Chain cleaing at tire change

[Green]

Hey neighbor. I was in the process of chainging out both my tires and noticed my chain was heavily caked with black greasy dirty buildup. After looking on the site for quick way of cleaning my chain, I found that gasoline in a low profile container and toothbrush was quick and painless. Now my chain is sparkling clean again.

Gas also seems to clean any really bad dirty oily buildups on the bike... Just don't try it on your painted surface.

:victory-s

[kneedragger26]

....but no smoking allowed. :yes: .....:smilewink

I have used diesel before and it works good too. I guess it depends on whats avaliable.

By the way Green, long time no hear for you. Glad to see your still around.:thumbup:

[tlrmike99]

The best for getting fling off wheels and swing arm is WD-40....Spray it on a rag and gunk wipes right off... I also use it to get the gunk off my chain, spray it on a rag, not on the chain, and wipe it down, then lube again. Works good.

[roadrunner]

i use kerosene

[R-666]

Castrol super clean and a brush or dawn dish soap- then I use maxima chain wax... just my two sence.:yes:

[rickster]

I've always preferred just WD-40 on an o-ring chain (which pretty much all modern street bikes have); it's not quite so volatile/flammable/canceriffic (ok, I made that last one up) as gas, etc. It's also really not a good idea to lube an o-ring type chain with anything, except maybe a light coat of WD-40. Since the lube is sealed into the rollers by the o-rings/x-rings, the lube can't get in anyway, and then you have a sticky coating that attracts dirt, etc., until you have a messy, abrasive paste that ends up shortening the life of your chain instead of extending it. Also, most chains come with Buna o-rings, which are sensitive to many strong petroleum base solvents. If you need to do heavy cleaning try mineral spirits or denatured alcohol, both of which are kind to Buna o-rings. It's much better, instead of using a chain lube, to check the chain adjustment and sprocket alignment frequently (especially after re-installing the rear wheel), and then clean it good and spray enough of your favorite WD-40 type substance on it to prevent rust.

I know that's more than my :blah-blah $.02 US but sometimes I can't help myself.

[rickster]

Perhaps I should clarify my last post. I meant to say that the FACTORY lube is sealed into the chain, and that any lube added to the chain can't get into the roller/pin area because of the o-rings. Sorry for any confusion that gasbag post caused. :blah-blah

[Rex Raider]

clean mine with wd-40, wipe off excise oil and dirt. spray on wax, done. :thumbup:
i think the rickster is right about gas and o-rings thing, gas will distort the rubber o-ring. not good.

[MikeG]

If you wash the lube out of the rollers on an o-ring chain you have to heat up the chain then soak it down with lube and let it cool so that the lube will get sucked in past the o-rings by capillary action. For this reason, I don't advise cleaning o-ring chains by total immersion in solvents, just wipe off the surface with light oil, Amsoil Power Foam, WD40 or the like applied to the rag and not the chain. After cleaning it's good to use some o-ring conditioner.
Just my 2 cents.