Chain Cleaning

[bobpara]

I have an O-Ring chain

I know the cleaning procedure is prob different with or without O-rings

W/O O-Rings you can use some pretty aggressive chemicals

With O-rings, you have to be careful to use a solvent that will not degrade the rubber O-Rings

I used WD40 and the petroleum products in the WD40 destroyed the O-rings in about 1/2 a season

For a long time all I have done is mechanical cleaning with a wire brush

But even with a brush there is so much abrasive crap left behind.

 

Any idea what a good cleaning / degreasing solvent is that will not harm buna N rubber?

[Navaho6]

I use concentrated dish soap, hot water and a soft brush to clean then spray silicone lube on after to displace the water.  Chain wax is good too.  Almost everything you put on the chain is gone in a few minutes on the trail. Any kind of lube that would stick would attract dirt and grit, too.

 

Can't comment on WD-40.

[spaceboy]

I've been using Isopropyl alcohol.

[mikenash]

I have used WD40 for ever and when I was racing NETRA Enduro's series in the late 90 till mid 2000's it works the best and there is never a mess to clean up and YES I use it for lube as there is fish oil in it. For as long as I can remember I haven't used chain lube. If you need to clean the chain I'd use motul chain clean it works good.

Edited May 13, 2014 by mikenash

[JVP]

Maxima chain cleaner work well.

[vlxjim]

I've used WD40 to clean every chain I have ever owned. All O ring chains right down to a 1993 XR650L that still has the stock O ring chain. It could be that I use a terry cloth towel folded over and soak it with WD40. And grip the chain as I spray the WD40 on the chain and rotate the wheel both forward and back. After I use a dry towel and grip the chain as before and spin the wheel it get the last of the dirt and most all of the WD40 off. Then I do the same steps as before but I use Motul chain lube instead. This probably washes the left over WD40 away. My chains look so clean no rust or crud just nice clean chains.

[SteveThe Snakes]

I've used WD40 to clean every chain I have ever owned. All O ring chains right down to a 1993 XR650L that still has the stock O ring chain. It could be that I use a terry cloth towel folded over and soak it with WD40. And grip the chain as I spray the WD40 on the chain and rotate the wheel both forward and back. After I use a dry towel and grip the chain as before and spin the wheel it get the last of the dirt and most all of the WD40 off. Then I do the same steps as before but I use Motul chain lube instead. This probably washes the left over WD40 away. My chains look so clean no rust or crud just nice clean chains.

 

Not that you don't know what your doing. I'm sure you are very careful. However I don't think enough can be said about getting fingers and hands severely damaged grabbing moving chains. The sprocket acts as a chain saw if you get your fingers or other stuck in there. Don't get anything between a chain and a sprocket.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

My owners manual says to use kerosene to clean the chain (o ring).

[Schilling Motorworks]

I use an engine degreaser while washing I get the tire spinning kinda fast with a pressure washer and then hit the chain slightly with the pressure washer when done cleaning I soak in wd40 and wipe down with a clean cloth the re apply chain lube never had a problem and chains look great

[RockerYZWR]

Not that you don't know what your doing. I'm sure you are very careful. However I don't think enough can be said about getting fingers and hands severely damaged grabbing moving chains. The sprocket acts as a chain saw if you get your fingers or other stuck in there. Don't get anything between a chain and a sprocket.

I actually know somebody who had a finger chopped off a month ago from cleaning a street bike chain with the bike running in gear on its center stand. Now that's embarrassing.

I'm a big fan of Maxima products and use their chain cleaner with a Grunge brush (3 sided brush) with the bike on the stand outside with the hose handy. Once it's completely rinsed clean, I let it dry. Later on, I ride it up and down the street real quick to warm up the chain a little, and then hit it with the chain wax, with the bike back on the stand, and wipe away the excess from the chain and rear sprocket. Works great for me and my chain looks new every time.

[vlxjim]

Not that you don't know what your doing. I'm sure you are very careful. However I don't think enough can be said about getting fingers and hands severely damaged grabbing moving chains. The sprocket acts as a chain saw if you get your fingers or other stuck in there. Don't get anything between a chain and a sprocket.

Of course I'm careful. And I'm turning the wheel buy hand. Also use the towel below the swing arm in front of the chain guide. No chain saw for me.

[bobpara]

I hear alot of you use WD40 more for a cleaner than a lube.

Unless I'm loosing my mind, I seem to remember destroying the O-rings with WD-40

Maybe I sprayed something else on there and I'm thinking it was the WD40 and it was actually something else

[RockerYZWR]

Whatever you do, don't use carb cleaner.  Gasoline is bad, too.

As grayracer might say,

Read:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345397