Author: Evgeny Zhivoglyadov. Date of publication: November 27, 2021. Category: Motor vehicles.
Experienced motorcyclists know that even when riding on paved city streets, dust, sand and dirt inevitably stick to the chain. Replacing it is a rather labor-intensive process. Well, timely cleaning of the motorcycle chain and its subsequent lubrication will significantly extend the service life of both the chain itself and the sprockets.
As a rule, after a run of 500÷600 km, it is necessary to carry out maintenance of the chain drive. This can be done using a device such as a motorcycle chain cleaner. Today, such devices (depending on the manufacturer and configuration) cost from 1,700 to 3,500 rubles. However, the money spent on the purchase pays off in that the process is not at all labor-intensive, takes little time and is highly effective.
The same cannot be said about the manual method, which uses brushes (toothbrushes or special three-sided brushes) and cleaning products (liquid or aerosol).
Devices for cleaning motorcycle chains
All motorcycle chain cleaning machines have approximately the same design (regardless of the manufacturer). The device is a plastic box with brushes fixed inside it. Depending on the model, the number of cleaning brushes varies from 6 to 9. The body of the product is detachable and consists of two parts (upper and lower). Both halves are fastened together using a rubber crimp clamp. There are fittings installed on the side surface of the housing, to which thin hoses (for supplying cleaning agent) are connected through a tee. At the bottom of the box there is a hole for draining dirty waste liquid.
The Russian market offers devices from British and Sealey, as well as Austrian ones.
Features of the KettenMax Premium devices
produces two improved versions of devices for cleaning motorcycle chains: “KettenMax Premium” (cost 3300–3500 rubles) and “KettenMax Premium Light” (2200–2500 rubles). The main difference between these sets and the “KettenMax Classic” is that the set includes four sets of interchangeable side brushes and four measuring templates (the color of the templates corresponds to the color of the cleaning brushes), which allow you to easily and quickly adapt the device to different sizes of chains.
In order to determine which brushes to install for cleaning, it is enough to attach the templates to the chain one by one. After this, brushes of the appropriate color are installed in the device box and the device is ready for use.
Additional ease of use: the kit includes a plastic bag for collecting dirty liquid, which is screwed to the bottom half of the machine.
The KettenMax Premium kit also comes with a 250 ml bottle of S100 Chain Cleaner and a 75 ml can of universal aerosol lubricant.
With a set from the Premium series, you can clean chains on motorcycles of various brands. This purchase is especially justified for those who have several bikes (or, for example, a motorcycle and a moped). It is enough just to install brushes of the required size.
Why do you need to maintain a motorcycle chain?
Many people say - why should I bother with chains, with their cleaning and lubrication, I’d rather buy the most inexpensive chain “from Java”, and change it every thousand. It is worth considering that a cheap chain stretches a lot, it needs to be tightened every 100-200 km, which is annoying, to say the least. Imagine that you are going on a long trip, and instead of enjoying the journey, you get off the bike every half hour to tighten the chain!
An expensive chain may require tightening every couple of thousand kilometers. And it passes a couple of tens of thousands without problems. But it costs a really good amount of money. And if you consider that it is necessary to change the chain together with the sprockets, this will cost you a lot. But with a high-quality oil seal motorcycle chain, you will ride without problems, you will be confident in its safety, and all that will be required of you is to wash and lubricate it once every 500-600 km.
Motorcycle chain cleaning fluids
A new motorcycle chain contains a special heat-resistant lubricant, which is placed between the rubbing parts (rollers and bushings) during factory production. At the joints of the links, special sealing rings (oil seals) are installed that prevent lubricant from leaking out and keep it inside throughout the entire life of the motorcycle chain.
When choosing a cleaning liquid, special attention should be paid to the aggressiveness of the detergent composition towards rubber products. Damage to the O-rings leads to the washing out of the factory lubricant and, as a result, to complete failure of the chain.
Manufacturers of devices for mechanized cleaning recommend the use of special detergents, the composition of which removes all types of contaminants, has anti-corrosion properties and does not damage the rubber O-rings. Thus, the KettenMax company has developed a special washing gel “S100 Chain Cleaner” for use in the machines it produces. However, the cost of this drug is quite high: for a bottle (0.5 liter capacity) you will have to pay 1200÷1300 rubles. This package is enough for no more than 2 cleanings. Liquid detergents from Starwax and Weldtite are also quite expensive.
As the practice of using cleaning devices shows, very good results can be obtained by using ordinary purified kerosene. The cost of 1 liter is only 120÷140 rubles. This is what most motorcyclists use to wash the chains of their bikes. In addition to kerosene, you can use white spirit or regular diesel fuel (diesel fuel), which will not cause any harm to the O-rings.
Important! Do not use gasoline, acetone, solvents or other aggressive compounds to wash motorcycle chains. They will destroy the seals and will contribute to the washing out of the factory lubricant, and this, in turn, will lead to rapid wear of the rollers and the inevitable “death” of the motorcycle chain and the need to replace it.
Lubrication
Before you begin, you should find out what you can use to lubricate the chain on your motorcycle. There are many types of products that are applied to the chain drive to increase its reliability and durability. The best option would be to select a lubricant based on the manufacturer’s recommendations specified in the instructions. However, you can also follow the instructions on the oil can - most manufacturers provide the following types of lubricant:
- Universal;
- Road;
- For sportbikes;
- For motocross and off-road motorcycles;
- For old motorcycles.
If you cannot figure out which lubricant is ideal for your motorcycle, it is better to consult a specialist.
It is best to purchase lubricant in spray cans - this will allow the oil to penetrate all joints and friction pairs, significantly increasing the durability of the motorcycle transmission. If you bought the product in a canister or bottle, you should additionally purchase an inexpensive can of compressed air, which can be used to increase the efficiency of chain lubrication. Some riders find that they can significantly improve transmission reliability by using a very thick grease. This is a very common misconception - excessively thick lubricant quickly lags behind the seals and flies out of the chain, getting on the motorcycle body and the driver’s clothing.
Methodology
If you are interested in how to lubricate a motorcycle chain, then you need to warm it up slightly - running the motorcycle on the suspension for 2-3 minutes will be enough. After this, it is better to turn off the engine, but the bike should remain suspended. Lubricant is applied to the upper branch of the chain, trying to treat all internal parts of the part - oil seals, seals, friction pairs and others. It is advisable to rotate the chain twice, gradually applying lubricant so that the oil spreads evenly along its outer and inner sides. The grease should not get on the motorcycle body, engine, wheels and rubber, as it thickens very quickly and will be very difficult to remove.
After completing the procedure, excess liquid must be removed using a soft cloth. Do not take paper napkins under any circumstances - they tear and their parts remain inside the chain, significantly reducing its durability. Motorcycle chain lubricant must be distributed evenly throughout the transmission mechanism, otherwise the part will wear out very quickly and also destroy the sprockets. After completing the procedure, wait 15 minutes for the lubricant to thicken - after making sure of this, you can start the motorcycle engine and go for a break-in.
Additionally
Quite often, beginners have a question about how often to lubricate the chain. It is impossible to give a definite answer to this question, since it all depends on the driving style, as well as on the type of material used. For example, grease is applied to the chains of domestic motorcycles once every approximately 500 kilometers. If we are talking about a high-quality spray for imported motorcycles, it is enough for them to treat the chain once every 1–3 thousand kilometers. The following circumstances can significantly reduce the specified time frame:
- Off-road driving;
- Wheelie;
- Long driving at high speed;
- Storing the motorcycle in inappropriate conditions.
If, when choosing a lubricant, you have already determined which one is better and have established the frequency of transmission maintenance, all you have to do is find out what other procedures should be performed simultaneously with cleaning the chain. Before lubrication, it is worth determining the degree of chain tension - to do this, you need to measure the maximum sag of its lower branch. The normal level of sagging will be 15–25 mm - if it is exceeded, it is worth tightening the chain drive using a special tool.
It is also worth assessing the condition of the sprockets - if they show severe wear, it is better to replace them immediately. Remember that severe wear on these parts can cause transmission failure and costly repairs. If there is damage to the chain, it should also be replaced - usually this work is performed when the mileage reaches 10-15 thousand kilometers, but careless operation of the vehicle can lead to accelerated wear.
If you are not comfortable with periodically lubricating your motorcycle chain with oil, you can purchase an automatic lubricant supply device. It is installed near the gearbox and performs two functions simultaneously, cleaning the part from contaminants that have fallen on it, as well as supplying oil and preventing accelerated wear of the transmission. The cost of such a device reaches approximately 9-12 thousand rubles, but it will help you save a lot of time and effort. However, it is worth remembering that the use of automation does not eliminate the need to clean the chain if it is heavily soiled - this procedure will have to be performed after driving off-road or on bad roads.
