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What do you clean your chain with?

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Posted by: Amadeus---------------------

What do you guys like to clean your chain with (o-ring chains)?

On my street bikes I like to clean them in a WD-40 bath but would like to know what you guys have used successfully.

While Im on the subject do you lube or wax after cleaning?

Ive only lubed but Im still experimenting with products to find the cleanest.

Thanks


Posted by: little jeff---------------------

I clean my chain with WD40 and a good chain brush, hose it off then apply more WD40 to displace water out of chain. Then I'll lube my chain in a day or two most of the WD40 has evaporated.
Little Jeff


Posted by: alphado---------------------

Motorex Chain Cleaner, with a Grunge Brush.


Posted by: jmics19067---------------------

I use a dry lubricant for my chain. Simple green & water cleans it up nice , dry with an air hose and then a fresh application of dry lube.


Posted by: Patman---------------------

Diesel fuel and an anti freeze bottle (it's flat on the sides which will come in handy later).

-Wipe major crud off with a HD shop paper towel.
-Insert wire hanger (coat hanger wire is great!) at end of chain.
-Put 1/2 gallon of diesel in bottle.
-Feed chain in to bottle with loop at end of hange near top.
-Cap
-Shake well.
-Lay bottle on side for an hour or so.
-Shake well
-Lay bottle on side for again.
-Fish chain out by wire hanger with needle nose pliers
-Wipe chain off with HD paper shop towel.
-Repeat with fresh fuel if needed.
-Hang from tree (minimum 10' from house!)
-Blast with compressed air to help dry.

Presto chango clean chaino!

Dirty diesel fuel is then used to dispose of brush piles so it's all good.


Note: Don't use gasoline! That's just dumb. While diesel is also a fuel it's not nearly as likely to blow up in your face.


Posted by: dklink2000---------------------

Kerosene and a brass brush


Posted by: Superchief---------------------

I have a parts washer (saftey-kleen) that i use to clean my chain with. All it is is overrated diesel fuel for automotive shops to clean all types of parts in. take one of the old-lady's used coffee cans ( 5lbs or whatever it is) and fill it with the saftey-kleen from the parts washer. put the chain in and let it so for an hour or so, take it out and turn on the parts washer and use a brush to get anything off that wanted to stay. Let the chain air dry, once dried put it back on the bike and lube it with hp chain lube.


Posted by: flynbryan---------------------

I expect Jay in here at any moment........ I'll hold off on my response. I don't want to steal Jay's thunder. He'll have some helpfull info for ya. Try this as well www.mx1000.com


Posted by: whyzee---------------------

Bryan, you're just stirring the coals... ok, you get Jay in here, I'll go get MikeT. just playing guys.


Posted by: Senior KX Rider---------------------

Whos got time to clean chains anyways??????


Posted by: mx547---------------------

Quote:
Originally posted by Senior KX Rider
Whos got time to clean chains anyways??????


not me. car wash followed by wd-40.


Posted by: Jaybird---------------------

Nor I....
I don't need to take much time cleaning. My chains do not build up the stuff that needs "grunge brushes" and "diesal contraptions" to clean.

I usually don't use any cleaner at all. Just a stream of water does the trick.

My lube does the water dispersing for me. It also gives the friction areas a good cleaning during application.


Posted by: Studboy---------------------

With a dry type lube it's any EASY cleanup.

Spray with simple green, rinse, lube and I'm done.


Posted by: woods_rider1---------------------

I clean with WD-40 and a bristle brush, then wipe the WD-40 off with a towel and apply Dumonde Tech chain lube. All of this while the bike is on a stand with the rear wheel spinning.


Posted by: flynbryan---------------------

Quote:
Originally posted by Whyzee
Bryan, you're just stirring the coals... ok, you get Jay in here, I'll go get MikeT. just playing guys.

Me stir the coals?!? No way.......lol.


Posted by: Gardener---------------------

Garden hose then toss into my bucket of used trans oil for a night then drip dry.


Posted by: yzfman---------------------

i use Kerosene and then put chain wax on mine and it seems to work really will but make sure u get all fo the Kerosene out of it by using compressed air then let it sit and dry and wipe it off.


Posted by: Budda---------------------

Lamp oil from Wal-Mart, which I believe is just kerosene(?). Let it soak for a night or two, cleans up real nice! I like the idea of using a antifreeze bottle, I'll try that next time.


Posted by: fuzzy---------------------

I like diesel fuel saturation and brushing as mentioned. I got a deal on 10 $10 chains and have these on my bikes now. I just hose em w/ WD and adjust before the next ride. They're disposable. This is by far my favorite chain maintenance techinique.


Posted by: Smit-Dog---------------------

Stay away from waxes and tacky chain lubes, and your life will be soooo much easier.

- Kerosene, parts washer fluid, or diesel fuel in a plastic bottle is a great idea for heavy duty cleaning.

- Spray down with WD-40 after washing bike to remove moisture.

- Get a good dry film lube like Honda HP Dry Film Lube (red can).


Posted by: JWW---------------------

Do you use diesel and kerosene on o-ring chains?


Posted by: Studboy---------------------

Quote:
Originally posted by Smit-Dog


- Get a good dry film lube like Honda HP Dry Film Lube (red can).


Or www.MX-1000.com chain lube. :thumb:

Jaybird,  would you like to outline some advantages/differences of your lube VS. the Honda HP chain lube? 


Posted by: Bill Hibbs---------------------

Simple Green the chain while cleaning the bike and spray it off (gently) with the hose. That Dumonde Tech lube is GREAT! It actually has O-Ring conditioners in it. I agree with the others, if you're using a good lube, it makes clean up a LOT easier and dirt doesn't stick to the chain as much. Therefore less scrubbing and powerful solvents needed during clean up.


Posted by: Buzz Bomb---------------------

Quote:
Originally posted by Bill Hibbs
Simple Green the chain while cleaning the bike and spray it off (gently) with the hose. That Dumonde Tech lube is GREAT! It actually has O-Ring conditioners in it. I agree with the others, if you're using a good lube, it makes clean up a LOT easier and dirt doesn't stick to the chain as much. Therefore less scrubbing and powerful solvents needed during clean up.


What is Dumonde Tech lube? I'm interested


Posted by: Bill Hibbs---------------------

www.hgnr.com


Posted by: NashInPA---------------------

In the north east we get lots of mud in the spring...all I use on my o-ring chain is wd-40. No wax's or nothing since they hold dirt. Just wash it real good and saturate with WD to eliminate water....then WD it down again before riding. I have been using this process for a year now and my chain is in great shape and hasnt needed adjustment. A buddy of mine cuts his WD with Karosene 50/50...this just saves him money and seems to work just as good or even better than straight WD.


Posted by: Jibbercrap---------------------

I use Varsol...it eats everything off the chain and leaves you with a nice shiny chain...but it has to sit in a can of it for a couple days.



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