Greetings,
To clean a chain I would suggest that you either purchase; a proprietary chain cleaner; use a general degreasing cleaner something like Jizer or some diesel. I prefer diesel as it does not give off a lot of fumes and generally helps as a lubricant. DO NOT USE PETROL
Wear protective glasses so that fluid and dirt do not flick into your eyes. I prefer to remove the chain for cleaning, let it soak for a little while in the chosen fluid, which can be poured into in a plastic container such as a washing up bowl or an oil container with a side cut out. There are special brushes for scrubbing the links but an old tooth brush works just fine too.
Dry the chain off with a non fluffy rag and then you can inspect it for wear or damage. Apart from physical damage the inner pins and bushes wear so that the overall length over a set number of pins becomes greater, this is often called "stretch" but trust me chains do not stretch they only wear
There are a number of specialist chain spray lubricants, they have a searching action which means that they can seek their way into the smallest gap between roller and pin plus they lubricate the sealing rubber rings which are either 'O' or 'X' shaped. Some dry leaving a 'white pasty' look either way they are very sticky which resists the grease being thrown off when the bike is in motion. If just lubing then spray onto the inside of the chain run so that the lube spreads outwards as you turn the rear wheel.
Chains are identified by a three number code, e.g. 520. Although we are now used to the metric measuring system chains are still actually measured according to the old imperial measurement of parts of an inch. We count the distance as a number of 1/8 of an inch increments.
First off we measure the pitch, which is the distance between the centre of two adjacent pins, so count the number of 1/8 units, probably there will be; 4 = 1/2" or 5 = 5/8" This provides the first of those three numbers
Next we measure the narrowest part between the two innermost side plates but this is based around 1/16" of an inch increments, so count the number of 1/16 units, probably there will be; 3 = 3/16"; 4 = 1/4"; 5 = 5/16"
code pitch width code pitch width
415 1/2" 3/16" 520 5/8" 1/4"
420 1/2" 1/4" 525 5/8" 5/16"
425 1/2" 5/16" 530 5/8" 3/8"
Check your sprockets for manufacturer's marking as they are often impressed into the outer face, here is a photo of one off my Beta Alp;
Attachment:
renthal chainwheel.jpg [ 336.63 KiB | Viewed 9211 times ]
Take a look also at the short information on the Renthal website;
http://www.renthal.com/shop/support/tec ... chainwheelCarry a short length of old chain and two split links for any emergency repair out on a lane. As to wether you use a split or rivet link depends upon your own preference and operating conditions.
Hope that lot helps.
TTFN
Hugh.