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Recommendations for cleaning chain?

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17K views 60 replies 26 participants last post by  Dodsfall  
#1 ยท
Hey Guys,
I ahvea chain lube, but I was wondering what is best to use to clean the chain? Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
#15 ยท
First, it depends on the type of solvent being used. You can use mineral spirits and it won't hurt a thing. You can use mineral spirits mixed with ATF and again, it won't hurt a thing. Personally I use Hoppe's #9 gun solvent with a nylon brush and it too works fine. I just happen to have it on the shelf for guns but it works on my chains to.
 
#8 ยท
Kerosene works great and its what Suzuki recommends in the service manual. And yes, my GZ250 has an o-ring chain. If its good enough for Suzuki, its good enough for me.

If your chain is really dirty, WD-40 could be a bit expensive to use. Kerosene costs about $8/gallon at Lowes and will last you forever. Look into using some DuPont Teflon spray (right next to the WD-40 at Lowes) to lube the chain after you clean it. It's wonderful stuff, is cheap, and doesn't pickup grit and grime off the road like oils or waxes do. Its specifically formulated for o-ring chains, too.
 
#20 ยท
No, it takes very little to go a long way so it's not like you are using a lot. Yes, Kerosene is a fuel but mineral spirits is not and it is a solvent that many techs use in the building and cleaning of automatic transmissions, which do have all sorts of lip seal type O rings as well as other types.
 
#22 ยท
+1 again on the use of Kerosene (aka lamp oil, camp fuel).

I get my Lamp Oil from the lawn & garden area of WalMarts or Targets (Tiki Torch fuel). It works fine. I use the Tiki torch fuel because it is oderless. I haven't used the camp oil k1 fuel.

Also, I'll start using DuPont Teflon multi-use lubricant (Lowes for about $4/can). Linky: uh.. click me?

it's being reported of having low fling off and good lubrication agents... no experience from me yet. I've been using Maxima chain wax. I'm not sure if it's me or what, but I see a lot of fling on the Maxima chain wax. I'm still learning I guess.
 
#24 ยท
+Also, I'll start using DuPont Teflon multi-use lubricant (Lowes for about $4/can). It's being reported of having low fling off and good lubrication agents... no experience from me yet.
I've been using the DuPont Teflon with white lithium grease. It dang sure keeps the rest of the bike so much cleaner than PJ1 etc. Next time I change chains it will include both gears changed also. Then I'm gonna give the ATF a try. PITA for me to get to Lowe's/Home Depot sometimes.
 
#23 ยท
Well the kerosene partnered with a soft toothbrush worked a treat for the cleaning, and gear oil (SAE90) seems to have worked well for the lube. I was told that the waxes can dry and fling off pretty easy...and I was also told the spray commercial lubes can damage the o-rings even when they say "o-ring friendly." So I'm happy with the kerosene and gear oil.
 
#31 ยท
+1!!!

I have been looking for kerosene forever, all I can find is:

"WalMart Tiki Torch Fuel w/ Palm Oil"

IS THIS SAFE????????????????????? (gsxr w/ o ring)


thanks
so it's crazy - i must have gotten one of the final bottles at Wal-Mart, as I too do not see them there anymore.
They do carry it at Ace Hardware or those "smaller" hardware stores (smaller relative to Home Depot or Lowes).

I'm still trying to figure out if Diesel #2 is "okay" to use as cleaner since it's mainly Kerosene... just not sure about the additives they put in there.
 
#33 ยท
I have used diesel fuel to clean automatic transmissions for years, never seen any seal or o-ring damage. This was a common practice in the vo-tech school I attended to get my training. Out of all the threads and recommendations I've seen, diesel and kerosene seem to be leading for safely cleaning o-ring type motorcycle chains. I trust it myself. I also use 3M chain lube spray grease from the WalMart auto section. Very cheap and seams to adhere well to the chain.