cleaning chain

[robbie]

Can anyone advise me on the best way to clean my chain before i explore all the different cleaning products on the market. i coated it in an anti-fling lube from mukoff but it just made it lok rusty.

[stubax]

I use wd40 chain cleaner, does what it says on tin, followed by Wurth dry lube.

[54K+]

I use sdoc chain cleaner, worked in with a big toothbrush type Oxford chain brush which has a centre channel with brushes on three sides. then wash off with a hose and leave to dry. finish off with Sdoc chain lube, which drys like a wax.
 

[robbie]

 Thank's for the info, 54k,brush look's just the job

[Skids]

Originally Posted by 54K+

I use sdoc chain cleaner, worked in with a big toothbrush type Oxford chain brush which has a centre channel with brushes on three sides. then wash off with a hose and leave to dry. finish off with Sdoc chain lube, which drys like a wax.

I use that brush too, it's very good and saves rubbing the chain with a rag.

A stark warning: a friend of mine was cleaning his chain with a rag, decided it would be quicker to run the bike in first gear whilst holding the rag to the chain. Yes, the inevitable happened, the rag caught, took his hand with it and he lost the top of a finger, cut clean off.

[v8guy]

I've always used plain paraffin and a rag. Was advised years ago that WD40, or any other regular degreaser, would remove lubricant from the inner chain links and lead to the eventual destruction of the chain.

A brush designed for the job does sound like a great idea though... cleaning it with a rag is a filthy and not entirely effective job!

[JohnG]

Personally I would never use WD40 to clean or lubricate an "O" ring chain. This is because during my working life it was well known that using WD40 to free dry and sticky pneumatic valves caused the internal rubber seals to swell, go spongy and leak. As I don't know whether Bike chain "O" rings are a similar material, I just wouldn't take the chance.

[gbrand42]

As you can see, there will always be about a million different ways to clean and lube a chain. I have always used WD-40 to clean a chain with one of those 3-sided brushes (although paraffin works fine too) . What WD-40 won't do is lubricate it properly. For this I use Wurth dry lube and leave it at least 30 minutes before riding to avoid any fling-off of lubricant.

Proof that WD40 will in no way cause any issue with motorcycle chain O or X rings:

[Skids]

There was a good debate over on VFRD recently about chain lubrication and its efficacy. External lubrication doesn't lubricate the metal to metal parts inside the chain, that's the job of the factory lube held in place by the X-ring (or O-ring). The most important thing I drew from it was not cleaning/lubing, but ensuring the chain is adjusted correctly and that it should rarely need adjusting.

[v8guy]

Originally Posted by gbrand42

As you can see, there will always be about a million different ways to clean and lube a chain. I have always used WD-40 to clean a chain with one of those 3-sided brushes (although paraffin works fine too) . What WD-40 won't do is lubricate it properly.

Indeed! I find it astonishing that the general perception is that WD40 is a good lubricant..! It's an adequate degreaser, at best.

Originally Posted by gbrand42

Proof that WD40 will in no way cause any issue with motorcycle chain O or X rings:

Interesting video... ta!