cleaning the chain

[el duque_imp]

I know next to nothing about chain bikes. All of the ones I've owned hitherto have been shaft drive.

I had a friend show me how to adjust it. He turned me on to chain wax and said to spray it down every five hundred.

What do you guys use to clean it before you spray it with the wax.

thanks.

[LongRanger_imp]

You can buy spray cleaners but I use kerosene, an old toothbrush, and a rag. It takes five minutes. Dip the toothbrush in the kerosene, scrub a short section of the chain, rotate the tire to get to the next section, and repeat. Then wipe down the chain with the rag. Remove the chain guard first (two screws) and it'll go even easier. Be sure to place something under the bike to catch the splatter. Once the chain has been cleaned, spritz on your favorite chain lube (Chain Wax is fine), let it set up for a few minutes, and you're done.

[chync_imp]

Same company that makes chain wax makes a spray cleaner.


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[redbirds_imp]

Kerosene works great as do the spray cleaners. I use WD-40. I place a large drip pan under the rear tire and a square of cardboard between the chain and tire to avoid getting overspray on the tire. I then soak the chain in WD-40, wait a few minutes then go over it with a tooth brush. A dry rag finishes the job. I lube with Tirox. I like Tirox because it seems to pick up less grit than others I have used. I live on a dirt road and can tell the differenve.

[flynrider]

Chain cleaning doesn't have to be done before every lube. I tend to clean mine at each oil change. Like most of the others, I use kerosene and a small brush to loosen the grit, then wipe clean with a rag.

In the old days, I didn't used to clean the chain. I'd get about 20-22K miles out of an O-ring chain. Then I noticed that a few friends who were meticulous chain cleaners were getting twice the mileage out of their chains. Since I started cleaning the chains I've noticed the difference. I'm still on the original chain on the CB11. With just over 27K miles, the wear indicator says it's near the halfway point in it's life.

[mattmcuomo@yahoo.com]

When I need to clean it I just use WD40 and a rag, sometimes a chain brush. As far as lube goes I only use gear oil now. Chain wax made my chain sticky and road grime gummed it up making it stiff. I commute 90 miles a day on LA freeways, lots O road grime!!


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[DBM_imp]

Do not use WD 40. It is hard on the rubber o rings. Use engine flush ( kerosene) from the local auto parts store. After cleaning, warm up the chain by taking a short ride and spray on the inside of the chain while spinning the rear tire backwards. I use the Honda chain lube with moly.

[dave]

What do you guys use to clean it before you spray it with the wax.

I have used WD40 on all my bikes to clean the chain for the past 25 years and have never had a problem. I wipe the chain with a rag if it's not too dirty (usually works for my street bikes), or use a stiff wire brush on my dirt bike bikes (never have I damaged an o-ring chain using this method). I always thoroughly blow-dry the chain after cleaning with compressed air before lubing it.

[flynrider]

Do not use WD 40. It is hard on the rubber o rings. Use engine flush ( kerosene) from the local auto parts store. After cleaning, warm up the chain by taking a short ride and spray on the inside of the chain while spinning the rear tire backwards. I use the Honda chain lube with moly.

I think that's an old wives' tale. I've seen numerous independent tests of the effects of O-rings submerged in WD-40 for long periods of time, with no ill effects.

Here's one from Motorcyclist mag :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzyk4nq3ug0

That being said, I use kerosene simply because it's much less expensive than WD-40.

[Jeeves_imp]

I believe it's called a "shain", not chain... just to ensure proper pronunciation... ;-)