Cleaning your chain? Read here.... - Ducati.ms

johnnyrotten143 · Aug 9th, 2009, 12:46 am

The following is an article I read regarding products for cleaning your nasty chain...Thought some might find this useful.
Decent review/read with pics...
Hope this helps!!

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motor...chain-cleaner/

Brendon857 · Oct 7th, 2009, 1:42 pm

opened this and thought it would be a thread on the guy from gixxer.com and about how NOT to clean your chain

dirkwrong · Jan 24th, 2010, 6:22 pm

I have an EK X-ring chain. They recommend this for cleaning:

What should I use to clean my chain?

Never clean your sealed chain with pressure washers, steam cleaning, wire brushes, or volatile solvents such as gasoline, mineral spirits, contact cleaner or acetone, all of which can damage the O-rings. Kerosene may be safely used for cleaning, provided you have adequate ventilation and no ignition sources nearby. Commercial spray-on chain cleaners typically must be rinsed off with water. This could lead to the formation of rust, so use of these products is discouraged.

For chain lubrication:

What kind of chain lube should I use?

The O-rings or Quadra-X Rings on an EK chain only seal the factory-installed grease between the pins and bushings. As with any chain, you still need to lubricate between the bushings and rollers to prolong service life.

Sealed chains should be lubed only with lubricants specifically marked as being suitable for O-ring chains. A good chain lube should adhere well and have good penetrating qualities to get deep inside the spaces between bushings and rollers.

Non-sealed chains may be lubed with any quality chain lube, or SAE 80/90 wt. oil.

748girl · Jan 25th, 2010, 8:10 am

"kerosene isn't routinely stocked in a garage" WTF! We have a parts washer full of the stuff, a drum with a spigot and a bottle always full. Even before I had the luxury of enough kerosene to bathe in (that is a metaphor for how much we have, as distinct from my chosen hygiene practices

), I always used it to clean sprockets and chains. Its cheap, it works, yes its yucky and I am careful not to go out into polite company when I have been working on the bike - havoc with the nails and yes we do have good hand cleaner and a nail brush, but it is mucky - must remember I now have access to chemical resistant gloves.

Yes, I believe that with cable ties and a can of WD40 and a roll of duct tape you can fix almost everything, but kerosense is a good cleaner and WD40 whilst good is expensive.

jpitz31 · Jan 27th, 2010, 11:03 am

Yes, kerosene is the way to go. If you have a compressor, pick up a spray bar from harbor freight tools, drip pan under the chain area. Spray and let soak. Use a parts brush to brush the chain, If you have a wheel stand you can roll the rim as you brush.

If you do no have a compressor use the parts brush to wet the chain, let set and brush again.

After the wait use a garden hose to wash the kerosene away.

Use a rag to wipe the chain dry and apply your favorite chain lube.

Thanks

Joe

silver.surfer · Mar 14th, 2010, 11:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpitz31

Yes, kerosene is the way to go. If you have a compressor, pick up a spray bar from harbor freight tools, drip pan under the chain area. Spray and let soak. Use a parts brush to brush the chain, If you have a wheel stand you can roll the rim as you brush.

If you do no have a compressor use the parts brush to wet the chain, let set and brush again.

After the wait use a garden hose to wash the kerosene away.

Use a rag to wipe the chain dry and apply your favorite chain lube.

Thanks

Joe

thats what I do or wd40 and it gets it like new again I pull the sprocket cover off also to get the gunk in between the case and sprocket

ttpete · Mar 15th, 2010, 10:24 am

I like to go to the paint store and get 5 gallons of "deodorized mineral spirits", also known as paint thinner. It's like kerosene, but doesn't stink, and it evaporates quicker. I also use it in my parts washer.

mry999eryk · Mar 18th, 2010, 11:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttpete

I like to go to the paint store and get 5 gallons of "deodorized mineral spirits", also known as paint thinner. It's like kerosene, but doesn't stink, and it evaporates quicker. I also use it in my parts washer.

I would watch it using Mineral Spirits - this has a lower flash point of only 110F and if your bike is just a little hot, it can potentially explode. Kerosene has a higher flash point and also contains more petroleum which is better for the O ring seals. Using the wrong solvent can damage the chain by acting as a penetrate, dissolving the petroleum in the grease and leaving just the dirt and carriers. This is why WD40 is not recommended. The residues left behind then begin acting as abrasives.

Shazaam · Mar 18th, 2010, 1:52 pm

All motorcycle chains currently being manufactured use Buna-N (nitrile) rubber for their o-rings and x-rings, and all these manufacturers recommend kerosene as a cleaner.

Alternatively, you can use WD-40 that is composed of 80% Stoddard Solvent (mineral spirits), 20% light lubricating oil, and a bit of fragrance.

WD-40, used as a one-step cleaner and lubricant is sufficient. Because it is a light oil, some fling-off will occur, so any excess should be wiped-off. USED REGULARLY, it provides good corrosion protection, low (but not the lowest) rolling resistance, and attracts less road grit than waxy chain lubes. So your chain stays very clean.

If you aren't inclined to clean and lube your chain regularly, or often ride in wet conditions that promote corrosion, there are chain lubes on the market that are designed to stick to your chain to resist fling-off and provide longer-lasting corrosion protection. Some remain tacky and attract grit, some stay slippery to the touch. All of them need to cleaned off and renewed at some point.

If you’ve decided to use chain lube after cleaning your chain, then it’s best to use straight kerosene or mineral spirits as your cleaner because the light oil that WD-40 contains will make it difficult for the chain lube to stay attached without flinging-off.

The only residue left by WD-40 is a light machine oil that is a lubricant, not an abrasive.

ttpete · Mar 18th, 2010, 4:15 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mry999eryk

I would watch it using Mineral Spirits - this has a lower flash point of only 110F and if your bike is just a little hot, it can potentially explode. Kerosene has a higher flash point and also contains more petroleum which is better for the O ring seals. Using the wrong solvent can damage the chain by acting as a penetrate, dissolving the petroleum in the grease and leaving just the dirt and carriers. This is why WD40 is not recommended. The residues left behind then begin acting as abrasives.

Baloney. It's also known as Stoddard Solvent or white spirit, and is regarded as a safety solvent. I've personally used it in parts washers for over 50 years, as have countless thousands of repair shops across the country. Its fire rating is 2, the same as kerosene. I wear gloves when I wash parts, but only because it will pull the oils out of the skin and cause minor irritation. It is not carcinogenic. It will not affect buna-N o-rings.