Cleaning the chain...

[Herman]

What do you guys use to clean your chains before you re-lube?  I used WD-40 on a rag, but I read last night that WD-40 can damage the o-rings on the chain.  They recommended a biodegradable degreaser.  What do you guys use?

[seratt]

Kerosene here. And can spray chain lube.

[lragan]

I have good results with diesel fuel.  Cleans, but leaves an oily residue.  Kerosene is probably better, but I have diesel tractor, so I keep fuel right here handy.

[TLRam1]

Kerosene on a rag I keep in a zip lock here and PJ1 spray lube.

[RedMagna]

Naptha sprayed onto a rag and wipe it down.

[Sledge Hammer]

Kerosene on a rag I keep in a zip lock here and PJ1 spray lube.

Well, my original intent was to write about how clever I had been by using a cheap plastic spray bottle to clean the chain, a sheet of corrugated plastic to catch the overspray, and an aluminum foil basting pan to collect the runoff -- which would magically sweep away the dirt and grime frome the chain, carrying it away to the pan to be filtered and recycled for future cleaning.

The delusion lasted about five minutes. The spray bottle did its job fairly well, but it turns out that chain wax is persistent stuff. I had used about half the bottle and hadn't even gotten a clean patch of metal to show. I had, however, managed to saturate my back tire and the surrounding driveway with kerosene. Then I remembered "Hey, Terry and Red Magna said all they used were rags soaked in kerosene or naptha. I wonder..." Sure enough, in 5 minutes I made more progress with a old washcloth and a cup of kerosene than I had in the previous fifteen minutes of pointless activity.

Now I have a nice, shiny chain, a trash can with a old washcloth airing out in it beside the house , a spray bottle that needs to justify its continued presence in my garage, a half a pint of kerosene that will probably wind up in my old kerosene lamp, very aromatic hands and forearms, and a renewed appreciation for the wisdom contained in the archived MOOT forum posts.

[TLRam1]

Good story and thinking outside the box. If you are not failing, it only means you are not trying. Now unless you are not planning to ride anymore I would keep that kerosene as you will surely need it again, somehow I think you know this already. 

[Charles S Otwell]

I don't clean the chain, I just take it out and sling all the dirt off every once in a while then relube it  .

[Lurkin]

Naptha on a rag to clean it, WD-40 back on it to keep the rust off.  Keep it simple....

Rod...

[marty9]

I BOUGHT A CHAIN CLEANING BRUSH FROM A SITE ..NEWSPEEDMASTER.WORKS WELL

[roboto65]

I do not clean my chain  I Oil it and the dirt slings off I do not use wax so it does not stick LOL Heheheh.  I have a Pro Oiler electronic oiler and use regular RoyalPurple 40wt to lube the chain and what sling off there is wipes right off!!!

[L J VFR]

There's a chain on this bike??   HeHeHe.....Lance

[Magnum Magna]

oiler and use regular RoyalPurple 40wt to lube the chain and what sling off there is wipes right off!!!

Many years back I would save my old used oil to lube the chan.  But from what I under stand this method will hurt the modern O-rings in the chain.

I normally just add spray lube on the chain but I think I will buy some kerosene clean it and re-lube.  I normally oil it with a warm chain.  After cleaning it do you take it around the block to warm it then oil it?

[John Luttrell]

I just went and ordered $200 worth of chain and sprokets today.  I managed to squeeze 15k out of the original set up using chain wax only.  I probably could have got away with not changing the sprockets, but I think in the long run I'll get more miles out of the chain with a new set of sprokets installed at the same time.

[Greg Cothern]

I see folks get more mileage by keeping it on the loose end of the adjustment range.  Seems they stretch when kept on the tight side of the range.