A reminder to look after your chain

[tillson]

I just ride my chain and sprocket sets to the death with several thousands of miles on them, then change the lot.
.

This is the method that I have decided to adopt.

I do clean the chain every now and again with kerosine and an blast it with compressed air which seems to dry it and blow out all of the dirt. I usually use Halfords chain wax to lubricate it.

As far as changing the component parts, I like flecc's method. The chain is noisy though, but I can put up with that.

 

[z0mb13e]

z0mb13e you must encounter the sudden pitch black section inbetween s/banks and Bmth pier then? It's lethal at night I remember being lit up like a Xmas tree one night and only seeing a drunk party-goer at the last minute. He cleverly decided to take a short cut home (or go for a swim?) and was dressed all in black, so perfect camoflage for that little spot.

Also, just out of interest and totally off topic for a second, have you seen Gordon the tramp on your travels and if so have you asked him the time?

Yup I do hit the DMZ that is the unlit section of the prom between Poole and Bmth borough councils - the bit that neither of them seem to want to take responsibility for - the bit that is always ignored when they clear the prom of sand! Lots of fun in the Winter...

It's odd that you should mention Gordon the tramp. We were having a conversation about him at work a while back. I haven't seen him in a long while but others who live in Bmth claim he is alive and well and still able to tell you the time without a watch... the conversation came up when someone mentioned that he has a facebook page and a Wiki entry

Reminded me of the chap who busked with a two stringed acoustic guitar - Eric Clapton we called him. He might have been the same chap who had the weird dancing paper puppets and some weird one man band setup...

 

[wurly]

Here's another thought about chain wear. We use our bikes daily for commuting, not very far but nevertheless in all weathers. The chains get crudded up in no time. To be honest, i opt for the easy route of doseing the chain and sprockets in 3in1 oil. Until it's eventually so mucky i can no longer put it off and clean it right out with paraffin and relube, probably three times a year (or less). Now i discover, that isn't the best way.

What about using motor cycle 'chain prep'. Some of you ex motorcyclists will know what i am on about.
It comes as a solid grease that you heat up in a oil bath and soak the chain in it (after cleaning it obviously). You hang the chain up as it's cooling the excess fall back to the bath and you wipe the outside of the chain. The grease gets left in between the links where it's needed.
I still have a tin of it in my garage. I used to do my kawasaki z650 chain with it.
I'm wondering if it's worthwhile fitting a removable link in our chains and using that stuff...... I reckon it should last longer than oil?