Paraffin - Bloomin' great stuff!

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

if you think paraffin is impressive you should try brake cleaner

Brake cleaner swells the O-rings on chains causing them to split. Not recommended.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Brake cleaner swells the O-rings on chains causing them to split. Not recommended.

the can i have says "brake and chain cleaner" - made by Wurth

i thought the whole point of brake cleaner was that it specifically didn't kill your piston o-rings...

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

the can i have says "brake and chain cleaner" - made by Wurth

i thought the whole point of brake cleaner was that it specifically didn't kill your piston o-rings...

The material used for brake piston seals is different to the material used for chain O-rings. There are a number of different types of rubber used as seals depending on what purpose they have or what fluid or lubricant is being used. Brake cleaner may be fine on brake seals, but I know for a fact it swells chain O-rings because I experimented on an old chain. You'd be surprised at just how much they swell and how easy they break afterwards.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by Lozzo

The material used for brake piston seals is different to the material used for chain O-rings. There are a number of different types of rubber used as seals depending on what purpose they have or what fluid or lubricant is being used. Brake cleaner may be fine on brake seals, but I know for a fact it swells chain O-rings because I experimented on an old chain. You'd be surprised at just how much they swell and how easy they break afterwards.

i guess there must be different cleaning fluids, as this is what i use...

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

I wouldn't bother now with the hosing down as you've covered the chain in lube anyway and that'll protect any paraffin that may be remaining. I'm sure it'll be ok, it's just a precaution rinsing off the paraffin, plus it rinses off any remaining gritty bits that the brush may have missed. Hopefully.

+1, parrafin won't damage your o' rings, you could take the chain off and submerge it in parrafin to clean it if you could be bothered. Rinsing off grit is the main reason for the water.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

the can i have says "brake and chain cleaner" - made by Wurth

i thought the whole point of brake cleaner was that it specifically didn't kill your piston o-rings...

Originally Posted by Lozzo

The material used for brake piston seals is different to the material used for chain O-rings.

Ask alpinestarhero how many solvents there are

They've just found one thats safe with both types (unless it isnt actually safe..), at the expense of dissolving slightly fewer materials.

I wonder..... If I mixed all these solvents, would they get me high quicker!!

[yorkie_chris]

Carb cleaner is pretty much all the make-you-go-blind-and-mad solvents mixed together

Parafin is perfectly safe to use to clean chains and does not require washing off on completion, I'd be a little wary of using brake/carb cleaner permanently though.