View Full Version : Chain Cleaners.
grh1904
09-01-09, 04:26 PM
I'm thinking of getting one of these to keep the ole chain clean, just wondering if any orgers have tried it, whatyou think of it, would you consider it??????
http://www.motrax.co.uk/index.php?page_name=product&sub_page=1&product_id=873
New Leaf
10-01-09, 09:12 PM
40 notes for something to clean the chain? Spend the dosh on something else and clean the chain with some parafin on a rag.
DarrenSV650S
10-01-09, 09:15 PM
It's definitely worth it. Cleans it a lot better than you could by hand and is ten times quicker and ten times easier. It's a good investment
kwak zzr
10-01-09, 09:21 PM
wd40 and a rag for me.
DarrenSV650S
10-01-09, 09:22 PM
wd40? Eats the O rings
kwak zzr
10-01-09, 09:24 PM
i just spray it on a rag and wipe the side plates to keep the chain looking healty, i aint had a chain fail in 15 years.
Alpinestarhero
11-01-09, 03:12 PM
wd40? Eats the O rings
My dad has only ever used WD40 aswell, and his chains last quite a while (25,000 miles). He just rubs the chain with a rag. But then he;s a fair-weather biker, so dosn't need the deep cleaning action of paraffin in the same way his all-weather biking son (me) does. Plus he uses wurth chain lube, I use gunky, messy stuff.
Actualy, you know what, im gonna conduct an experiment this week. Get some rubber tubing (we got plenty at uni) and leave some in paraffin and some in WD40 at the back of my fume hood. See what happens.
DarrenSV650S
11-01-09, 06:02 PM
I'm not going by experience. That's just what everyone has ever told me about chain cleaning so I never used it
BanannaMan
12-01-09, 05:03 AM
Been using WD-40 and a rag for 20+ years, never had a problem.
Clean between the plates as well.
Cleanest chain around in about 20 mins. :cool:
kwak zzr
12-01-09, 09:18 AM
wd40 to the best of my knowledge never hurt anything, its a great cleaner.
Dave20046
12-01-09, 12:05 PM
wd40 has low level acids that will eat stuff.
Alpinestarhero
12-01-09, 04:59 PM
Ah, i see. a titration is in order then...
kwak zzr
12-01-09, 05:10 PM
do your test Mr Alpinestarhero!
New Leaf
12-01-09, 07:43 PM
Would be good to see some proper scientific research on the subject.
I've seen loads of posts from people who've never used it on their chain and are convinced that its evil and would munch through their o-rings, and loads of posts from people who have used it for 30 years and never had a chain last for less than 25Kmiles. Now i think about it, I don't think i've seen any posts from people saying that they have actually used wd40 on their chain and it has ruined it.
Hmm - maybe there's no need for an experiment after all.:confused:
chazzyb
13-01-09, 07:53 PM
Fer cryin out loud, chain O-rings are made from synthetic, oil-resistant rubber (Viton?). The inside of the rings is supposed to contain grease, which is made with... oil. Paraffin is an oil. Scottoiler chain oiler dispensed-oil is,... er... an oil. WD40 is very expensive oil and solvents. Scrub your chain clean with inexpensive paraffin and your wife's/girlfriend's/boyfriend's/whoever's toothbrush, then wipe off the excess. Real rubber (latex) will be completely foo-barred in *seconds* by any hydrocarbon.
HTH. ;-)
Paraffin was so much better at cleaning my chain than other spray can cleaners and will certainly last far longer for the same price.
Dave20046
02-03-09, 08:50 PM
Paraffin was so much better at cleaning my chain than other spray can cleaners and will certainly last far longer for the same price.
My mate reckons even parafin would be bad for it, he said diesel might possibly do a better job. :confused: I'm probably going to go with paraffin though, with the amount that swear by it.
kwak zzr
02-03-09, 09:06 PM
Would be good to see some proper scientific research on the subject.
I've seen loads of posts from people who've never used it on their chain and are convinced that its evil and would munch through their o-rings, and loads of posts from people who have used it for 30 years and never had a chain last for less than 25Kmiles. Now i think about it, I don't think i've seen any posts from people saying that they have actually used wd40 on their chain and it has ruined it.
Hmm - maybe there's no need for an experiment after all.:confused:
as stated above WD40 doesnt seem to have ever hurt anything? tis expencive tho as a cleaner so parafin would prob be the best and cheapest option.
appollo1
02-03-09, 09:32 PM
I'm thinking of getting one of these to keep the ole chain clean, just wondering if any orgers have tried it, whatyou think of it, would you consider it??????
http://www.motrax.co.uk/index.php?page_name=product&sub_page=1&product_id=873
I thought this was the original thread NOT the good and bad of WD40!!!
Anyway I used to have a similar device for cleaning the chain on my mountain bike and it was brilliant as it cleaned and lubed the chain with almost NO mess.
I need to clean my chain and recently thought about how i used to clean my bicycle chain and wondered if there was anything similar for a motorbike.
Now i know and will investigate further!!!
pencil shavings
03-03-09, 01:26 PM
give the chain a once over with ACF50 after it has been cleaned then put the lube over the top. will keep the chain in good nick and prevent rust spots and as it activaly fights rust, will help bring you chain back after the winter!
Alpinestarhero
03-03-09, 07:45 PM
as stated above WD40 doesnt seem to have ever hurt anything? tis expencive tho as a cleaner so parafin would prob be the best and cheapest option.
My dad uses WD40 to clean his chain; mind you, he sprays it on a rag and wipes the chain clean, and dosnt bath the chain in the stuff (like i do with parrafin). I use WD40 to work out stiff links and get rollers rolling again, but I prefer paraffin as I seem to collect alot of crud. And i use quite greasy chain lubes, not dry stuff.
fizzwheel
03-03-09, 09:31 PM
I really dont understand you guys who use WD40 for chain cleaning, its bl**dy expensive compared to parafin. I also dont understand you guys who think WD40 makes a suitable lube, it doesnt IMHO.
Toothbrush & Parafin took this
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fizzwheel/DSC_0131-1.jpg
to this after 30 minutes or so.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fizzwheel/DSC_0139.jpg
Dont really see the need for anything more expensive or complicated...
kwak zzr
03-03-09, 09:37 PM
i like wd40 it keeps my bike looking great and smells good too :)
madness
03-03-09, 09:40 PM
Parrafin is basically an oil is it not? As is diesel. And isn't diesel cheaper than parrafin?
Anybody use diesel?
Dave20046
03-03-09, 10:31 PM
Parrafin is basically an oil is it not? As is diesel. And isn't diesel cheaper than parrafin?
Anybody use diesel?
I asked the same thing about a page ago...no answers yet :(. I might try it, diesel would seem less likely to attack the orings in my mind to. Isn't parafin a bit more volatile/solventy?
New Leaf
04-03-09, 07:58 AM
I think i paid £5 for 5l of parrafin about 3 years ago. So thats about the same price as diesel, although i guess u can by diesel by the litre and 1l would last ages.
Wow Fizz - that is some transformation - shows there is no need to use anything else.
Dave20046
04-03-09, 09:18 AM
I think i paid £5 for 5l of parrafin about 3 years ago. So thats about the same price as diesel, although i guess u can by diesel by the litre and 1l would last ages.
Wow Fizz - that is some transformation - shows there is no need to use anything else.
You have to buy it in about two litres (minimum delivery @ the pump) but still. Anyone have any ideas on it I'm tempted, although I can see me getting it all over my back tyre some how.
Whats the point? Parrafin is just as cheap and its proven to work, plus there wont be that added risk of getting diesel on your tyre and you wont smell like diesel?
Dave20046
04-03-09, 10:37 AM
Whats the point? Parrafin is just as cheap and its proven to work, plus there wont be that added risk of getting diesel on your tyre and you wont smell like diesel?
I usually smell like fuel anyway and oil anyway. Yeah I'll grab some paraffin. But first I'm popping to lidl to see their special on bike cleaning equipmnet. ...turning over a new leaf.
New Leaf
04-03-09, 03:28 PM
...turning over a new leaf.
grr - leave me alone. I'm fine the way up i am. :mad::mad:
timwilky
04-03-09, 04:32 PM
My dad has only ever used WD40 aswell, and his chains last quite a while (25,000 miles). He just rubs the chain with a rag. But then he;s a fair-weather biker, so dosn't need the deep cleaning action of paraffin in the same way his all-weather biking son (me) does. Plus he uses wurth chain lube, I use gunky, messy stuff.
Actualy, you know what, im gonna conduct an experiment this week. Get some rubber tubing (we got plenty at uni) and leave some in paraffin and some in WD40 at the back of my fume hood. See what happens.
I don't think chain O & X rings are made from rubber. I thought it was Nitrile
larigos
04-03-09, 09:26 PM
paraffin is an old favourite, many moons ago 20+ years I remember my dad using it to clean the chain on his bike and after winter taking it off the bike and soaking the chain in a big pot of it.
svdemon
04-03-09, 09:46 PM
Paraffin rules the chain cleaning world!
yorkie_chris
05-03-09, 11:53 AM
WD40 is made of petroleum distillates, mostly hexane which is derived from paraffin, and a light machine oil. Really expensive way to clean chain.
Paraffin, white spirit, kerosene, whatever.
The chain cleaning devices seem to be a very expensive way to do it also.
http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/productdescription.aspx?prodcode=7762&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Google_Products&utm_campaign=Base
http://www.nwepaints.co.uk/acatalog/Paint_Brush.html
£20 worth of stuff that will be enough to clean your chain on every bike you own for the next 20 years...
dizzyblonde
05-03-09, 12:47 PM
I really dont understand you guys who use WD40 for chain cleaning, its bl**dy expensive compared to parafin.
...
Its as cheap as chips when your dad gets the giant cans at the wholesalers in bulk;):mrgreen::cheers:
BanannaMan
06-03-09, 04:49 AM
I'll stick with the WD40. Works great, been using it for years.
As for cost...
Maybe it's cheaper here (?) but for me, saving a few pence a year just isn't worth the mess and the smell of using paraffin.
Plus it's easy to throw a can in the panniers when going on a long trip.
(And the Mrs. would be none too happy if the garage smelled of paraffin)
AndyBrad
06-03-09, 12:50 PM
wd40 wont kill the orings. what it can do it once it gets past the oring it will remove the grease that is factory fitted to the chain. Once thats gone its on its way out quickly. Your only lubing the orings and central sleeve really.
give the chain a once over with ACF50 after it has been cleaned then put the lube over the top. will keep the chain in good nick and prevent rust spots and as it activaly fights rust, will help bring you chain back after the winter!
good ole ACF... i wouldn't use that too much on my chain coz I found it tends to let crap stick to it which isnt good when its crunching round your chain and sprockets.. On your front forks, wheels etc ACF is class!:cheers:
Bluefish
07-04-10, 07:51 PM
can you use kerosene that oil boilers run on, with no ill effects?
AndyBrad
07-04-10, 08:36 PM
yup!
as long as you dont go soaing stuff in it for ages. the key i wipe on wipe off (wash on wash off)
as a side note ive been using muc off chain cleaner recently HOLY CRAP ITS FANTASTIC!!!!!! (and i like a clean chain) i mean really good compared to kerosine. however HOLY CRAP ITS EXPENSIVE!!!!
Bluefish
07-04-10, 09:11 PM
well think i will get some free kerosine then and give it a shot, gotta be better than fairy liquid lol.
yorkie_chris
07-04-10, 09:53 PM
what's kero like then? I thought heating oil was heavier than that, dunno why. Could be a nice cheap source of degreaser there :)
Miss_Undaztood
08-05-10, 11:08 PM
what's kero like then? I thought heating oil was heavier than that, dunno why. Could be a nice cheap source of degreaser there :)
Heating oil is kerosine. Thats what i`ll be using :)
Been using Kerosene for years, if I remember correctly the SV650 manual actually tells you to use kerosene to clean the chain, I know my GSXR manual does.
You can get big bottles of the stuff for heating appliances in B&Q or Homebase for a few quid.
I used the spray on chain cleaner recently - amazing stuff. Just spray, leave for 5 and wash off. I did use my electric toothbrush with an old head on it to get into the hard bits, that too worked a treat x
BanannaMan
10-05-10, 02:54 AM
what's kero like then? I thought heating oil was heavier than that, dunno why. Could be a nice cheap source of degreaser there :)
Kerosene is known as Paraffin in the UK.
Heating oil is what you call Red Diesel.
While Kerosene is also sometimes called Heating oil #1
Still the exact same thing as paraffin.
The Diesel stuff is called Heating oil #2
Is not the same as the non dyed diesel, has a higher sulfer content than road fuel but is dyed red primarily for easy detection in vehicles because it is taxed less.
HTH
Tigerrrr.......
14-05-10, 05:16 PM
Can you keep Kerosene/paraffin in one of those plastic plant sprayer bottles? Cleaner to use, but would it melt the plastic?
Miss_Undaztood
14-05-10, 05:25 PM
Can you keep Kerosene/paraffin in one of those plastic plant sprayer bottles? Cleaner to use, but would it melt the plastic?
It won`t melt the plastic. I buy degreaser in gallon cans and keep it in a spray bottle to use. Braw :)
Daywalker
14-05-10, 05:33 PM
Been using Diesel fuel for many years on all my chains it works as a cleaner and lubricant dont forget yer latex gloves
I use these, comes out like new
Been using Kerosene for years, if I remember correctly the SV650 manual actually tells you to use kerosene to clean the chain, I know my GSXR manual does.
You can get big bottles of the stuff for heating appliances in B&Q or Homebase for a few quid.
Thanks. I was wondering where to get some now that they've stopped selling it from the pump at my local garage.
Can be called Parascene
I ended up getting some Parascene from Homebase - says it 'contains kerosene' but not what else is in it. A bit of a rip-off price at nearly £7 for 5L as I don't think it's taxed to the same level as petrol.
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