Reviving a neglected chain

[Codemonkey]

Hi Folks,

The chain on my bike has seen better days. Its previous owner obviously didn't clean it often/ever, and the castrol spray lube I've been using seems about as good at repelling water as a chamois cloth! Needless to say, I now have a few links that are either very stiff or seized despite it being cleaned and sprayed with lube frequently.

The chain in question is a DID o-ring chain that has done about 4000 miles. There's still plenty of adjustment left in it, and the sprockets have a fair bit of life left in them too.

I've already ordered a replacement chain and sprocket kit, but would if possible like to get a bit more life out of the existing one before fitting it.

The castrol spray has gone in the bin, I'll be using engine oil from now on or maybe a scottoiler/lubeman/etc.

I've today taken the chain off (its a split link one) and left it in a bowl of paraffin to try clean it up a bit and hope it may free up the stiff links. I have read numerous conflicting reports that leaving a chain soaking in parafin will knacker it, some say its no problem. I figure at the worst, its scrap anyway so I can't really do more harm.

Anything else I can do to free up the stiff links ? Have I killed it by leaving it soaking in parafin ?

The bike in question is a YZF-R125, so hardly a powerful beast!

[glassman50]

coat it in chain oil, and bend each link indivually on a bench or something... this will crack the rush or grit and the oil will slowly work its way back in, just keep doing this over and over untill its all free

just bought my yzf r125 yesterday, same problem, worked for me, the hard part is cleaning your hands

a small rubber hammer is a help...

please look at my post below yours!

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

If you've got it off chuck it in a bowl of oil for as long as you can, working the stiff links periodically.
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[stinkwheel]

Soak it in hot grease or oil. Comes up lovely.

The old fashioned way was to bung it in a pot with a load of graphite grease, heat until the grease was just off boiling then allow to cool. Wipe off the excess and you're good to go.

Camping stove outside highly recommended.
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[Codemonkey]

Cheers folks! Will try soaking in oil and also hot oil if I can find something to do it on (think Mrs Codemonkey would be none pleased if I do it in the kitchen ).

[iooi]

[devojunior]

go to halfords or somewere and get a load of parrafin and stick it in that for abit then will clean up nicely.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Kickstart]

Hi

The O rings should seal it pretty well. If they are working then the paraffin probably won't get it. If they are wrecked then probably too late to save the chain. If I want to help a chain then I would just leave it soaking in a bottle of used engine oil (bit of string tied to one end to I can get it back out). But wouldn't expect it to work for an O ring chain.

I would try and manipulate the seized links to free them off.

All the best

Keith
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[rob_scott92]

Sooooo glad i spotted this thread, this is exactly what i'm needing to do

So just to confirm, leaving it to soak in parrifin will not damage the seals if they're not already too damaged? (if that makes any sense )
and another way would be to heat up some oil and leave it to soak in that.

[HD]

Speaking of cleaning a chain im thinking of buying this for my bike:

https://www.thevisorshop.com/acatalog/Chain_Brush.jpg

So whats the best fluid for cleaning it with? Paraffin as you mention? Or just dip the brush in a bucket of soapy water? White spirit?

Sorry about the hijack codemonkey


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[Codemonkey]

[neil.]

I use one of those brushes with paraffin (sold as parasene in Homebase) and then after I've dried it off, brush some engine oil on the chain with an old paint brush and wipe off the excess. Yes it flings a bit but I've had over 15'000 miles out of my current chain/sprockets (riding 300 miles a week all year round in all the shitty weather we've had this winter) and only adjusted them 3 or 4 times since fitting, and by small amounts (up to notch 3 on the adjuster, not even half way there yet!). Get an automatic oiler like a Loobman as well to keep the chain wet.

[Paxovasa]

[HD]

[neil.]

Paraffin won't hurt the chain/rings. It's what's specified in Yamaha's own service manual as well.

[Robby]

If you don't want to buy a chain brush, an old toothbrush works just as well but takes longer. The rust will list off with a very gentle brushing, but the oily crap can be harder to shift. Soaking in paraffin or oil will do the job here.

Don't use white spirit or petrol, light solvents can work past the O rings and destroy the grease inside. Paraffin probably could too, but would take longer.

Better to spend a little less time soaking and a little more time working it free and cleaning it up.

I clean my chain from time to time. Always forget that it's gold, it isn't after a few weeks riding.

[ZebraDriver]

If its an o-ring chain and its gone stiff then the "O" rings are stuffed and they have allowed shit to get in between the pins, plates and the rollers. Even if you clean it, soak it, hammer it, lube it, boil it, brush it etc, etc the inside of the rollers will still be full of shit. This shit is rust, it will cause serious wear from the inside. If you run it afterwards the chances are all you will do is accelerate the wear and you run the risk of the chain snapping. The damage a snapped chain can do is considerable, not just to the associated gearbox output shaft and casings etc but to you as well if the back wheel locks.

As you have bought a new one then fit it and bin the old one.

By all means keep the sprockets as spares but if you want to run them buy another chain, for your bike its around £25

ZD

[Raffles]

I've revived knackered old chains by soaking them in a bath of diesel. It cleans them and it lubes them at the same time.
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[greetingsfrom...]

+1 for diesel

Also useful for freeing up seized vintage engines which I have a perversion for

[Biggelo]

Sorry for the revival, newb question..

After soaking your chain in the parrafin and cleaning it with your toothbrush, do you let it dry naturally or rinse it off etc before you then lube it?

Thanks

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Use some rags to wipe off the excess. Refit chain and lube.
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[Codemonkey]

Well, in the end I opted for the safer route and fitted a new chain & sprocket kit together with a scottoiler. Was a bit of a learning experience being the most amount of bits i've had the bike in, but doing it myself instead of taking it to the dealer probably saved me the cost of the ABBA stand I bought at the NEC show last year

The old chain's still in the bucket of paraffin, probably ought to fish it out some time!