For a smooth run, you have to make sure that your motorcycle is clean and it doesn’t have any issues with the oil and filter. Since most of the cleaning and covering is done internally you can make sure that things stay the same.
However, one thing that will stay exposed no matter what you do is the chains. The look of your motorcycle is destroyed when your chains are all rusty. It also shows that you have been not cleaning your motorcycle and this eventually impacts the running and maintenance. When you run along some trilling path, your focus is always on the view. Most people never get to notice how challenging the road is. In fact, they prefer a thrilling and complex road as it offers them a much better riding experience.
However, as you ride along these thrilling paths, you will come across moisture, a lot of sand, water, and salt on the roads depending on the season and the area you are riding your bike in. this collectively can get stuck in the chains and in no time you will see rust getting developed due to oxidation of the chains.
If you are thinking this can happen because you are not maintaining your motorcycle well then you need to know that there is no way to prevent rusting completely unless you keep it away from moisture and air. Since the motorcycle has to be out, it is only logical that you are expected to learn how to prolong the life of your chains by taking care of them.
With the help of this article, we will mainly look at some easy ways to help you get rid of rusty motorcycle chain problems. The article will have step-by-step ways of deep cleaning that can help you prevent rusting as well as some tips that can help you prevent the rusting of the chains altogether.
How to Prevent the Rusting Of the Motorcycle Chains with Simple Cleaning?
Before you think that you can revive the rusting, it is important to know that even after trying a lot, you can never revive the health of your chains after a bad case of rust. So, it is better to prevent that from happening altogether. The best way to prevent this issue is to focus on the simple steps, especially the easy cleaning.
After every ride takes at least 5 minutes for easy cleaning and brushing of the salt, sand, and snow off your motorcycle chains. You also need to keep in mind that after brushing your work is not done and you have to clean with soapy water as well.
After cleaning your chains pat them dry fully with a cloth. Most people prefer using a hair dryer which might seem like a good option but it can add to the oxidation process so it is much better to avoid this.
To seal up the cleaning and avoid anything else from happening you have to use an oil-based lubricant. Usually, these lubricants are available in spray form but sometimes you get them in wax form as well. You have to smother the chains with lubricant to seal them up. Then you can cover it to avoid dust.
How to Remove Rust from the Chains?
This might seems too good to be true but in case your motorcycle chains get rusty, a detailed and good cleaning process can somehow revive its originality. However, you cannot completely get rid of rust from the chains. Here is an easy rust-cleaning routine that can help you clean up the rust and keep the chains rust-free after you have detected the rust:
Step 1: Raising The Chain
Start by moving the chain into the right position and then raise the rear tire a bit. This will make your chains free so you can easily move them around. Also, you will notice that rising the tire will also offer you a better view of the chain.
Step 2: Use liquid soap or light soap
After that, you have to get liquid soap or just use any light soap. Make sure to avoid harsh chemicals like detergent because it will only make rusting worst. The best way to do it is to add basic liquid soap and then dilute it in the water. Now, use a light sponge and soak it in soapy water to clean it up.
Step 3: Rinse it up
Most people try to remove the chains altogether which is a good practice but only experts can do it because you will never be able to put them back properly. Just let the chains soak in the soapy water for a few minutes. Now rinse it up by using some water and a wet cloth.
Step 4: Using WD-40 Spray
Now, you need to get a WD-40 spray and use that as the cleaning agent. You need to make sure that you are covering your body and eyes before spraying. Also, make sure you use it on the spots that are already rusting.
Step 5: Using lubricants
Make sure your spray and cover the chains deeply and do not leave any spots. After cleaning it all up, you need to use a lubricant. This will eventually help you prevent any moisture prevention in the future and keep the surface water repellent. While using the lubricant, be generous with the areas that are not exposed and where the ring overlap. These areas mostly accumulate the water faster and keep it soaked within.
Bottom Line
To sum it all up, breaking and rusting motorcycle chains is very common and it can ruin your riding experience completely. The idea is that you have to keep in mind that the more you try to take care of your chain the longer will be the life of chains.
Most people experience that the chains get rusty and fragile over time. Eventually, they lose their strength and break midway. However, not everyone can come home after a hectic ride and still have enough time and strength left for the lengthy cleaning and maintenance process. This is where you need to find a simple yet effective cleaning process that can fit within just a few minutes.
Moreover, after every week you get to the deep clean where you can work on getting rid of the rust built up, and eventually, this will keep your chain strong and rust-free. Another benefit of the weekly deep clean is that you will be able to analyze the condition of your chains so if anything goes wrong you can easily detect and avoid any injury or accident that can happen when the chains break unexpectedly.
5 Steps To Clean Rust Out Of A Motorcycle Gas Tank
Rodney L is a technical writer and product consultant with over a decade of experience in the motor industry. Rodney is a fan of performance machines that run fast and loud and an expert in all things custom. His numerous articles and write-ups are available at our knowledge base. Whether it’s something wrong with your motorcycle or you are building a custom bike, you can trust Rodney’s experience.