Chain cleaning.

[Guest]

The chain on my 83 750 is a bit rusty and glomed up with road crud and dried lube. I would like to clean it but there is no master link that I can see and I don't have a chain break kit. Is it normal to remove the wheel and swingarm to get it off or do you try and clean it in place? I think it would be easier to just cut it and replace it. The bike has 19000Km on it so it might be time for a new one. It doesn't appear stretched and the cog looks ok.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Spyug.

[Paul F]

You should get 20,000 miles out of a well maintained chain. If it has not been cleaned and lubricated for a while you may want to replace it. Chain is relatively cheap. I cleaned mine with the wheel in place by using a rag and wiping it down with kerosene. You can also use WD40 spray.

It is stil better to remove the rear wheel and clean the chain in a pan of kerosene. You do not have to remove the connectling link.

[chef1366]

Does the chain get loose and then tight when rotating the rear wheel?

[jpaul]

Pull on the chain at the back of the rear sprocket. If you can see any daylight between the chain and sprocket, replace both.

[the_journeyman]

Does the chain get loose and then tight when rotating the rear wheel?

Mine does this and another member confirmed my suspicion that if it does this, it's toast. Replace the chain, maybe the sprockets too ~

JM

[themess]

A chain breaker tool isn't expensive. If you're going to change the chain yourself, you should get one.

[RobGS850L]

Use kerosene and a toothbrush first and then like all have said check your chain and if it does any of the aforementioned I'd get me a good O-ring chain and new sprockets. A new chain and old sprockets won't get as much life (if any) as an all new set.