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Title: Chain Cleaning?? Post by: 94rmx250 on November 12, 2009, 10,21:43 AM This/these may well be stupid questions but i'm gonna seek advice anyway!!
Up untill 5 yrs back when the bike got parked, i would (way to) infrequently ride the bike and just park it till next ride, the only maintenance was cleaning the cob webs off it, draining the old fuel and away i'd go.. a few months back when i finally got permission to spend some coin on it i put a new chain and sprockets on it - along with top end, power valves, wheel bearings etc.,.... Now that i'm riding it regularly and need to make the ol' girl last as long as possible i've realised i had best take care of it.. SO, Chain: i'm lubing it before every ride - was using an old can of Sheel helix chain lube (purple tin) but today purchased a can of Belray offroad chain lube. How often and how should i clean the chain - i also got a funky little 3 sided brush thing and the bloke at the store said they sold a cleaning spray but recommended just using the brush and kero.. THOUGHTS/ADVICE?? CRANK CASE OIL: replaced when doing recent top end repair - how often should it be replaced?? BRAKE FLUIDS: once again replaced with recent work - how often should i replace that?? Any other regular maintnence advice/tips would be appreciated - as i said, this bike needs to last as long as possible!! One last thing: FORKS: i now know the fluid should be replaced every 12months (ive had the bike since late 97early 98 and never done it - bad i know) and i'm thinking that they'll probably need a bit more than just a fluid change.. Was anyone planning on/interested in trying to tee up a "group" (AMTRA!)day with Chad? - i dont know if i can justify 2 trips to Geelong and i would prefer him having the whole bike - not confident in removing the forks and rear shock and then resetting them myself!! Title: Re: Chain Cleaning?? Post by: Peter r on November 12, 2009, 10,41:42 AM When the weather is dry i never lube the Chain,"why you ask" Its like this, lube + dust = Lapping paste, therefore wearing out not only the chain ,but the sprockets as well.
Title: Re: Chain Cleaning?? Post by: Serge C on November 12, 2009, 10,50:47 AM I'll comment on a couple of things, and am happy if others have different views. Chain: Lube it and leave it! The only part of ( an 'O' ring) chain that really needs attention are the rollers. Lube before a ride, and that's it. When you wash your bike after your ride, knock the loose crap off it with your Karcher, but don't directly spray hard into the links. A bit of degreaser is ok, but don't try to get the chain looking brand new, and once again, don't direct the spray hard into the links. Let the chain dry a bit, then lube it in preparation for your next ride. Oil: Change it every 500ks, with a filter (minimum) every second change. Hot weather and dusty conditions, change more frequently. If you drown it, change it straight away! Fork / shock oil: As Chad said the other night, these should be serviced every 12 months, so the oil would be changed then. This is what I was 'taught' and is the regime I follow. Others may have different opinions, but you gotta start somewhere! Title: Re: Chain Cleaning?? Post by: Aaron on November 12, 2009, 12,27:05 PM I am assuming you have a 2 stroke? If so, gearbox oil is not critical. Change it once or twice a year if you don't ride a lot. 1000km would be fine.
Brake fluid absorbs water which lowers the boiling point. Change it every 12 months. Also change it after a ride if you boil it. It will never be as good again once the fluid has boiled. Also find some good fluid if you are having trouble with boiling, as I was. I think for most trail riders, servicing the forks and shock every 12 months may be a bit of over kill. Every 2 or 3 years unless you ride a lot. I hardly ever use chain lube. Like Serge says, don't get too close with the pressure washer. The best time to lube a chain is at the end of a ride, as the chain is warm. Title: Re: Chain Cleaning?? Post by: OZinUS on November 13, 2009, 04,27:53 AM I like to change my 2 stroke gearbox oil after every race or after one weekend of trail riding. My brake fluid I change about three times a year. My chain, I wash it ok when I wash the bike, dont get carried away with it. If your ride in sand leave it dry. otherwise some lube before you ride. I put a new chain and sprockets on every ten months or so. Get the gold side links, they dont get as rusty looking. On the forks and shock. Get the rear shock done twice as often as the forks. Reason, it gets very hot and has less fluid in it compared to the forks.
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