that water is terrible for your chain since it evaporates rapidly.
3. Think about your cleaning materials. While some suggest that any solvent may be used to clean the chain, you should be mindful that certain petroleum derivatives are harsh on rubber and may cause damage to your o/x-rings. Furthermore, certain cleaning solutions form a film on the chain, preventing lubricant from adhering to it.
One of the best and safest methods to clean the dirt off your chain is to use a plastic chain brush and spray-on chain cleaning solution to manually scrape off the filth. You may quickly clean the chain by inserting a cloth between the rollers.
Post time: Sep-26-2022