Bike Chain Maintenance

Key points

  • you can't properly and easily clean your chain on the bike;
  • those chain cleaning gadgets with the brushes and wheels are a joke - they spontaneously break apart and fall to bits;
  • use a chain that has a chain connector;
  • if your chain doesn't have a chain connector (like Shimano chains) then get one. You can use KMC, SRAM and Wippermann ConneX connectors with Shimano chains. KMC, SRAM and Wippermann make 8, 9 and 10 speed chain connectors that are sold separately.

Process

  • remove the chain to clean it (that's where the connector comes in);
  • get yourself a glass jar about 500ml in capacity and half fill it with mineral turps;
  • clean the chain by taking it off your bike and putting it in the glass jar of turps, shake vigorously and then leave overnight;
  • the following day, shake glass jar vigorously again, remove chain and hang above the top of the jar so that the turps drains back in;
  • put chain back on and lubricate with your favourite chain lube - my current favourite is Inox "Lanox" which is a heavy duty anti-corrosion lubricant with lanolin (for more see my FAQ on chain lubes )

Chain cleaning frequency

  • after every muddy ride;
  • every time you wash your bike;
  • when its clear from looking at your chain that its aggregating lumps of dirt - dirt is an abrasive, leaving it on your chain will shorten chain life and the life of your drivetrain.

When to replace

Get yourself a chain wear indicator and replace your chain when it reaches 0.75% wear. The Park Tool chain wear indicator is good and easy to use. There's also:

  • the Rohloff Caliber 2 ;
  • Wipperman version measures over a longer distance, so is more accurate;
  • use a 12" imperial ruler and measure where the rivet of the 12th complete link ends up (each link in a bike chain should be exactly 1" apart). Link less than 1/16th of an inch past 12" then chain OK. Greater than 1/16th" you should think about replacing it soon. More than 1/8th" the chain is shagged and you'll probably have to replace your cluster and chainrings as well.

Related articles:

CNC chainrings

These are generic, no-name CNC chainrings made in China and sourced through ebay from various vendors. They are made from 7075 aluminium with black annodising. They are cheap and well made. They last about the same ...

Deore 32t chainring

Wow. This thing's a real boat anchor. All steel 32t chainring. Weighs 89g but should last a long time.

FSA 44t chainring

pressed from alu sheet, shift pins, minimal machining.

Missing link chain tool

Get a set of needle nose pliers and grind the ends thinner so they can fit between the chain side plates. Then add a curve to the inside of each jaw that matches the chain roller diameter.

YBN 11-speed chain

This is the SL version of the chain.  These chains look a lot like the KMC SL type chains, although only one set of plates has cut-outs.  Claimed weight is 264g and this chain weighed ...

KMC X10SL superlite chain

The KMC X10SL superlite chain is a lightweight 10 speed chain that works equally well with 9 speed clusters, chainrings and shifters.

Content-type: text/html Error
Sorry, the application you are using has encountered an error.

Please click on this link to report the error: REPORT ERROR