Chain Cleaner ?

chain cleaning -
been to my local bike shop where the very friendly scottish man recommended me some new chain wax
he got me castrol chain wax.
(to replace my non fling yoshi gold stuff that is rubbish - flings everywhere leaving me with gold splatters on my wheels)

i also bought some Motul E.Z lube to clean the chain.
says its good for o rings - keeping the chain on the bike - just spray it on, get the old lube off with a soft brush, and leave it on to dry
then spray on the chain wax.

the E.Z lube sounds alot like WD40 - supposed to do the same thing.

any thoughts on this ?
im gonna do it in an hour so any advice would be lovely


how do you do yours ?

Originally Posted by bikageboy

i also bought some Motul E.Z lube to clean the chain.
.....
how do you do yours ?

Me? I'm going to carry on using paraffin for the cleaning.

do you leave the cleaner to dry

then wash it off with water

or just leave it to dry before putting on your new lube ?

Originally Posted by bikageboy

do you leave the cleaner to dry

then wash it off with water

or just leave it to dry before putting on your new lube ?

Paraffin isn't very volatile at all, so I tend to let it drain off for an hour or so, then use a rag to dry any remainder before re-lubing. I'm currently using a spray-on 'non-fling' general purpose grease on the chain. It says it's suitable for motorcycle chains and is somewhat less expensive than 'dedicated' chain spray.

Apparently you shouldnt leave paraffin on for more than 15mins as it damages your o-rings and will make them deteriorate. I dont think its an old wives tail as i undid the master link and the o-ring were all in pieces. But i still would use paraffin, but just clean, dry it cleaning it with a rag and then put it in a little engine oil to wash the paraffin off, and then dry it with an old rag, leaving to hang dry and then put it on. It seems like a lot of work but paraffin is so cheap, works a treat and you chain will look like new (clean)

Glad this topic came up! My chain has ten tons of london sh*t on it and it needs a damn good clean (i'm sure it's nice and shiny underneath!). Is Paraffin the best answer then and what is the best way to apply it?

Some say paraffin, some say WD40. Some say one or the other destroys o-rings, some say neither. Both clean a chain very well though.

What do I now use? The same thing I use to lube it - normal engine oil. Just pour some on a rag and give the chain a good wipe, section by section. This way it also gets a good deep lube too (ooer! ).


.

I use kerosene which is like paraffin. Bit more flamable though, but cleans the chain just lovely.
The main trick I've learn't is clean the chain.. then take the bike out to warm up the chain say 10 minutes ride or something. Then lub your and leave it over night, mine now hardly ever flings (when I do it properly) and have a much nicer less nosiey chain.

Originally Posted by Grinch

I use kerosene which is like paraffin. Bit more flamable though, but cleans the chain just lovely.

I always assumed that kerosene was the American name for paraffin.

How is it supposed to differ from paraffin?

Originally Posted by johnlowe

I always assumed that kerosene was the American name for paraffin.

How is it supposed to differ from paraffin?

I think its a lighter fuel... with a higher flash point. I have a mate who's a army mech who recomended it to me.