Chain Maintenance

Does warm water and a tooth brush work to clean the chain?

Here's a picture of a bike that I just bought...needs some work.
Can I clean the sprocket and it's surroundings w/ warm water? Will I have to lube the sprocket after cleaning it?

That sprocket looks shot to me. I would replace both sprockets and the chain. While you have them off you can clean the surrounding areas. Ed

I use kerosene in a spray bottle to wash the grit from the chain.
Follow by "Motorex synthetic off road chain lube".
It doesn't have the fling factor.

650ed wrote: That sprocket looks shot to me. I would replace both sprockets and the chain. While you have them off you can clean the surrounding areas. Ed

that sounds like a good idea. I'll do that. Is there a chain you recommend?

I remember reading somewhere that some belts have o-rings and kerosene can eat away at the ring. That's why I was thinking water a brush and some elbow grease would do the job.

Water won't do any good. It will just cause rust.
Lots of good suggestions above above for cleaning. I use a rag with chain lube to clean the chain. Never had a problem with kerosene on a rag it evaporates quickly. On some chains you may find the links will say what type . I can't make out what it says on your chain. Mine says DID 630 O ring. DID is the manufacturer and 630 is size.

Kerosene will not harm the o-ring, it is a distillation of petroleum.

BTW, DuPont now makes a dedicated Chain Lube as well as a chain cleaner.

According to Kawasaki.com your KZ550-A3 chain is a 530 x 100. I have had excellent service from my D.I.D. O-ring chain. Their X-ring chain is also supposed to be excellent. Be sure to replace both sprockets and the chain as a set. A worn sprocket will prematurely kill a chain, and a worn chain will prematurely kill a sprocket. Just use chain lube to maintain and clean the chain. You do not need to use anything else. See link below. Ed

www.kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/591153-chain-maintenance#606569

I second WD40 sprayed on a rag an d wiped down. WD40 is also excellent for removing road tar on your paint jobs.

The problem with WD40 is that it is also a penetrant,and can get past the orings and wash out the inner lubricant.

TheDude wrote:

650ed wrote: That sprocket looks shot to me. I would replace both sprockets and the chain. While you have them off you can clean the surrounding areas. Ed

that sounds like a good idea. I'll do that. Is there a chain you recommend? .

Z1 had the best buy on a good X-ring chain when I needed one.

650ed wrote: According to Kawasaki.com your KZ550-A3 chain is a 530 x 100. I have had excellent service from my D.I.D. O-ring chain. Their X-ring chain is also supposed to be excellent. Be sure to replace both sprockets and the chain as a set. A worn sprocket will prematurely kill a chain, and a worn chain will prematurely kill a sprocket. Just use chain lube to maintain and clean the chain. You do not need to use anything else. See link below. Ed

www.kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/591153-chain-maintenance#606569

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Appreciate that ed. I'm replacing a clutch cable, but after that I'll move to the chain.
Would you recommend a shop replace and tighten the chain?
I'd like to do it myself for the experience and to save $$$. I've worked on my cars in the past and think of myself as a novice mechanic.