What happens
Every chain inevitably gets longer with use, and wear occurs between the plates and rivets. In addition, the lengthened chain no longer fits exactly on the sprockets and chainrings, which wears down their teeth more. Corrosion and dirt accelerate wear considerably. Efficiency drops and the chain squeaks.
What you can do
■ Clean the chain and then oil it. Oil must be able to penetrate between the plates and rollers. The most wear-intensive friction occurs inside the chain links.
Lubricate more frequently after riding in wet conditions and in winter.
■ A final coat of spray wax on the chain closes the gaps, keeps the oil in place for longer and seals against water and dirt particles. The waxed surface is dry and new dirt does not adhere so easily.
Practical tips
■ Only clean sprockets and chain can be lubricated efficiently.
■ Use biodegradable chain oil with good penetrating properties. Thinner oil is recommended in summer, thicker oil in winter.
■ Crank the chain several times after oiling and shift through all gears. This allows the oil to penetrate better.
■ Keep the brake pads, brake discs and brake track of rim brakes free of grease. Cover discs against spray mist before using oil or wax sprays.
■ On many e-bike motors, the chain cannot be cranked backwards: Ask a helper to lift the rear wheel so that you can crank forwards and work on the chain.
Use a plastic tyre lever to remove coarse dirt from the derailleur pulleys, sprockets and chainrings. Wipe the teeth of the drivetrain clean with a little benzine.
Moisten an old towelling cloth with chain cleaner or benzine. Crank the chain backwards through the cloth until the chain is clean.
Drizzle the chain oil sparingly onto the links. Allow the oil to soak in for about 20 minutes while moving the chain several times. Then wipe the outside of the chain dry.
Finally, spray a coat of spray wax onto the chain and sprocket. Make sure that neither wax nor oil gets onto the brakes. Cover the discs beforehand.
