Kerosine to clean chain! Good or Bad?

[N8te rider]

Couldn't find paraffin anywhere local, so used Turpentine substitute (pure kerosine). Is that OK to use on chains or will it ruin the chain (o-ring thingies)?

[G]

I use clear parafin, relube straight away afterwards... job done.

You would be suprised how many people dont even bother cleaning or ever look at their chain... they fit an automatic oiler of some description and thing its sorted for them.

[rictus01]

You would be suprised how many people dont even bother cleaning or ever look at their chain... they fit an automatic oiler of some description and thing its sorted for them.

well that's what I did and still do mostly, apart from a 15 minute check of the bike each week and schedule maintenance, the last chain I "cleaned" was when they needed the grease melting in a tin on the stove and put in it in...

Still your time spend it how you want, I ride instead :smt102

Cheers Mark.

[N8te rider]

I like to clean the bike sometimes, but mostly ride it too. Just wondered if anyone has used kerosene and if its safe to do so?

[Lozzo]

I use clear parafin, relube straight away afterwards... job done.

You would be suprised how many people dont even bother cleaning or ever look at their chain... they fit an automatic oiler of some description and thing its sorted for them.

There's a Scottoiler on my bike, it's been there from new - I look at my chain regularly and in 9 months and 6500 miles it's not needed adjustment or cleaning.

[timwilky]

I do not think turps substitute is kerosene/paraffin. but is a derivative of these.


as for sourcing paraffin, even B&Q sell it in their gardening sections for heating greenhouses.


Mark, I am glad I am not the only one to have boiled a chain. in my case on a primus stove as the duchess when berserk when she caught me with the grease can on her cooker.

As for scott oilers, great bit of kit, but removed mine as my white wheels couldn't cope

[N8te rider]

I do not think turps substitute is kerosene/paraffin. but is a derivative of these.

as for sourcing paraffin, even B&Q sell it in their gardening sections for heating greenhouses.

Went to halfords and a B&Q warehouse, neither had it. Oh well, Im sure I'll find it at some hardware store eventually.

[rictus01]

Kerosene & Paraffin are extensively the same thing, an effective de-greaser is all, I wouldn't leave either in contact with rubber on the bike for any length of time, butfor de-greasing before washinng the bike down it'll be fine.

But as said in normal road uses you don't need to "clean" a modern chain, merely keep the O-rings lubricated so they don't dry out, the scottoiler and other automated oilers do this very well, generally over twice as well as manually doing it, fitting a scottoiler doesn't negate the need to inspect the chain regularly, but that's a 2 minute job that everyone should be doing at least each week.

G's post above "how many people dont even bother cleaning or ever look at their chain... " makes a rather sweeping generalization, the two points aren't in the same league, cleaning it isn't necessary, where as inspection is a basic user task.

Cheers Mark.

[rictus01]

Mark, I am glad I am not the only one to have boiled a chain. in my case on a primus stove as the duchess when berserk when she caught me with the grease can on her cooker.



Indeed the good old, bad old days......;), still it did give us blokes a reason to use the stove though..........:smt043

Cheers Mark.

[N8te rider]

Cheers rictus, will consider getting scotty. had to clean chain after that mega windy weekend couple of weeks ago. The chain collected dirt, leaves and everything but the sink lol. was nasty!

[punyXpress]

[QUOTE=rictus01;2116885]Indeed the good old, bad old days......;), still it did give us blokes a reason to use the stove though..........:smt043

That & heating crankcases in the oven to remove bearings!

[yorkie_chris]

I do not think turps substitute is kerosene/paraffin. but is a derivative of these.


as for sourcing paraffin, even B&Q sell it in their gardening sections for heating greenhouses.


Mark, I am glad I am not the only one to have boiled a chain. in my case on a primus stove as the duchess when berserk when she caught me with the grease can on her cooker.

As for scott oilers, great bit of kit, but removed mine as my white wheels couldn't cope

My wheels were silver once :smt043


What did they call that grease you had to melt, I had a tin for the trial bike and it was great*, lent it to some d***head who spilt it all over his garage though.

*tin was probably older than me as my dad bought it when he had a maico 350 in these "olden days" you speak of.

[rictus01]

My wheels were silver once :smt043


What did they call that grease you had to melt, I had a tin for the trial bike and it was great*, lent it to some d***head who spilt it all over his garage though.

*tin was probably older than me as my dad bought it when he had a maico 350 in these "olden days" you speak of.

Both Castrol and Duckhams sold it as "chain grease", but that must have been 25 years ago.

Cheers Mark.

[punyXpress]

Linklyfe was one, Chris.
Saw half a tin at a farm sale near here & it looked like tarmac - complete with chippings! No, I didn't bid.