Chain Maintenance: A Guide to Keeping Your Trike Chain Happy

You’ve gone to the effort of finding the perfect electric tricycle and you’re loving life on three wheels — nothing can stop you, right? Well, without proper care and maintenance, your trike is more likely to suffer breakdowns or need repairs to your pride and joy. 
The good news is that we manufacture our tricycles using quality components.

All it takes from your side is a little TLC now and then to ensure you get the best from your trike. We’ve put together some top tips on chain maintenance to help keep your trike’s chain running smoothly. 

Why bother with your chain?

Every time you take your trike out for a ride, the chain takes on a load. Not only does it bear the brunt of powering your wheels, but it’s also up against the elements - exposed to dirt, rain, and general wear and tear. Our tricycle chains are designed to withstand this kind of hard graft and stand the test of time. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need care - just like any other mechanical equipment, such as a traditional bicycle or your car. 
Keeping your chain clean and well-lubricated means your trike will run smoother and faster, with less chance of malfunction or breakage when you’re miles from home. So, whether you maintain your chain at the start of a summer of riding or after every outing, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to keep things in top shape.

Step 1: Clean your chain

First things first — don’t even think about lubricating a dirty chain. That just turns all the grime into a gritty paste that’ll clog up your gears in no time.  A bit of hot water, an old toothbrush, some cloths, and a decent degreaser will do the trick. Scrub off all the muck, rinse it, dry it thoroughly, and then it’s ready for a spot of lubricant.

We sell the Oxford Triple Brush Set, which is great to keep in your trike maintenance kit for scrubbing off hard-to-reach grime.

Step 2: Pick the right lubricant for the job

Not all chain lubricants are the same, and picking the wrong one is asking for trouble:

• Dry lube: Spot-on for dry, dusty rides. It dries quick and doesn’t suck in dirt. But if it rains, it’ll wash off faster than you can say ‘Jorvik.’
• Wet lube: Built for wet weather and muddy rides. It sticks around no matter what but will pick up a bit more dirt, so you’ll need to clean your chain more often. Plus, you’ll have to let it settle a bit before pedalling off.

Step 3: Less is more

Less is more when lubricating your trike chain. Drip a tiny bit onto each link while gently backpedalling and then wipe off the extra. Soaking it won’t help - you’ll just end up with a sticky mess that attracts every bit of dirt on the road.

Step 4: Use the right product

A quick warning: don’t be tempted to use motor oil, cooking oil or whatever you find at home. And while WD40’s is great for cleaning a chain, it’s no good as a lubricant - it’ll strip everything off and leave it bare. Stick to proper bike chain lubricants and your trike will thank you for it.

How often should I be cleaning and lubing my chain?

The truth is that it really depends on a how you use your trike and the need for a clean-up. If you’ve been out and about riding through muck and puddles on your mountain trike, it's worth giving it a clean when you get back home or at least as soon as possible after your ride to get that grime off.

For general path and road riding, making sure you give your chain a clean once a fortnight or so isn’t a bad habit, especially if you’re out and about regularly. A bit of elbow grease now and then will keep your trike running sweetly, save you money on repairs, and mean you’re ready for your next adventure without worrying about a snapped chain halfway up a hill.

We’d recommend getting your trike fully serviced at least once a year, this means you can get any potential issues diagnosed and fixed early.

At Jorvik, we can either service your trike at our York HQ or you can get in touch, and we’ll use our network of UK-wide mobile technicians to sort you out a local service. Just give us a call on 01904 405338 to arrange.