Bad advice

[timwilky]

Went out for a blip around Lancashire with my brother yesterday. Second time on his new to him blade, as it had spent all this week in the workshop being service, new brakes/back tyre.

As the chain looked a tad dry, I asked him what lube he was using and he told me the guy at a certain shop in Preston had recommended a Motul lube and produced the can from under his seat. He said he was going to spray it on after our little ride as the guy in the shop had recommended he cleaned his chain first with PETROL

No, he was adamant petrol. Having explained all the damage that petrol would do to his seals and the inner lubrication he conceeds crafty gits were after his wallet as they know he aint going to compromise his safety and would have had the bike in the shop next week for a new chain fitting. Them saying we said parafin sir.

Name and shame. If he is adamant they said petrol, he could write to MCN.

Any kind of preying on customer ignorance like that is deplorable, but when it's toying with something as life and death as a chain snapping?

Just maybe the shop really are ignorant rather than deliberately trying to ruin chains. Apart from the safety aspect, is petrol really going to ruin O-rings? Synthetic rubber is used OK in fuel lines after all, and is a by-product of the petrochem industry. Paraffin on the other hand, will destroy natural rubber/latex as quickly or quicker than petrol!

Originally Posted by chazzyb

Just maybe the shop really are ignorant rather than deliberately trying to ruin chains. Apart from the safety aspect, is petrol really going to ruin O-rings? Synthetic rubber is used OK in fuel lines after all, and is a by-product of the petrochem industry. Paraffin on the other hand, will destroy natural rubber/latex as quickly or quicker than petrol!

Seems chain O-rings are made from Nitrile Butadine, which I read, is resistant to attack by petrol, oil, grease, etc. While I wouldn't recommend or use petrol to clean a chain myself, I suspect it won't damage one.

Usual disclaimers apply, etc.

Paraffin is recommended by Haynes - well it is in my GPZ manual and my SV manual. The caveat though is that you remove it quickly - 10 mins max. Followed the advice posted on here and had no problems with it.

I don't think petrol would do any damage , it would evaporate quickly anyway although some of the additives in fuel I expect could cause damage with prolonged useage....

I've been told to avoid using petrol and use paraffin instead. It's safer for you and your chain.