How To Clean Motorcycle Chain At Home

If you want to clean the motorcycle chain at home, first of all, the frame must be stabilized. It is best to have a large support (middle ladder). If not, use the side support to cooperate with the “moving method”. Then, spray a special O-ring chain cleaning agent without stint, or directly use a cheap large bowl of kerosene. Use a special chain brush or a waste toothbrush to brush all four sides of the chain link. After brushing, wipe the black sludge thoroughly with a rag to ensure that the chain is completely dry, and finally spray only the high-quality chain oil on the inner roller.

For safety reasons, do not start the engine during this process.

This video shows you how to clean your motorcycle chain at home:

Let’s elaborate on these steps:

Step 1: Safety And Preparation: First Stabilize The Car

Before using any chemical cleaning agent, ensuring the stability of the car body is the first priority. The safest way is of course to use a large brace to put the frame up, so that the rear wheel is suspended in the air and can be turned by hand, which is very easy to clean.

If your car is not equipped with large supports and you do not have the kind of professional lifting frame on hand, then use side supports and cooperate with the “moving car cleaning method”. Although it is stupid, it is very practical: after cleaning this chain, push the car forward or backward a few feet to reveal the next dirty chain and continue washing.

Here’s an extremely important safety warning: Never start the engine while you’re working. Too many novices (and even some veterans) put the car in first gear and let the wheels spin to wash the chain in order to save trouble. Believe me, this is an absolute taboo, and once the finger is rolled in, the consequences are unimaginable. Honestly turn off the engine and put it in neutral.

Step 2: Select The Right Solvent

To wash away the stubborn road dirt and aging grease, you need to a solvent that is strong and will not damage the rubber oil seal (whether it is O-ring, X-ring or Z-ring).

• Special O-ring safety cleaning agents: These are specially formulated to dissolve grease without swelling or drying the rubber oil seal, and can protect the original grease inside the chain link.
• Cheap and easy to use kerosene: If you want to find a cost-effective solution at home, kerosene is an excellent alternative. It is particularly effective against aged sludge and is generally safe for modern O-ring chains.
• Note: Never use gasoline or other highly corrosive solvents, otherwise the rubber seals will be ruined.

Step 3: Brushing Process: Chain Brush Vs Old Toothbrush

After the solvent has been sprayed on for a while, it will have to be decontaminated by physical means.

• Special chain brush: This thing is designed very cleverly, with bristles on three sides, which can handle the top, bottom and sides of the chain at the same time. It is indeed the most efficient to do the work.
• Waste toothbrush: If you want to wash your car at home temporarily and don’t have special tools on hand, an old toothbrush can make do with it. However, this job needs to be done more carefully. You have to be patient and make sure that the human flesh brushes the four sides of the chain link (up, down, left, right) in place. Don’t let the sludge hide in the dead corner.

Step 4: Wipe And Dry

After brushing, the chain should now be a mixture of solvent and dissolved sludge, black. Find a few clean, dry rags and wipe the dirt off thoroughly. Don’t save rags at this step, you may have to change a few pieces to wipe them clean.

The chain must be completely dry before proceeding to the next oiling step. If there is still kerosene or solvent remaining on the chain, the newly sprayed lubricating oil will not hang up and will not play a protective role at all. You can let it dry naturally for a while, or wipe it repeatedly with a dry cloth to ensure that no moisture remains.

Step 5: Oiling: Focus On Inner Rollers

The last step in the maintenance of the family chain is oiling. At this time, don’t spray the whole chain with the spray can, which will make the side plate everywhere, which is both wasteful and easy to throw oil.

You have to align the nozzle with the inner roller -that is, the contact between the chain and the mouthpiece that bite. Turn the wheels by hand and spray the oil precisely on these rollers. Don’t worry about other places. When you ride up, the centrifugal force will naturally throw the lubricating oil to the O-ring and other parts of the chain.

Put the oil in the right place, which can not only ensure smooth operation, but also minimize oil rejection, so that your family maintenance is really in place.

Author: Mark Reynolds

With over 11 years of riding experience, I specialize in DIY motorcycle maintenance. I am passionate about helping fellow riders save money and stay safe by mastering essential home garage skills, from simple chain cleaning to complex repairs.