Motorcycle Chain Maintenance
Your motorcycle chain helps transfer power from the engine to the tires, which makes it an important part of making your motorcycle work properly! A little proactive motorcycle maintenance helps keep your chain working well and reduces the need for a trip to the mechanic. We want all of our customers to be as safe on the road as possible, so we've gathered up the following tips for maintaining your chain. If you have any questions or want to explore motorcycles for sale, head over to Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County. Our motorcycle dealership is located in Westminster, California. We also proudly serve those in Los Angeles and Orange County, California.
1. Inspect Your Chain
You will want to inspect your chain about twice a month (or every 500-700 miles). Begin by gently tugging the chain up and down about one inch. This will reveal whether your chains are too tight or too loose. Your owner's manual will describe how the chain should fit on your specific model. Don't forget to roll the motorcycle forward so that you can inspect the full chain. You may find that there is only one individual link that is problematic and not the entire chain.
The next step is to inspect the sprockets. Here you are checking that the teeth run smoothly with the chain, which helps prevent excessive wear or any damage. Teeth that are worn down or teeth that wear down at a strange right could indicate a problem with the connection or the need for new parts.
2. Clean the Chain
Regularly cleaning the chain will help it run better and longer. You will need a chain cleaner, a brush, a chain lubricant, and a towel. Before you buy any cleaning products, you will want to double-check with your motorcycle's owner's manual that you are getting the right product. It's also helpful to get a brush that is built for cleaning the chain since this will be able to clean it easier and better. But if you don't have a specialized brush, a toothbrush can work fine.
When you are ready to clean your chain, you will want to soak it in your chain cleaning product. Scrub the chain so that there is no grime or dirt left. Once your chain is clean, you will want it to be dry before you move onto the next step. You can use a towel to dry it or simply let it air dry.
3. Lubricate the Chain
When the chain is dry, the next step is to spray lubricant on it while you also rotate the tire. This helps ensure you lubricate every part of the chain and not just some parts of it. Make sure you cover each of the four sides, then clean away any excess. Be sure to check the directions of the product to ensure you apply it properly. For example, some products need to wait a few minutes before they fully set. If your product needs to set, you can use this time to adjust the tension if needed. Once the chain is fully clean and lubricated, you are good to go!
We hope you found this motorcycle maintenance guide helpful! For more motorcycle maintenance advice or to shop motorcycles for sale, visit the experts at our dealership in Westminster, CA. We serve all of Orange County, as well as Los Angeles. Our friendly staff is happy to chat with you and help you with whatever you need, so stop by and visit us today!