How to properly maintain your chain of transmission?

Lubrication

Lubrication helps limit friction and combat the formation of rust on components. It is recommended to do this after riding: fat will penetrate better on a slightly warm chain. Be careful, however, not to carry out lubrication with the engine running in order to avoid any risk of accident.

Like all moving mechanical parts, the chain needs lubrication. In addition, on a motorcycle the use of a specific product is absolutely essential to guarantee adhesion and allow practical application.

The lubrication of the chain depends on several factors:

â € ¢ First of all, the weather conditions.

â € ¢ Second, the different uses, the different conditions. Example: if you travel a lot on the motorway, the centrifugal effect caused by epar chain friction is more important. As a result, the chain loses more lubricant and it will have to be lubricated more often. On the contrary, if you usually drive on dirt roads, on dusty areas, you will also need to lubricate the chain periodically. If we talk about motorcyclescross orEnduro , in these cases, it will be necessary to lubricate the chain each time the motorcycle is taken out.

The lubrication will be done every full XNUMX approximately . If you find that the chain is dirty, clean it. In fact, the sludge is made up of abrasive residues (dust, sand, earth…) which damages the chain kit (pinion, crown, chain).

Chain tension

You must check the tension of your chain before proceeding with the lubrication. The chaî must neither "too" tense nor "too" relaxed.

In the first place, it is necessary know the right tension of your channel. You will usually find a sticker on the swingarm to indicate the ideal chain tension measurement / distance for your motorcycle. It is also possible, as always, to use the technical book of the motorcycle. The chain must have a beat of XNUMX to XNUMXmm between the top and the bottom. This fork is wide car it all depends on the motorcycle model.

It is very important to have the same measurement on both sides, so remember to check that everything is aligned correctly. In any case, it is always better if the chain is a little loose than super tight. If your chain is very tight, you will have to relax it otherwise it will break, explode the casing, etc.

Which chain grease to use?

Overall, there are different lubricants for motorcycle chains:

fat paste

In a jar or tube of paste, to be applied by brush, foam applicator or toothbrush.

Advantage: the solid grease allows you to lubricate exactly where you want it, not to spill it next to it, it does not end up on the rear rim and ensures excellent lubrication of the links of the chain.

Disadvantage: the grease sticks and will tend to aggregate the dirt from the road. To be reserved for those who only ride on clean roads and for those who often and carefully clean their chain.

liquid fats

As an aerosol can, to be sprayed as a spray, they are the easiest to use. The ease of application is their main advantage. Medium lubrication, medium adhesion, but few drawbacks.

Comparative advantage: their great fluidity allows them to flow everywhere in the chain, including inside the links, ensuring a longer chain life, provided that they are renewed often lubrication.

Disadvantage: this great fluidity leads to a lot of losses, not only during application, but also during rolling car la force centrifugal is so powerful that it expulse the liquid grease towards the outside at the level of the gearbox output pinion (a component often poorly maintained par bikers) and the rear wheel crown, which covers the rim with grease.

dry lubricants, also called dry greases

In aerosol spray, to spray a very fine film of grease which sticks very little and does not agglomerate dust. Intended primarily for off-road motorcycles that ride in sand, dirt, dust. To renew often.

All kinds of fat ➜