Chain cleaning?

[scorpious]

I just love cleaning my chain!!!
Making that brass shine just rocks my world!!!

any other chain cleaners on KB?

[gtr boy]

lol gave mine the once over yesterday.
came up all bronzy..............

[DarkLord]

Yup...go the scrubbing brush, hose, dishwashing liquid and the engine degreaser

not all at the same time of course!!

[vifferman]

Yup...go the scrubbing brush, hose, dishwashing liquid and the engine degreaser

not all at the same time of course!!

On your chain?
You should use only kerosene to clean it, or maybe WD40 if you're away from home.

[DarkLord]

Really? I actually heard that kerosene wasn't good for X-ring chains?

[vgcspares]

Ya gotta be careful with degreaser, has the same effect as a pressure washer on o-ring chains - can take the prepacked grease out from behind the o-rings. Diesel or kerosene's a better bet.

[DarkLord]

Oh ok, what about x-ring chains though? that's what I've got on the Hyosung....

[scorpious]

I use crc brake cleaner

[vifferman]

Really? I actually heard that kerosene wasn't good for X-ring chains?

It's fine on all chains, and for cleaning engine parts, the reason being that it doesn't harm the o-rings/x-rings, and it leaves a slight greasiness behind, unlike petrol or other solvents.

Ya gotta be careful with degreaser, has the same effect as a pressure washer on o-ring chains - can take the prepacked grease out from behind the o-rings. Diesel or kerosene's a better bet.

Indeed. Not just that, but because many degreasers are miscible with water, the degreaser could potentially carry water behind the seals and cause corrosion.

I use crc brake cleaner

Oh dear. That'll take off all the lube for sure, and possibly wreck the seals. Brake cleaner is for brakes, not chains. Most brake cleaners now are a similar formulation to drycleaning solvents, so they dissolve fats and greases, and any remains of the cleaner usually evaporates without leaving a residue.

[Pussy]

You're on to it, Vifferman... ONLY use kerosene

[DarkLord]

Thanks Viffer -

I realise the degreaser will be bad for the o-ring chains, but what about the x-ring ones?

[vifferman]

I realise the degreaser will be bad for the o-ring chains, but what about the x-ring ones?

Same-same. You're only talking about a difference in ring shape.
There is a school of thought that says the rings (be they O or X) don't actually last more'n a fraction of the chain's life anyway, so in the Real World, the life of your chain's dependent on how you clean and lube it, rather than fancy engineering and seals.

The problem with using a degreaser is it's designed to take the grease off (duh), and the resulting emulsion can then be rinsed away with water. Having degreased the chain, there's nothing to protect the chain from the water you're applying!
When you clean the chain with kerosene, it takes off the bulk of the chain spooge, but leaves a slight oily residue, so your chain's not vulnerable to moisture. You can even leave it a while before reapplying the lube, although if the weather's wet, it would be desirable to re-lube it ASAP.

[NOMIS]

Mineral turps?????????? anyone?

[klyong82]

Same-same. You're only talking about a difference in ring shape.
There is a school of thought that says the rings (be they O or X) don't actually last more'n a fraction of the chain's life anyway, so in the Real World, the life of your chain's dependent on how you clean and lube it, rather than fancy engineering and seals.

The problem with using a degreaser is it's designed to take the grease off (duh), and the resulting emulsion can then be rinsed away with water. Having degreased the chain, there's nothing to protect the chain from the water you're applying!
When you clean the chain with kerosene, it takes off the bulk of the chain spooge, but leaves a slight oily residue, so your chain's not vulnerable to moisture. You can even leave it a while before reapplying the lube, although if the weather's wet, it would be desirable to re-lube it ASAP.

Very informative vifferman. I'm glad I am using kerosene to clean my chain.

[scracha]

Very informative vifferman. I'm glad I am using kerosene to clean my chain.

You guys clean chains? OMFG