Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

So on Sunday I was bored, but had to stay in/close to home, so I decided to clean my chain and back wheel as they were filthy.

From previous experiences I found kero to be the best to get off crud, so whipped that out with a few brushes and got scrubbing.

Nice and shiny...but then I got stuck trying to get the kero off, so I could re-lube the chain.

What is the proper way to do it? Tried water with a bit of car wash shampoo and failed miserably, as kero repels water (duh). Ended up with dirty, oily, dark smears all over my back wheel and swingarm.

Plugged away for what seemed like an eternity til I had the majority of it off, but it felt like I really went about it the hard way!

What do you guys use?

Rain water and puddles...

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

Well that normally is my method but I was itching to do something with the bike (preferably ride) but I couldnt, so I decided something none-commited (i.e if my daughter woke I could just leave it) like cleaning the chain was a good bet.

First time I have cleaned the bike since...before winter I believe?

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

i just used a rag, ok my t shirt, the only way your going to get it all off is by using a degreaser. clean wipe oil imo.

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

TBH I wont be doing it again for a long while, too much like hard work!

Haha, ok I'll be honest, to do wheels (which I have only ever done once) I use wonder wheels (wheel was covered is grease flung from chain and were completely black, couldn't even see the colour the wheel, worked an absolute treat.

As for chain, I didn't mess about, pressure washed it, let it dry and then greased it.

People will almost definitely disagree with my methods... Haha

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

Another NOT to be recommended method is to get it on a workshop stand and spin the wheel a bit. Soon flicks it off.

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

Hehe, I did that too. Ended up all over the side of my car...

Was tempted to hold a toothbrush to it while it was spinning but chickened out, probably one of my wiser moments in life.

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

I wouldn't recommend anyone do that

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

I don't know if degreaser is a good idea on the chain unless the chain is going to soak in an oil bath afterwards,I would always use a light oil based cleaner such as paraffin or kerosene if the chain is to remain fitted. If you are rich you can buy a specific chain cleaner but is it worth it?

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

Well that's the main problem I had, I couldnt really tell when it was "ok" for me to relube again. I didnt want any remaining kero to just melt off fresh lube like.

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

Kerosene / paraffin are lightweight oils, so it won't do any harm left on the chain as long as you re-lube after cleaning. I just wipe off the excess with a rag, lightly lube with oil and then let the scottoiler take care of things while riding.

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

That is good to know LP!

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

the yanks call it kerosene and we call it paraffin so they are the same thing. paraffin is the preferred chain cleaner and as LP said just go ahead and lube the chain. to get the rest of the crud off the other parts just use wd40 or more paraffin. then use a degreaser, if i dont have any specific degreaser i just use the power of fairy's in water.

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

i use paraffin on a nail brush ( more brisals than a tooth brush), a rag to wipe it off then lube it

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

Mototrax (or something like that, from HG) specially designed chain clean. Worked much better than any of us (SH and strechie) thought. Spray it on, leave it for 5 mins with something to catch the drips, wipe it off and lube it up.

Job jobbed.

Re: Cleaning chain with Kerosene
 

http://www.tooled-up.com/Artwork/ProdZoom/BIGW2012.jpg
Get yourself some of these! I used about 5 to completely clean my rear wheel which had about a thousand miles of chain lube and crap covering it... They worked a treat turning my silver wheels silver again (They were black from all the crap)
They also work with the chain, just get the chain off, wrap one of those bad boys around it and get jerkin'... If you get my drift ;]