**Warning-Graphic**This is how not to clean a chain & sprocket
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 1
From: Deep South Texas
Thanks, now I need to clean the coffee spray off the keyboard.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Anderson, SC
I am not going to lie, I have seen many of friends clean their chain that way. I'd recommend getting a motor cross bike chain cleaner, its a crazy looking u shape brush. Might not get it spick and span but it works.
Last edited by acftgrunt; Oct 4, 2009 at 12:03 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 1
From: Desert S. West
At no time did it ever occur to me to start my bike and put it in gear while cleaning the rear chain on my Flathead, Pan, or Shovel. I guess that make me fart smeller, eh.
I give the guy credit for posting this up as a lesson to everyone.
I give the guy credit for posting this up as a lesson to everyone.
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 787
Likes: 2
From: Western Wyoming
Been there done that,fortunately I was running a 2" belt drive on a Shovel Head.Ended up with some bruised knuckles.Believe it or not,years ago you'd see someone actually running an open primary chain on an older Harley with tin primaries.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
The belt would also do a job on your hand. While cleaning and gently rotating the rear wheel by hand my fingers once got caught and it was a painful experience with just that small amount of wheel momentum. There was no damage but I realized what would happen if your hand got between the pulley and belt while under power, as it would crush your fingers since that belt will not stretch.
Last edited by iclick; Oct 4, 2009 at 12:36 PM.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 28,128
Likes: 21
From: US poverty capital, california
I knew I shouldn't have looked, but I did and regret it....
why? well I debated whether or not to be the one to stand up and admit this...
in 1984, I had just gotten a 74 flh....had it up on a center stand jack....adjusting and cleaning and getting it road ready...I was greasing the chain, I had the brainstorm if I start it and put it in 1st I could just hold a rag full of grease on the chain and let it self lube....
Well.......
The rear sprocket caught the rag and pulled it and my forefinger through....
The GF that was at the house freaked and called paramedics, I put the finger and the stub in the rag with grease...before the paramedics got there, the other GF showed up... both drove me to the hospital...they talked...(not good)
It took off the end of the finger from the mid knuckle forward... It cost the big bucks to have it put back on and many many reconstruction surgeries...
It's on crooked... I cannot feel it....and I lost both girlfriends that night....
Now to be honest...there was a mitigating factor...a product of mother nature "might" have been involved in the incident, but darwin most certainly was...
So have at it, there is nothing you can say or insult you can levy that I have not already heard or said myself......
Stupidity happens....
why? well I debated whether or not to be the one to stand up and admit this...
in 1984, I had just gotten a 74 flh....had it up on a center stand jack....adjusting and cleaning and getting it road ready...I was greasing the chain, I had the brainstorm if I start it and put it in 1st I could just hold a rag full of grease on the chain and let it self lube....
Well.......
The rear sprocket caught the rag and pulled it and my forefinger through....
The GF that was at the house freaked and called paramedics, I put the finger and the stub in the rag with grease...before the paramedics got there, the other GF showed up... both drove me to the hospital...they talked...(not good)
It took off the end of the finger from the mid knuckle forward... It cost the big bucks to have it put back on and many many reconstruction surgeries...
It's on crooked... I cannot feel it....and I lost both girlfriends that night....
Now to be honest...there was a mitigating factor...a product of mother nature "might" have been involved in the incident, but darwin most certainly was...
So have at it, there is nothing you can say or insult you can levy that I have not already heard or said myself......
Stupidity happens....