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20.03.2013WEDNESDAY 47EVENTS
71-73SPORT74-84
BUYING & SELLING39-70
COMMENT34-37
FOCUS08-33
THE WEEK02-07
Is it knackered?Q. I rode most of the winter on my 2008 Kawasaki ER-6F and kept the chain well lubricated. In the last three weeks it’s been kept garaged five out of the seven days and the damn chain has two seized links. Can I free them up or do I have to buy a new chain?JON66, MCN forums
A. There’s an outside chance that it is only the side-plates binding, but if the O or X-rings have failed and moisture and crud is getting into the sealed pin area it will wear more rapidly as the grease that is sealed in will start to thin out. It’s a reason X-ring chains have become more popular, as they create two points of firm contact, but less friction, which in turn helps a chain run a little smoother. Give the chain a really good clean and see if you can get it moving freely again. Some heat in the area may also help. Get the chain off the bike so you can inspect and clean it properly.
Should I be using ACF50 and not WD40?Q. Is there any issue using ACF50 to try and eliminate chain rust before lubricating? I’ve been using WD40 but it’s still coming back and I’m wondering if the ACF50 might provide a protective layer as well as stopping the rust.Phil, MCN forums
A. WD40 is a water-dispersant and not designed to cope with the heat, cold and centrifugal forces of the drive train, so it
How to look af er your chain…
A D V I C E C E N T R E : C H A I N S
won’t stop corrosion. There is no problem using ACF50 or any other oil-based concoction, though don’t go mad as you will only begin building up grinding paste deposits behind the front sprocket cover.
Can I use gear oil?Q.Does anyone actually use gear oil to lube their bike chain? I am finding that the proprietary chain lube I currently use is working out very expensive at £8.50 a can. Are there any other recommended alternatives that may be a bit cheaper or better, and maybe a bit less messy?Paul Charlesworth, MCN forums
A. SAE80/90 gear oil is recommended in owner’s manuals, but it is perceived to be inconvenient to apply and messy. But if you follow some simple guidelines it does the job well and has the advantage of not building up claggy deposits over time.
Assuming the chain is pretty clean already, it should only need a wipe over with a paraffin-soaked rag, avoid more volatile liquids like duel as they can damage the rubber O or X-rings. A quick rub over means the chain will still be warm as you need to lube it at the end of your previous ride as that will help the oil seep into the faces of the sideplates and the rollers. It is only a surface dressing on sealed chains so you don’t need to use tons of the stuff. A ½inw paintbrush with the bristles chopped down by half to make it stiffer is ideal to apply a single layer.
Some riders use old engine oil, but that has got all sorts of grubby compounds and is also more likely to fling off and give you that ‘Stig of the breakers’ yard’ look.
Do you have a question? www.motorcyclenews.com/expert
LEGAL EXPERT
Q
MCN LAWYOUR LEGAL QUESTIONS
‘Car passenger opened door as I filtered past’
As I filtered between two lines of stationery traffic a passenger in a
car in the outside lane opened a door to exit the vehicle and knocked me off my bike. I have a fractured clavicle and nerve damage to my shoulder. I am seeking compensation through my solicitor but I want the police to prosecute this careless person but they refuse. Can their decision be overturned?Colin Campbell, e-mail
A The driver of the car is responsible for his or her passengers’ actions
and therefore it is the insurer of the car that should be dealing with your civil claim for compensation. It does not surprise me that the police are not willing to prosecute. The burden of proof in criminal cases is higher than that in civil cases and I am at a loss to identify what it is they would charge the passenger with. You would need to establish that the passenger had the intention (mens rea) and guilty act (actus reus) to succeed if a charge could be identified although in some cases recklessness can be enough. I sincerely doubt that you will be able to convince a criminal court that the passenger deliberately intended to cause you harm and I suspect it will go down as a simple accident, albeit a painful one with on-going repercussions. I suggest you pursue the civil claim and get compensated for your injuries and financial losses.
Yamaha’s YBR125 makes an excellent budget commuter and can be picked up for less than £1000
Be careful which bulbs you choose if you plan to upgrade the beam on your Thundercat
Andrew Campbell, Bikelawyer. Visit www.bikelawyer.co.uk or email [email protected]
size and market value. Then make sure that they put a note on their screens to say it’s a standard RoadKing for fu-ture reference. Double check that the policy documents identify it as such too, so that there’s no more confusion come renewal time.
Can I upgrade my bulbs?
Q Can I change the 35/35w head-light bulbs in my Yamaha
Thundercat to 60/55w? Or will they be too hot for the plastic lenses?Andrew Peacock, e-mail
A The higher wattage of the 60/55w bulbs could cause problems if
you don’t follow these guidelines. The lenses need to be protected from Ultra violet light so buy recognised brand halogen bulbs like Phillips or Osram. The cheaper halogen bulbs emit UV which will harden and yellow the lenses in the same way that Suzuki clocks used to suffer 20 years ago. If you go and do a track day don’t tape up the lenses and leave the lights on, and don’t have them blazing at low speeds on a hot summer’s day.
A badly maintained chain could be losing you 5 to 10bhp
