View Full Version : Is my chain past it?
Pretty much im worried im going to have to replace my chain prematurely. The bike has been stood about 2 months without being ridden and was cleaned/lubed before i left it to sit. finally fixed the bike ready to be used today and noticed the chain is covered in rust everywhere and there are about 4 links seized at funny angles, so after sending 30mins trying to clean and they wont budge.
Any tips to un-seize them or will i ahve to buy a new chain??
cheers.
Dave20046
16-02-09, 06:46 PM
Pretty much im worried im going to have to replace my chain prematurely. The bike has been stood about 2 months without being ridden and was cleaned/lubed before i left it to sit. finally fixed the bike ready to be used today and noticed the chain is covered in rust everywhere and there are about 4 links seized at funny angles, so after sending 30mins trying to clean and they wont budge.
Any tips to un-seize them or will i ahve to buy a new chain??
cheers.
Your supposed to change your chain :confused:
Got a pic?
dizzyblonde
16-02-09, 06:48 PM
My old chain had a kinky link, tried everything to free it up, ended up getting a new one, and looking after it better;-)
jumjum_0214
16-02-09, 06:49 PM
I personally would soak it in old engine oil, that should free it up. Then lube. ;-)
Your supposed to change your chain :confused:
Got a pic?
i dont get what you mean.
a picture of one of the kinks:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h113/arcanedefiance/06012009306.jpg
you can see it half way along the bottom.
ill try the engine oil bit tomorrow, i have plenty of it lying around!
Cheers
jumjum_0214
16-02-09, 07:07 PM
Give it a go, nothing guarantee'd but worth a try!
Alpinestarhero
16-02-09, 07:09 PM
that looks pretty bad! Have you tried using a bit of penetrating fluid, like WD40 (im gonna get flamed now)? I had a link that was similar to that, and a soak of WD40 got it out. And, I report, no damage to the chain.
My worry for you now is that you'll have "tight" spots in the chain...when its free'd up, check the chain sag all the way round (rotate the wheel and check that the sag is about the same all the way round).
and Dave20046...yea, they need changing...anything between 8000 miles (if you dont know what chain lube is) to 40,000 miles (maybe more, if you are a user of scottoilers or/and regular chain cleaning)
i dont get what you mean.
He means that when a chain becomes completely knackered, like yours would appear to be......your supposed to change it.
That there looks like a snap waiting to happen.
yeah that was a month ago and since its gained alot more rust :(. Although alot of it seemed to clear after its clean today, just couldn't get those kinks out :(. Im hoping it can be saved as the sprockets are all dandy.
Get a new chain, definitely, if your ever unlucky enough to have one snap you'd never ever risk it.
Get a fresh one on there and use PJ1 Blue label - my old SV sat for ages and never rusted AND it actually doesn't come off onto the rear wheel
A chain snap can easily rip up through the body work, slice your ass cheek in half and generally ruin everything in a 2 foot radius!
Hmmm, how much am i looking at for a new chain and sprocket to be fitted, or does anyone want to help me fit one!
Alpinestarhero
16-02-09, 07:44 PM
New chain and sprocket set...about £100 i think. prices around that figure anyway
yorkie_chris
16-02-09, 08:06 PM
Hmmm, how much am i looking at for a new chain and sprocket to be fitted, or does anyone want to help me fit one!
Try www.bandcexpress.co.uk (http://www.bandcexpress.co.uk)
Tsubaki O ring and JT steel sprockets, you won't go far wrong with those.
fizzwheel
16-02-09, 08:08 PM
tight spots and stiff unmovable links are a bit of a no no on a chain IMHO.
I'd be incilned to change that, but without seeing the chain in the flesh its hard to tell how bad it is.
thefallenangel
16-02-09, 08:09 PM
Then you'll need a hand getting the front sprocket nut off. Blocks of wood in wheel, in gear and fat ******* sat on the bike with a breaker bar will generally do it.
They're £86 from Busters with a DID Chain and steel sprockets i think. I got the extra heavy duty one. My noobishness at the start of owning the bike has cost me dearly and my resale value now is next to nothing. But that's okay as i'm planning on adding to my bike collection rather than changing as i can afford to due to no tie downs.
AndyBrad
16-02-09, 08:58 PM
change the chain and buy scottoiler. How old is the chain?
change the chain and buy scottoiler. How old is the chain?
The last record of it being changed was at 15K and its now at 33k but there is no service history from 22k on and may have been done since. Assuming it hasnt i guess its fairly long but not for me as ive only racked up 200miles since buying it! Live and learn eh!
Dave20046
17-02-09, 12:33 AM
The last record of it being changed was at 15K and its now at 33k but there is no service history from 22k on and may have been done since. Assuming it hasnt i guess its fairly long but not for me as ive only racked up 200miles since buying it! Live and learn eh!
Probably will have been changed since then. TBH my chain is rusty as fook but it looks to be functioning ok. Bikes only only like 8k though. I'd get yours changed. Last time I got a chain and sprocks (cbr) was like £50 for J&s sprockets and a DID chain.
rictus01
17-02-09, 01:06 AM
right couple of basics for you, if you'd lubed it properly then it's still possible to have the appearance of rust but it's on top of the lube and will wipe off, it would also prevent any of the links for seizing up. once an O ring chain has dried out the O rings themselves will no longer hold the grease inside so even without stiff/seized links the chain is on it's way out.
Sprockets, how much experiance have you in judging whether they are good or not ? have you checked you front one as that'll show wear 4 x faster (being that much smaller), if in any doubt change both.
If financies are an issue, buy a chain and sprockets online, I know there are people in your area that can help if you ask nicely, but if not order a spring link as well as a rivet one, fit with the spring link and ride gently to a local garage and ask them to rivet it for you (about a fiver).
Cheers Mark.
well got the new chain fitted today, its covered in wax though! Can i just spray lube over this or will i have to clean the wax off and re-lube?
Dave20046
20-02-09, 09:10 PM
Give it a 100 miles or so (maybe less, keep an eye on it) retighten it then wash and lube.
cheers :) When you say wash it do you eman with water to rinse it, or with parafin to clean off the wax??
Dave20046
20-02-09, 09:17 PM
cheers :) When you say wash it do you eman with water to rinse it, or with parafin to clean off the wax??
sorry I meant paraffin, then relube. Did the garage (or whoever fitted it) explain about it stretching in the first 50-200 miles or whatever? I'm pretty sure you'll be able to take it back to them to be adjusted when it needs it for free.
fizzwheel
20-02-09, 10:21 PM
well got the new chain fitted today, its covered in wax though! Can i just spray lube over this or will i have to clean the wax off and re-lube?
No point spraying lube over the wax, just ride it for 100 miles or so then clean with parafin, then re lube with whatever chain lube takes your fancy.
Remember chain maintenance is best done little and often.
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