Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125747
.... .... Ol J' aacl Breaker -• THE CARE AND FEEDING OF REAR CHAINS ~ accompanied by the inconvenience of having to repair it on the spot which meant that the rider wound up with his hands full of the dirt and grime that accompanies a chain (he rapidly fmds that it next to impossible to remove) and a little time lost, but that was about all. Now we have entered the age of the super-bike and things have changed. If the rider doesn't take care of hjs chain now, it could mean a set of new engine cases and much, much labor charge. For this reason, if a rider hasn't been taking care of hjs drive chain, he had better start righ t away or he is going to be in some big trouble. While many super bikes are equipped with automatic chain oilers, you must keep in mind that these use engine or transmission oil to do the lubricating job. I am not saying that the engine oil that you are using has no lubricating qualities; just that the chain flings it off as quick as the oiler desposits it. (If you don't believe me, check your rear tire, your rear fender and the back of your favorite riding jacket.) One should always lubricate the chain with one of the commerical chain lubricants as shown in photo above. These specially prepared lubricants have a coagulant in -• . - Rear chain maintenance has always been a matter of personal likes or dislikes; some riders always took care of their chains and some didn't. Those who didn't still got quite a few miles on them before they found that it only takes one weak link for a non-go motorcycle. Thjs was usually u o ~ w Z w oJ u >- u them that causes the oil to 'set up' and cling to the chain and also to work its way into the rollers and stay there. This is very important for the life of the chain, but even these prepared chain oils must have a little time to set up, so instead of puttinl( them on just before you go riding, try to put them on the night before and spin the wheel by hand for a while to work them in good and then let it set over night to set up. The old limey manuals used to tell you to remove the chain and boil it in grease (after cleaning it first in paraffin, to us paraffin was wax, but to them I guess it is something like kerosene) and then hang it up to drain and cool before reinstalling on the machine. One thing they forgot to tell you in many of these books was how to boil the grease without creating a nice little fire. Don't knock the idea. If you want to go to the trouble, it will increase the life of your chain multifold. If you do decide that you want to do it this way, go to your local department sore (even some of the chain groce.ry stores have them) and get a double·broiler with the top pot big enough to hold your chain. The cost is only a few dollars. Fill the top with your chain and some good heavy grease and the bottom with ON THE FAMOUS ASCOT vs S R A vs A M A CHAMPIONSHIP STARS SAT. CHILDREN FREE 8:15 OCT. 9,1971 P.M. JUNIORS • 183 RD & VERMONT SANCTIONED BY S.H.A. 12-16 $2.00 (AT THE SAN DIEGO & I HARBOR FREEWAYS) • • ADULTS $3.50 GARDENA. CAL. INFORMATION (213) 321-1610 or 830-4041 water. ow by heating it over the stove you can melt the grease so it will soak .into the chain rollers without fear of fire. After it has boiled and soaked into the chain real well, let it cool just a little and then hang the chain up to drain, preferably overnight. Many times a rider is rather reluctant to remove his chain because it is an almost impossible task to thread it back· around the countershaft sprocket. Thjs job can be made simple by saving your old chains (or pick up an old one at your dealers) and using it as a tool 10 remove and install the new chain. To use it, lake the master link spring clip and the locking side plate off your masler link. Remove one end of your chain from tbe master link and hook tbe old cbain to it as shown in Photo No.2. Pull off the good chain while feeding in the old chain as shown in the third photo. Just keep pulling until you come to the master link, then remove your good chain and leave the old one on the machine. When you have cleaned and lubricated your good chain, hook it to the old one with the rnaster link and pull it back through and hook it up (make sure the spring clip is facing the right way) and you are ready to roll again with your chain in good shape. Chain maintenance is a constant thing. The cbain picks up all the grit and grime from the road and no matter how well you have it oiled, it is not waterproof. For some reason, rain has the ability to wash off the most stubborn of chain lubes so if you have to ride in the rain, get to your chain as soon as possible afterwards.