Chain cleaning and lubrication?

[Swivel]

Just enquiring how others maintain their drive chains. To clean I use WD40 and use a toothbrush and cloth to wipe off and hose off the excess crap and then wipe off and dry. I then use Castrol o ring chain lube for the final step. I was told to repeat the process every 2000 km. I also hear conflicting reports not to use WD40 to clean the chain but rather use kerosene. Just want to hear what other options I could use if WD40 or kero are unsafe to use.
Cheers

[caspernz]

It's perfectly ok to use kero for cleaning crud off a chain, but stay away from petrol or thinners etc. WD-40 will do the job as well, but it's an expensive choice.

The lubing task is down to personal preference, some use a waxy type lube, others a clingy oil. Me, I like my Scottoiler. Cleaning the chain every 2000 km is a good idea, but add some lube every 500 km or so.

PS. You can even use diesel to clean the crap off a chain, but it's more messy than using kero.

[Moise]

Be careful not to damage the O-ring with a toothbrush. I use kero and an old paintbrush for the annual clean.

[jellywrestler]

Be careful not to damage the O-ring with a toothbrush. I use kero and an old paintbrush for the annual clean.

they never said it was an o ring chain

[BMWST?]

they never said it was an o ring chain

it is implied seeing he uses o ring chain oil.

[Swivel]

it is implied seeing he uses o ring chain oil.

Yup it is an O ring chain

[AllanB]

Just done mine tonight. Kero wipe down and trying a new one for me that was recommended on KB a few days back as 'no fling'. Bel-Ray product.

Will find out tomorrow how it acts.

[F5 Dave]

I can't imagine that if you took a spare chain o-ring and scrubbed it with a toothbrush you would cause any damage to it. On the dirt bike I hose the mud off, wait till its dry and use a muc brush which is a multi sided industrial toothbrush made for the job, then lube. On road bike kero and toothbrush.

Word of warning. I know at least two people who have partially severed fingers lubing chains. Think about how close you get to the sprocket and spin the wheel reverse direction by hand. Doing it the `easy` way could involve much damage.

[Moise]

Probably depends whether you use a soft or medium toothbrush.

[F5 Dave]

I use an oral B. I mean if its good enough for your wife's teeth. . ,

[Ocean1]

I use an oral B. I mean if its good enough for your wife's teeth. . ,

On a not quite completely unrelated topic, I quite fancy the idea of a 4X 'lectric toothbrush for general bike cleaning.

Why hasn't someone made such a handy instrument yet?

[Banditbandit]

I use kero and an old paintbrush for the annual clean.

You get that much time out of a chain?

[Moise]

You get that much time out of a chain?

Yeah, spray some lube on the rollers every now and then and decent quality chains seem to last a while.

Rear tyres on the other hand don't last any time at all.

[Swivel]

Thanks for the advice