KMC 11spd chain noisy after a clean

[Rajhan]

Hi Guys.

 

Just wanted know, i have 11spd slx components and a kmc chain.

Yesterday after a ride, i thouroughly cleaned the drivetrain...including jockey wheels and immersed the chain in hot water (not boiling) with bike spray degreaser and wynns clean green.

 

Now after the chain being and looking clean, i hear a grinding, gritty noise either back or forward pedaling. think is, the this was not there when the chain was dirty.

 

do KMC chains have a reverse and forward direction?

could the muck being there have held chain in place?

 

thanks in advance 

Rajhan

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Did you lube the chain after washing it? The grinding gritty noise could be the chain meshing together with the cassette & chainring without any / with too little lubrication. 

[Rajhan]

Hi. yes. Used a clear wet lube. 

Didnt seem to damper the noise though.

[Long Wheel Base]

My KMC' are also very noisy after a clean but once I have oiled them they good to go again. I use silicon oil on my chains.

I think the noise might be residual dirt still in there. I have a jewelry cleaner that I use for my chains. It heats up(I use paraffin or clean green) and vibrates slowly. Get's a lot of dirt out that you can't get out normally.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Ah crap, I think I know why. That water - never immerse a chain in water. It'll get into the linkages and may accelerate corrosion & wear, and will prevent any lubricant from getting where it needs to go. Always use some sort of solvent / degreaser. Take it off, pour some thinners / meths / isopropyl into a jar, put the chain in, shake it around for a while and let it sit. Then remove, let dry naturally. Lube. 

[s14phoenix]

When I rotated to one of the few  KMC chains I have during last week the KMC was noticeably rougher and noisier than the Shimano chain I took off. I have since recleaned and re-lubed the KMC - I even used the wax and paraffin mix that you soak the chain in and plain squirt previously - they remain noisy and are almost new chains.

 

Well they are definitely noisier than the Shimano SIL-TEC chains.

[Rajhan]

Now that i think of it, yes...it was the water that was is preventing the lub from lubbing the links.