DIY! Drive Chain Maintenance “Cleaning and Lubrication” Taught by Professional Mechanic!

The drive chain that transmits the engine's driving force to the rear wheel is a historical power transmission tool that has been used since the era of the bicycle.

Most motorcycle chains require maintenance from the Super Cub up to the world's top MotoGP machine. Regular cleaning and lubrication will help to improve fuel consumption and extend the chain's life.

  1. Cleaning and lubrication of the chain every 500km of travelling or after raining

▲ Using a chain cleaner is a regular routine for cleaning your motorcycle chain. But for the oil stains accumulated like clay, a penetrating lubricant that does not damage the rubber seal is also effective to use.

For the drive chain, which is pulled by the torque during acceleration and pulled again even with the back torque during deceleration, a great force is constantly applied. Since the latter half of the 1970s, the durability is also greatly improved after the seal chain being released with lubricating grease enclosed between the pin and bush.

The seal chain has certainly made the life of a chain become longer, but it does not eliminate the maintenance needed for the chain itself. The gap between the pin and bushing inside the chain is lubricated with grease, but the rubber seal is between the roller that contacts the sprocket teeth. The pin is between the roller and bushing, and between the link plates on both sides of the chain. The chain is necessary to clean with oil properly and apply oil from the outside part of the chain.

According to the chain manufacturer, cleaning and lubrication are specified every 500 km of travelling or after raining. There should be no rider who thinks, "I didn't put any oil engine, but maybe the engine won't break." Some riders may think that "it's safe to run even without lubrication because they have been used seal chain", but if there is no oil between the sprockets and the rollers, the metal will rub against each other directly and it will cause worn out of the chain. Chain maintenance is important to prevent "chain worn out" situation.

  2. Cleaning is done with a cleaner that does not damage the rubber seal

▲ If the chain cleaner or penetration lubricant causes the stain on the chain to float, rub the stain with a chain cleaning brush or toothbrush, and wipe it off with a waste cloth. Even if the chain oil is applied on top of the dirt, the effect is limited because oil does not easily penetrate the narrow part of the chain.

The dust and road debris, and water that rolled up during riding, especially in rainy weather, the dirt will accumulate on the surface of the chain and sprocket. In some cases, the oil itself is accumulated by applying the chain oil again. In maintenance, cleaning is important because dirty oil can take more dust and road debris, which can lead to compound-like effects.

In the case of the seal chain, it is necessary to choose a cleaner that does not damage the rubber seal. In the seal chain, using kerosene that swells the rubber is prohibited, in removing dirt, high-viscosity grade of oil is recommended. Used chain cleaner that specifically for the seal chains and chemicals that do not affect the rubber. By using a penetrating lubricant spray that does not swell the rubber with strong penetrability and lubrication performance, the dirt that entered the narrow gap became lifted and became easy to remove by using a brush or waste clothes.

  3. Friction loss can be reduced with low viscosity chain oil

▲ The roller in contact with the sprocket is an essential point for lubrication. Furthermore, oil is necessary on the contact surface in the bushing inside the roller, so even for the seal chain, the chain oil is essential.

After cleaning, the chain must be lubricated. Spraying is important to aim at the necessary lubrication points because if you poured out the oil uncontrollably, it will only cause new dirt. In the structure of the chain, lubrication is required between the sprockets and rollers, the roller link plate and bushing where the metals are direct contact with each other, as well as the left and right rubber seals in between the two gourd shape link plates.

The moderate oil content of the rubber seal is effective in reducing the resistance between the plate and rubber, effective for reducing the worn out of rubber seals. However, as with the cleaning, the most important is that the chemical used does not damage the rubber, If you can not back it up, it is safe to select oil made by a chain manufacturer.

No matter how high viscosity the chain oil is, the persistence of the lubricant vitality is limited because the chain is constantly exposed to an open air. Therefore, it is important to wash and lubricate the distance specified by the chain manufacturer, and to wash and lubricate without leaving it as it is when moisture or dirt adheres. When the temperature of the chain rises, chemicals penetrate deeply after cleaning and lubrication, so chain maintenance improves work efficiency.

  The seal chain also needs to be lubricated. By performing regular maintenance, the life of the chain can be extended.

The chain and sprockets, in which the metals are directly in contact with each other, require a moderate amount of oil. Regardless of seal chain or non-seal chain, cleaning and lubrication must be done regularly.