We've already covered how to clean your bike, lube the transmission and sort out your cables after a dirty weekend. Cleaning the transmission thoroughly every month can really prolong its life though. So this week you're giving your chain a bath.
Even if you've been cleaning and lubing regularly, or using a clip on chain brush bath, there are some places that just can't reach with the chain still on the bike. So it has to come off.
1.
Chain removal technique depends on the chain. If you're running a Sedis/Sachs Powerlink chain then this is easy once you've found the special gold link. Just drop the bike into a lower gear so you have plenty of slack and then push the links together and wiggle till it pops off.
If you've got a Shimano chain, you'll need to make sure that you've got some spares of the special joining pin they need, before you immobilise your bike and have to walk to the shop to get one.
Otherwise just use a chain rivet tool to gently push the rivet through - not all the way out - until the links can be waggled apart. Our tip is to undo the chain from the back, so that when you're pushing it together again the rivet is being driven from the front which is much easier to reach.
2.
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| Make sure you get rid of the cake crumbs first. |
Once it's off, it's bathtime. I use an old baking tin, and whatever ecologically sound degreaser I can get my hands on. In this case it's Finish Line, but the stuff from Finesse, Pedro's, Weldtite etc. or even diluted Muc Off works fine. You can even use petrol, parafin or white spirit if you really want but they're harder to dispose of safely and can do real damage to your skin with prolonged contact. If you're concerned about your hand modelling career then a pair of latex gloves keeps your pinkies protected.
Simply add enough of whatever cleaner you're using to cover the chain and let it soak a while to penetrate the filth.
3.
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| You are the dirtiest link; Goodbye! |
Once the crap is starting to lift off it's time to scrub down. This is a splattery, filthy job so don't be tempted to do it inside.
X-Lite (pictured) Park and Pedro's all do specific chain scrubbing brushes but if you're skint, old washing up or toothbrushes do the same job but not as quickly or neatly. Make sure you scrub all the links thoroughly on all four sides to chase out any crap that's hidden in there.
Andy Paice
