Things You'll Need:
- Chain cleaning tool
- Degreaser
- Bike stand
- Ice pick or small screwdriver
- Chain lubricant
- Dry chain lubricant
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Step 1
Use a chain cleaning tool when you lubricate the chain on your mountain bike. A chain cleaning tool usually consists of a plastic housing, filled with cleaning fluid, that can be attached to your mountain bike chain. Chain cleaning tools can be purchased at almost any bike repair shop or sporting goods store that sells mountain bike accessories.
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Step 2
Fill the chain cleaning tool with an approved cleaning compound, such as a degreaser that has been formulated for use on mountain bike chains. These degreasers can also be purchased at any bike-oriented retail outlet.
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Step 3
Attach the chain cleaning tool to the chain on your mountain bike, and run the chain through the degreaser at least three or four times. You will need a bike stand to prop up the rear wheel of your mountain bike so that you can turn the pedals freely, or you can simply ask a friend to lift the back wheel off the ground. On most bikes, you can also turn the pedals backward so that you can move the chain without causing the wheel to turn.
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Step 4
Inspect the chain for larger foreign objects, such as small rocks and debris, before you lubricate. You can use a small ice pick or screwdriver to dislodge these objects from the chain.
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Step 5
Lubricate your mountain bike chain by using a product that has been approved by the manufacturer. Most chain lubricants are available in an aerosol can that features a straw or nozzle so that you can direct the spray to the chain and away from the rest of your bike.
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Step 6
Use a few drops of a dry chain lubricant if you wish to provide your chain with additional protection and reduce the amount of road debris that will stick to a freshly-lubricated chain.
