How to Clean a Dirt Bike Chain
A dirty dirt bike chain can cause a lot of problems. The dirt and grit from the road will wear down the chain and cause it to break or slip off of the gears. Not only that but riding on a dirty chain is also very uncomfortable for you as a rider. Dirt bikes are often ridden in harsh conditions like mud and rain which make keeping a clean chain even more difficult.
The good news is that there are some easy steps you can take to keep your chains nice and clean! In this guide, we’ll go over how to clean a dirt bike chain so that you don’t have to worry about those pesky dirt particles getting caught up in your drive train ever again.
Tools Needed
- Lubricant
- Chain cleaning brush or toothbrush
- A damp cloth, rag, and/or paper towel
- Grease for chain (if required)
- A bucket or other container for cleaning
- Metal polish (optional)
Steps To Follow: How to Clean a Dirt Bike Chain
Step One: Use a lubricant on the entire length of your dirt bike’s chain. The best type of lubricant to use is called drip oil because it is designed to seep into the chain and provide a protective barrier between moving parts.
Step Two: Lubricate your dirt bike’s sprockets on both sides of the wheel. This will help keep them from getting stuck with all that pesky mud, rainwater, or other types of debris in it!
Step Three: Using a brush (or toothbrush) dipped in water, scrub away any excess dirt particles from your chain to ensure you get every spot and crevice clean. It may take several minutes for this part but be patient-it’ll make cleaning much easier later on!
Step Four: Take another damp cloth and wipe down the entire length of the dirty section again until no more streaks are left behind.
Step Five: Take the brush and dip it in a small amount of oil. Rub this onto your chain to provide protection from corrosion while you’re cleaning.
Step Six: Dip another fresh cloth into the water, then wipe off all that excess dirt again before reapplying more lubricant on top! By doing so, you’ll be able to see if there are still any spots left behind because they should show up as darker bands against the clean section.
Repeat until every inch of metal is clean-no matter how long it takes! This will also help ensure no leftover dirt particles get stuck inside later on when riding your bike.
Step Seven: Once finished with step six, use a paper towel or napkin wrapped around your fingers to dry the chain. Use gentle motions, being careful not to pull too hard on any links, and potentially undoing things in the process!
Step Eight: Finally, inspect your work by holding up a light source against the clean parts of the chain. If there are still spots that you missed, give them another wipe with oil until they’re all gone or use a different cloth so as not to contaminate it with dirt again.
Maintenance Tips For Dirt Bike Chain
A clean dirt bike chain will stay cleaner for longer periods of time and give you better performance on your ride as well. Keeping the inside and outside of your chain free from debris is essential for maintaining good traction while riding in muddy conditions. Here are some tips on how to properly care for and maintain a dirtbike chain:
Regularly Clean and lubricate
For optimal performance, a dirt bike chain must be cleaned and lubricated often. Dirt bikes can get dirty in all types of weather conditions so it is important to clean your dirt bike’s chain regularly. You should also make sure that you are using the correct type of lube for your dirt bike’s specific needs.
Inspect the outside surface
After each ride or use, thoroughly inspect the outside surface of the links by looking at them closely with light shining from behind while rotating each link back-and-forth between your fingers. When inspecting any part of the drivetrain components during regular maintenance (every 50 hours), take into account what kind of terrain you were riding across and any other factors that would create more wear and tear on your chain.
Keep a spare chain and sprocket
We also recommend having a spare chain and sprocket on hand to swap out if needed during this process. This will allow you to quickly get back in the saddle without worrying about waiting for your bike’s components to be returned from service.
Give Enough Time to dry out
The most important thing you need to do when cleaning a dirty dirt bike chain is not only removed all the grime that has accumulated over time but also to give ample time for it dry before riding again so it doesn’t pick up any more dust or debris along its journey.
Some Quick & Easy Way To Clean A Dirt Bike Chain
- Spray a degreasing agent with an aerosol can onto the dirt bike chain, then wipe it clean using a rag or paper towel.
- Apply some lubricant to keep the dirt bike chain running smoothly. For optimal results, apply spray lubricants on one side of the dirtbike chain in the rotation before wiping them off after 15 seconds. This will help prevent corrosion from occurring in your chain linkages over time.
- This is a quick and easy way to clean the dirt bike chain. The process should take no more than five minutes to use an aerosol degreaser or all-purpose cleaner solution combined with WD40. The best time of day to do this task is before going for another ride on your dirtbike so that its chain is lubricated and ready to go for the next outing.
- It’s a good idea to brush off any dirt or debris that has accumulated on your chain before you begin cleaning it. This will prevent getting even more dirt particles into your gears, which can be damaging over time.
Frequently Asked Question
How Often Should You Clean Your Chain?
Cleaning your chain should be done once a week unless it is noticeably dirty. This will help ensure that the bike runs smoothly and there are no problems with debris getting inside your engine or transmission.
How Do I Apply Chain Lube?
The best way to apply chain lube is with a spray can or, if you have them, drip tube applicators inserted inside the links. If using the outside of your chains, place some on each side and then twist it around for all the parts to receive an even amount of grease.
Remember not to use too much because this will cause dirt/debris buildup and do more work during cleaning time! Be sure to clean off any excess when finished- most brands recommend wiping down after riding, so as soon as you return home from a ride, do so for less buildup next time around.
Some people like to use a spray bottle or sponge to clean the links with soap and water. You can then use an old rag, towel, or paper towel to dry them off of any excess moisture before applying chain lube.
Conclusion
It’s so easy to clean a dirt bike chain! Of course, all of It requires the right tools, patience, and time to complete this process correctly. However, if you have all of these requirements available to you, it becomes second nature with practice. You can find more detailed instructions on how to clean a dirt bike chain here at our blog!
You may read also:
- How to Polish Dirt Bike Frame
- How to Clean Dirt Bike Air Filter
- How to Make Dirt Bike Plastics Look New
Darren Matlock
Hi, I'm Darren. I love dirt bikes and everything about the off-road lifestyle. I'm passionate about motorbikes, cars, racing sports and going on adventures. If you're like me and enjoy extreme sports, you've come to the right place! I like to write articles about dirt bikes to help beginners get started. Whether you're interested in buying a dirt bike, ATV, motorcycle or want to ride for hobby, I hope my articles will inspire you to learn more about how this machine can be used to ride.
