I need to totally clean, and de-rust, and lube this thing. How? Soak it in gas? Then soak in gear oil? How do I get oil back in the o rings? What can be done?

Thanks,
--Rick

 

Is it kinked at all? Meaning, are any of the links so rusted they don't move freely and stay bent? Does the chain have excessive free play on the sprockets(side to side, not talking about slack adjustment?) If so, the chain is shot, just replace it. Actually, if it has gotten bad rusty it should probably just be replaced anyway. Don't forget to get the whole set, sprockets included. Otherwise, remove the chain, use a stiff bristle brush to get as much surface dirt and rust off as possible. Soak the chain in gas or kero overnight, longer if you want. dry it off and attack it again with the brush. Spray it down with WD-40 then dry that off with a shop rag or paper towel. Finally reinstall it and go ride for 10 minutes or so to warm up the chain. WIpe off any new dirt that has accumulated and then use a quality chain lube on it. I like the chain waxes, as they are not as messy as the foaming oil type lubes. At least initially though, a foaming lube may do a better job of getting into the nooks and crannies that need protecting.

 

But I thought this thing has lube inside? Wont gas or kero leech it out? How do I get the oil back in past the O rings? Wasn't there an article about this here somewhere?

 

Technically, if it is an o-ring chain, that part is sealed. You can't get grease back inside the o-rings, the best you can do is remove as much crud from the outside as possible and hope that frees up any bad links. That is also why you just toss a chain with kinked links. In those cases, an o-ring or two has failed and the inside of the link is usually corroded. You could always break the chain, replacing the offending link/links with new, but where one has gone bad the rest will shortly follow. Soaking a chain in gas or kero overnight is an old trick that has alos been published in just about every motorcycle and atv mag over the years. I don't think you are going to harm the chain any further by soaking it.

 

If it wont hurt it then that's what I'll do. It's not kinked, just a little stiff in some places. It's got some surface rust, and the sprockets are slightly worn, but not too bad.