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Best way to clean a chain

babblemoto

babblemoto

New member
Joined
Mar 5, 2007
Location
East Bay
Moto(s)
ex-sv650, 675
Name
steve
I have a very new chain but crashed into the dirt at Sears 2 weeks ago. What is the best way to clean it?
 
I usually use a tooth brush and kerosene. Kerosene is what the shop manuals usually recomend for cleaning as it will not harm the o-rings.

I get a drip pan under the chain and scrub it clean, then dry it off as much as possible. Once this is done I put a light coat of oil and let it set for a while. Then if you have a way to ride it to heat of the chain, I would do that and them oil it again. If not, I would just put another coat of oil. I use PJ1 Blue, because it is a cleaner as well as oil for the
chain.
 
go to any cycle gear and ask for a 'grunge' brush i think? its a 3 sided brush and i usually use some wd40 to clean it first, then finish off with some chain lube.

i'm rethinking about using kerosene though since most people recommend that.
 
Just J said:
go to any cycle gear and ask for a 'grunge' brush i think? its a 3 sided brush and i usually use some wd40 to clean it first, then finish off with some chain lube.

i'm rethinking about using kerosene though since most people recommend that.
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This is the best way!
 
Just J said:
go to any cycle gear and ask for a 'grunge' brush i think? its a 3 sided brush and i usually use some wd40 to clean it first, then finish off with some chain lube.
Click to expand...

That's what I use. You can get the Grunge Brush at any Cycle Gear. :thumbup I use fresh mineral spirits to clean my chains, and relube with Maxima Chain Wax (although YMMV).
 
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I just cleaned my incredibly dirty chain and rear spocket friday. I'm going to clean out the front sprocket area later this week.

I got a can of kerosene a cup and a grunge brush poured the kerosene over the chain into a bucket, repeated while I turned the tire. Shop towels under the whole length of the chain. Alternated bathing like this with rolling tire with grunge brush attached. Repeated over and over. Things started looking lots better quickly.
 
egrep said:
I just cleaned my incredibly dirty chain and rear spocket friday. I'm going to clean out the front sprocket area later this week.
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Prepare yourself for the horror that is the front sprocket area when you pull that cover off... :wtf :later
 
Yeah, I"m anticipating the worst. What kind of grease do I use to repack that sprocket with anyway? Do I lay it in and let the excess squish out when I put the cover back? :rofl

Hooli said:
Prepare yourself for the horror that is the front sprocket area when you pull that cover off... :wtf :later
Click to expand...
 
dont laugh...

i clean mine with a tooth brush and WD40
 
Hooli said:
That's what I use. You can get the Grunge Brush at any Cycle Gear. :thumbup I use fresh mineral spirits to clean my chains, and relube with Maxima Chain Wax (although YMMV).
Click to expand...

Mineral spirits aren't too aggressive for O-ring chains?

I use kerosene in a spray bottle and a grunge brush. Thought the kerosene eats the spray pump every so often. I go through a couple spray bottles each year.
 
egrep said:
Yeah, I"m anticipating the worst. What kind of grease do I use to repack that sprocket with anyway? Do I lay it in and let the excess squish out when I put the cover back? :rofl
Click to expand...

I don't (think you are supposed to) use grease there at all- there's nothing to lube.
 
arnoha said:
Mineral spirits aren't too aggressive for O-ring chains?
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No. I remember seeing Alanrider spritzing down a nasty chain with mineral spirits. I asked him if it harmed the O-rings and he said no, he'd been doing it that way for years.
 
Use chain cleaner sold at cycle gears. Its in a greenish bottle, then use MAXIMA chain WAX. This is the absolute best product for o ring chains. NO mess.
 
WD40 to clean
I'm still deciding on what chain lube I like best.
 
I use mineral spirits to clean, and whatever chain lube I have handy to re-lube. My stuff is so clean, you can lick my chain/sprockets!
 
Dupont Multi-Lube FTW - my chain has been adjusted ONCE in ~10k miles and looks cherry after a wipe down with WD-40 and a rag. Do NOT spray onto the chain - just wet a rag with WD-40, clean off the grime, wipe with clean rag and lubricate.
 
Am I the only one who uses soap and vinegar, mixed with a bit of Fast Orange and pumice cleaner???
 
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