When to Oil, Clean, Adjust & Replace Your Motorcycle chain | TwistedThrottle.com, by TwistedThrottle.com on YouTube. 3 min 59 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 59 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Park the bike on level ground, switch the engine off and put it on a rear stand or the side stand. Keep fingers clear of the sprocket and never run the engine in gear while you work.
Find the midpoint between the front and rear sprockets and push the chain up and down. Most street bikes want 25 to 35 mm of slack, so check your owner's manual for the exact figure.
Spin the rear wheel by hand and look for rust, stiff links, kinks, missing O-rings and hooked or sharp sprocket teeth. A chain with tight spots or a worn sprocket needs replacing.
Spray an O-ring safe chain cleaner or kerosene onto a rag and a soft brush, then work along the chain while turning the wheel. Avoid stiff wire brushes, which can damage O-rings.
Wipe the chain dry with a clean rag and let any solvent flash off before you lube it. Cleaning first stops grit from getting trapped under fresh lube.
Apply chain lube to the inside run of the chain, turning the wheel so every link gets a coat. Wipe off the excess and let the lube soak in for a few minutes.
If the slack is wrong, loosen the rear axle nut, turn the adjusters on both sides in equal amounts and recheck the measurement. Tighten the axle to the torque in your manual.
Take a short slow ride, then check the slack and look for lube fling on the tyre and rim. Clean any lube off the tyre tread straight away because it is slippery.
Tips and common mistakes
Lube a warm chain after a ride so the lube soaks in, but keep hands away from a hot exhaust.
Clean and lube every 300 to 500 miles, and straight after riding in rain or on gritted roads.
Replace the chain and both sprockets as a set if the chain is badly stretched or the teeth are hooked.
Over-tightening a chain wears out the gearbox output bearing, so stay within the manual spec.
Questions
How often should I lube my motorcycle chain?
Every 300 to 500 miles is a good rule, and after any wet ride. Clean it at the same time so grit does not grind the O-rings.
Can I use WD-40 to clean my chain?
Standard WD-40 is a water displacer, not a chain lube, and it can wash out factory grease. Use a dedicated O-ring safe cleaner and a proper chain lube.
How do I know when to replace the chain?
Look for rust, kinks, tight spots, a chain that will not hold adjustment, or hooked sprocket teeth. Replace the chain and sprockets together.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
