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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Sima Fontanilla | Posted under Recreation and Sports
8 Tips To Clean Your Bicycle Chain
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1. Maintenance scheduleThe perfect maintenance system would mean you clean your bicycle chain once a week. However even those with the best intentions tend to get lax. At the very least, you need to clean your chain immediately after every ride that involves sand, water, or mud. 2. Quick CleanThe quickest way to clean your chain is while it is still on your bike. Just spray the cleaning solution onto the chain then scrub with an old toothbrush or similar style brush. Rinse and lube while spinning the pedals. 3. Total CleanEvery four months, remove the chain from the bike to give it a thorough clean. Take a rinsed out, large plastic pop bottle and pour a couple of ounces of undiluted degreaser into the bottle. Drop the chain into the bottle, place the cap on tightly and shake. Shake for a couple of minutes and shake thoroughly. Remove the chain, rinse with water and replace the chain on the bike, then lubricate. Dispose of the bottle. 3. Chain InspectionThe chain is the part we often neglect the most. If your chain decides to break, you can just about bet it will be at the most inconvenient moment, not that any time is a good time. You can prevent this from happening by thoroughly checking your chain at least once a month preferably twice per month. If you do lots of riding then you should check it after every 12 hours of riding. Check for wear, rust, or any stiffness. Each link of chain should equal 1" of chain. If any of these symptoms are apparent, replace the chain. 4. Chain ReplacementBarring any problems you should replace your chain somewhere between 800-1200 miles of riding. If you need to replace sprockets or chainrings then you will need to replace the chain. 5. Squeaky CleanKeep your chain squeaky clean with good old dish soap, or you can use a commercial degreaser. Remove the grease and grime as well as the lubricant by placing the cleaner in the center of your rag, then take the rag and wrap it on the chain and move the pedals back and forth. Rinse as often as needed and repeat until there is no more dirt. Then you will need to lubricate the chain. 6 Lube ItKeeping the chain lubricated will extend the life of the chain. You should lubricate every single pin in the chain. Although this method is time consuming, it is the best method of lubrication. Let the lubricant soak on the chain for at least 15 minutes then wipe it dry with a rag. This will not only keep the chain lubricated it will help repel dirt. 7. Don't Get KinkyCheck your chain for tight links and kinks. Pedal backwards and watch the chain and the rear derailleurs to see if it jumps or jerks. If it jumps, you will need to find the tight link and flex 5 links up to get it to loosen up. If it won't loosen, you'll need a new chain. 8. Weary BushingsCheck for pins and bushings that are showing signs of wear. Even with the best maintenance these parts will eventually wear and the chain will need to be replaced. If your chain becomes noisy and cleaning doesn't help, of if your bike is shifting poorly then it's time to replace the chain. Good maintenance will help your chain last longer and it will keep you peddling rather than taking your bike for a walk. All it takes is 8 simple steps. About The Author: Sima Fontanilla is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - http://www.articleclick.com |
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