Seized Chain

maxdepreciation · Post by **maxdepreciation** » 07 Oct 2003, 22:10

Has anyone got any good ideas for freeing up my CRM's chain. It has about 7/8 links that will hardly move at all, despite the fact that it is very new.

i have tried soaking it in degreaser and then oil overnight...I don't really want to throw it away as they are so bloody expensive, and if I could free it up it would be perfect for off-road.

Cheers

Nick

Phil Neal · Post by **Phil Neal** » 08 Oct 2003, 14:06

is it O ring? I've soaked an O ring chain in degreaser for over a week or so, it has now been sitting in a bucket completely covered by a mixture of transmission and gearbox oil for 2 months, it is still very stiff!

I was tempted to shove it on the bike and run it on the stand for 30 mins or so sprating with oil as it goes.

I'm also thinking of boiling (very carefully, outside!) the whole mixture and seeing how it goes from there.

no solution as yet, but I think heat will be required to get the gunge thin enough to get past the O rings

maxdepreciation · Post by **maxdepreciation** » 08 Oct 2003, 14:24

Yes mine is an o-ring as well, and I had come to the same conclusion about the heat.

Let me know how you get on..by the way, how flammable is fully synthetic engine oil?

Phil Neal · Post by **Phil Neal** » 08 Oct 2003, 23:19

I don't think the oil is that flammable, the vapour might be though.....

Bargos · Post by **Bargos** » 15 Oct 2003, 17:07

The only way that I know of is to treat the stiff links individually with some light machine oil and really work it in repeatedly.

Using degreaser is not a good idea as that will remove any existing oil from inside the link itself.

If you still get no joy why not splash out on a new chain? They arent that expensive and will transform the feel of your bike.

Phil Neal · Post by **Phil Neal** » 18 Oct 2003, 18:30

got a new chain, renthal 520r3. want to keep the other one for off road usage......

Cos I'm a cheapskate!

maxdepreciation · Post by **maxdepreciation** » 19 Oct 2003, 15:25

I tried boiling it in the oil for an hour or two and it made a SLIGHT difference...I think it would be much better to soak it in some very light oil...I have given in and bought a new did chain and spcocket set for 69.99 inc delivery from orouk.com which seems like a very good deal.

Cheers

Nick

SteveCRM · Post by **SteveCRM** » 20 Oct 2003, 16:44

Sometimes you can free a chain up by bending it from side to side a bit but not too much. I paid £50 for my last chain and it was naff it has stretched so much I am thinking of putting the old chain back on for a bit til I can get a new one. I havant used the new chain that much.