Can you clean a chain with something cheaper than kerosene and not damage the O-rings? (or I need to find a cheaper kero source, or I need to recycle it.... "hey kids - put your mouth under here, then spit in a bucket when full")
Can you clean a chain with something cheaper than kerosene and not damage the O-rings? (or I need to find a cheaper kero source, or I need to recycle it.... "hey kids - put your mouth under here, then spit in a bucket when full")
Originally Posted by FlangMaster
Motorex and Klotz chain oils FTW. MHO
+1 for Maxima chain wax
Don't just live to ride but ride to live.
Crazy, huh? Aviation kerosene (highest quality?) is, I believe, less than a buck a litre, yet the stuff at service stations is around $8-$9.
I remember when service station forecourts had taps dispensing various oils, turps, kero, etc etc, and kero was very cheap. It's crazy - the BigFourRobberBarons produce cheap kero at Marsden Point, sell it to Andrews or whoever, where they put blue dye in it, bung it in 5c bottles, and put 17,345% markup on it....
It's still the best stuff to use on chains though, expensive or not. I sometimes use CRC or WD-40 between lubes instead of cleaning with kero. Just spray liberally, wipe off.
I've used the following:
Engine oil - Penetrates well, resonably cheap, lotsa fling-off (which also helps fling off road spooge. OK if your wheels are black and you like flat-tracking on the tarseal.
Shell Motorcycle Chain Lube - Absolute Crap. Like spraying red glue on. Attracts road spooge like a SuperSucky Road Spooge Magnet. Never buy it again. Trying to use up the can in the gargre for other jobs, but struggling to find anything it does well.
Motul - Is like a spray on, quick-drying grease that dries clear but turns black in the presence of Road Spooge. OK for lubing, but too sticky so is hard to clean off, and Hungry Road Spooge loves it.
Spectro Chain Wax - Very good. Stays on well, doesn't require much, not as attractive to Hungry Road Spooge as Motul. Goes further as not much is required.
WD-40 - Not very good lubing qualities, but cleans and penetrates well. Road Spooge doesn't like it. Excellent to use when On The Road for cleaning off Road Spooge and Other Assorted Shit.
CRC556 - A toss-up whether this is crapper than the Shell or not. Is absolutely useless for almost all the uses stated on the can, so I'm trying to use it up by inventing new uses.
Kero - Better than CRC, water, and Shell. Often has a fashionable blue colour, but a strange and very lingering aftertaste.
Water - Better than most of the above, except Motul and Spectro. Very cheap and easy to obtain. Dries very clear, doesn't stick to the rims, doesn't make the tyres slippery, sometimes hangs out with Road Spooge but doesn't seem to attract it.
So... where to next? I'm toying with getting a Scottoiler, but I've got enough gizmos on my bike already. I might give Maxima or one of the other waxes a go. Wax is good.
Or mebbe I'll just save myself some trouble and never lube the next chain. Or just spread it liberally with Road Spooge to save myself having to ride in all weathers to collect it.![]()
... and that's what I think.
Or summat.
Or maybe not...
Dunno really....![]()
TOP QUOTE: “The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”
Do you realise how many holes there could be if people would just take the time to take the dirt out of them?
Cheapest place I've found Kerosene is at Pak'n'Save
Don't buy it from a servo - it's more than twice the price.
Yup-Maxima wax. Lube every 500kms-clean with kero every 1000kms. Not degreaser in case it removes any grease between O rings and plates/rollers. Take bike for a short ride-apply when warm. Lovely!
I currently have a belt drive - no chain lubing to do.
Reading this thread makes me glad I don't have to piss around lubing a chain.
I think in the situation of getting a bike with a chain I would opt to have a Scott Oiler fitted - seems like it would be so much easier.
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