Clean a chain before lubing it?

[Sander77]

Hey all,

I'm going to lube my chain for the first time and I was wondering how clean the chain has to be before I start spraying on the PJ-1...

I don't think the chain has to be spotless before you apply lube, right? Or am I wrong about that?

Or can you actually get away with not really cleaning the chain at all first?

I guess the real question is "How clean is clean?"


thanks!

[AndyM]

Never hurts to clean the chain before lubing. Ride it a bit to warm it up, spray with wd40 and wipe off or wipe with kerosene. Let dry, lube with your product of choice, let dry a bit and you're done.

[hayabusafiend]

Always clean the chain before lubing. It's better if the chain is warm, but not required.

WD-40 to clean and PJ-1 Black to lube are my preferences.

[levitation]

kerosene, its what oem bike makers and chain mncftrs often recommend and it works extremely well. better than wd40 and its cheaper. i used to use wd40 till i decided to try kerosense to clean a chain before putting it on the bike...hands down the kerosene was much easier and its cheaper too. a gallon is just a few bucks......

[creamygoodness]

isn't kerosene a little of a hazard to work with, it being all flammable n stuff ya know?

[afm199]

Kero has a very low flash point, about like diesel fuel (basically the same thing). You can light it with a match but not a cigarette butt or heater. Paint thinner and kero have similar flash points. Paint thinner is good for engine cleaning.

[levitation]

Originally posted by creamygoodness
isn't kerosene a little of a hazard to work with, it being all flammable n stuff ya know?

no...see what afm199 said..

and a large chunk of motorcycle related chemicals are flammable like a fuel in a gas tank...common sense goes a long way......dont use a flare gun when working with a bike or a open flame on a stick for a torch, etc.....

[creamygoodness]

just afraid that a spark might happen somehow somewhere while cleaning the chain and i might become extra crispy.

cuz uh...one time i was using gasoline to clean up a spill in my garage when the power went out and i dropped the candle that i was holding in my teeth..well nevermind.

[kevo]

I use the chain lube to clean the chain. It uses more lube, but less chance (in my mind) that whatever solvent being used will remain and take off the new lube I'm using.

[Dmk510f4i]

Originally posted by creamygoodness
just afraid that a spark might happen somehow somewhere while cleaning the chain and i might become extra crispy.

cuz uh...one time i was using gasoline to clean up a spill in my garage when the power went out and i dropped the candle that i was holding in my teeth..well nevermind.

Try putting just a little thinner on a rag...

[tiptoezoomzoom]

I use the $2 a tube grease found at Kragen( this will probably lasts for 4K miles :blush)... it seems to be working just fine. Just make sure you clean, wipe, let dry, and lube every 500 miles or so. Perhaps more if you've been picking up more dirts than normal.

If you want to be clean and lube it fast then go buy some degreaser to degrease the chain, and hose it down. That'll clean the chain faster.

***note: after you've lubed your chain, run around the block couple of times and wipe off the excess lube that's flickerred all over the back :D

[Hypnos]

Where can one get kerosene for a few $$/gallon?

Like, is one gas station (e.g., Shell) more likely to carry it?

[kt157]

oh yeh make sure u tighten the chains right if u adjust the chains.

[quasi888]

Originally posted by Hypnos
Where can one get kerosene for a few $$/gallon?

Like, is one gas station (e.g., Shell) more likely to carry it?

Don't think gas stations are likely to carry it (at least, not in this part of the country), but you should be able to get it at hardware stores and home improvement places like Home Depot, Lowes, maybe Sears?

Alternatives to kerosene would be mineral spirits or Simple Green, both of which are also commonly available.

[levitation]

Originally posted by Hypnos
Where can one get kerosene for a few $$/gallon?

Like, is one gas station (e.g., Shell) more likely to carry it?

ace harware, osh hardware, home depot, etc..

i stick to kerosene..like i said its very cheap...and its what OEM mnfctrs tell you to use...

[MeisI]

i bougt a gallon of Kerosene from Ace for $4. This was about a yearago now. I've used up less than 1/4 of it. I clean my chain every 300 miles (what's ~10 min to clean/lube, when you see shit like peoples chains breaking, or even the cost of replacing all that stuff).

jus tmake sure you clean it with stuff that is O-ring safe. There is really no reason to get all fancy with cleaning the chain. Kerosene is ~$5 for over a few years worth. Chain Lube is ~$5 for ~a years wroth (assuming you're not drenching your entire swingarm/rear tire wiht the stuff).

Just don't be an idiot. 'nuff said.

[Ian01]

While talking about chain lube....has anyone tried the Repsol? Alan turned me onto it and it's a really good product so far.