Rusty and Broken Bicycle Chains

(Originally published in the July 22 to 28, 2012 issue of the Baguio Chronicle ---

a weekly newspaper based in Baguio City, Philippines ---

by Sly L. Quintos, Associate Editor.)

WITH continuous use and wet conditions, the bicycle chains will have wear-and-tear and eventually get rusty and hinders bike performance and may hasten the degradation of the other parts of the bike that it comes into contact with.

Tools To Use

There is no easy way to clean bike chains and while industrial grade materials are effective, they are a bit expensive.

Oil or lubricant would the most readily available to use. Bicycle lubricants can be in liquid or wax form. The liquid type works better for cleaning.

Some experts discourage using WD-40, saying the chains will eventually lock up and also damages the drive train. Rust removers, unless specified to be used for your bike, are not good on moving parts. Some products will remove the lubricants in the chain links. This will eventually lock and freeze the chains.

Motor oil is not recommended. It attracts dirt and is very hard to clean out. There will also be a chance that it will slide your chain off the gears.

Steps

Position your bike upside down. The wheels should be at the top hanging in the air. The handlebars and seat must be touching the ground. This is the easiest position to the cleaning.

Apply the lubricant or oil in the chain. Apply in small amounts but make sure the each chain link is covered. Wait several minutes for the oil to soak in. Start pedaling the bike to move the chains. For the chains that are locked, apply on the affected area before starting to pedal.

Take care not to run your fingers into the gears while handling a moving chain.

Some areas in the chain may be locked or frozen. Apply the lubricant and try to move the affected links by using the pliers or a similar tool. Slightly bend or wiggle the links to move it. The lubricant will seep in and if all goes well it will move.

With your cloth or rag, start to wipe the oil. Do this by pedaling the bike and holding the chain inside the rag. Make sure you wipe the top to bottom and the sides.

Apply the lube and then wipe it once more.

If everything is done, ride your bike and test run. Check to see if there are still issues with the chain.

If the chain is really worn out, it may be better to buy a new chain rather than remedy the problem. 

How to Fix a Broken Bicycle Chain

Push the pin out by screwing the pin of your chain tool in just before the pin comes out. Be very careful to not push the pin all the way out, as it is extremely difficult to get back in.

Snap the two pieces apart.

Click the two links back in place with the pin facing you. This will make things a lot easier in step 4.

Hold the pin facing you (which is a lot easier), and push it back into both links until it comes out evenly on both sides.

Grab the chain on each side of your newly connected links and move it from side to side to loosen up the new connection. It also helps to move the chain tool to the other side of the joint just made, and push the pin very slightly to free the two outside plates of the link from the central section.

Until then and have a safe ride by putting on that cycling helmet each time. Remember: YOU CAN BEAT THE EAGG WITHOUT BREAKING THE SHELL.*