Cleaning your Chain With chain Cleaner

[ilikefood]

The Myth of WD40 penetrating O rings and ruining chains was long ago de-bunked by actual Lab work. Even some of the magazines did this test, MCN for one.

Chains soaked in WD40 showed NO penetration into bearing area and NO dilution of internal lube. (typically Lithium grease)

Additionally, O rings soaked in WD40 for two weeks proved to be as flexible and as strong as new, unsoaked ones. NEXT!

Hmm the only attempt at investing WD40 is this: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/mc-garage-video-will-wd-40-destroy-your-motorcycle-chain-o-rings
I guess that’s what you meant about O rings being soaked in WD40 being fine? This doesn’t prove anything - the O rings could be perfectly fine, but if WD40 seeps past the O rings and hits the grease inside, it will dissolve it and shorten the life of your chain. If you have a link to an article that investigates what happens when you soak a whole chain in WD40 I’d love to see it.

 

[stever]

While I suppose anything is possible, I doubt that a liquid sprayed onto an oring chain is going to push past the orings to dissolve the grease. Just not enough pressure but if the orings are already damaged then all bets are off. I've seen maybe 3 chains where the orings were broken and falling off the chain and they all appeared to have 0 maintenance with respect to lubing or adjustment.

 

[pepesm]

After a long ride and around 500-600 mile frequency, I put the bike on the stand and lube generously with Triflow. The chain is hot at this point so there is good penetration between the links and to the O-rings. I just put a few sheets of newspaper down. When I have made several passes directly on the links and rollers I bunch up the newspaper at the rear sprocket basically cupping the chain side plates and turn by hand to eliminate the excess lube. Been doing this for 30 years with all my bikes. No cleaning ever. The Triflow doesn't attract dust to any degree and chain stays pretty clean and is washed the next time I lube it. CBR900RR chain lasted 30K miles.

Hi, which bottle of Triflow you get for your bike? I was at their website. LMK, thanks!

 

[stever]

pepesm. I use the Triflow Superior lubricant. First recommended use on the applications is motorcycle chains and cables. I use it with a cable luber for my throttle cables as well. Great product in my opinion.

 

[Toad]

Cardboard or oil absorbent media (kitty litter or just dirt/dust works too as long a an it's picked up and disposed of).

 

[kuksul08]

I used to clean my chain a lot. I still do, but I used to, too.

I will usually just add lube unless the chain is REAL funky. If you think about it, a lot of times if you are scrubbing it and soaking it, you're just putting dirt and grime where it shouldn't be.

In those cases where it's just caked with old lube and dirt, I use WD40 and a t-shirt, then into the trash.

 

[ScottRNelson]

If you think about it, a lot of times if you are scrubbing it and soaking it, you're just putting dirt and grime where it shouldn't be.

I don't get how you came to that conclusion.

When I've been riding in the dirt, cleaning it definitely removes a lot of dirt from the chain. This is what I'm talking about:

Using kerosene, a toothbrush, and a rag gets the dirt out of there and I don't see how it will get dirt where it shouldn't be as you've implied.

 

[justanotherg20]

Not that I really care about chain maintenance anymore since I have a belt, but allow me to go off on a tangent for a bit here. This is what kills me about being a professional mechanic.

So this list...




I know the majority of people servicing their chain at home probably do one on this list. If I do any one of those and get caught, my shop is looking at a massive fine. Not parking ticket kinda fine either. Well into five figures. Plus we may be charged for cleanup/containment costs if the city drains are involved.

You wash your car at home? Or even worse, degrease the engine? That shit can go right to the storm drain in most situations. If it's done in any kind of professional situation, all kinds of traps and reclamation systems need to be in place. And if we get caught without it, massive fines that could shutter the business.

I could go on and on about how the little guy gets away with murder (don't get me started on A/C), but I'm sure most of you couldn't give a shit about the costs of doing business and would rather just whine about how much shops charge. Just know that everything on that list is not ok for me at a shop for a reason. It shouldn't be ok for you all at home either, no matter how insignificant you think your impact to the environment is. If the government thought they had even the slightest chance of being able to enforce and collect massive fines from individuals as well as high waste producing businesses, they absolutely would.

[/rant]

So what should we do for chain cleaning?

Not snarky in the least; I figured cardboard box + throwing it away after a handful of uses was the best of the options.

 

[David919]

Just sharin’
[YOUTUBE]Fzyk4nq3ug0[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Rumbo Sur]

Just sharin’
[YOUTUBE]Fzyk4nq3ug0[/YOUTUBE]

Ari's got it exactly correct.

FYI, those same tests ...and more ... were done by a guy on the VFR list
(before forums) decades ago. He worked at Underwriters Labs.

The thing Ari missed was the question of whether WD can get past the O rings, get into the link and dilute the factory grease in there. The Underwriter's guy soaked a section of OLD chain in WD40 for a week. Then broke it open to inspect.
NO WD got past the O rings, all original grease still white, not discolored, all in tact.

The other thing they did was to do "Stretch Tests" on the O rings before and after soaking in WD40. They DID NOT lose strength or flexibility.
This was NOT a Utube by some random guy ... it was done by a real Honda VFR owner who was well know to the 2300 members on this popular List Serve.
('member those?)

And ... as Ari states .... WD40 is not a lube, it's a solvent, yet many sport bike guys use it exclusively. OK if you don't ride much, not good if you DO RIDE.

The only caveat I know of with WD40 is that some chain waxes and Teflon lubes will NOT adhere to your chain well if chain is wet with WD40 (left over from cleaning)

I found this to be the case with my beloved Dupont Teflon Chain Saver product. The Teflon and some Waxes won't adhere when chain is covered in WD40 ... so will be gone in 20 minutes of riding.

So ... after cleaning with WD ... wipe it ALL off your chain before applying your wax or Teflon product.

 

[ScottRNelson]

So ... after cleaning with WD anything ... wipe it ALL off your chain before applying your wax or Teflon product.

Fixed...

 

[Rumbo Sur]

Fixed...

Yea but ... certain things won't matter. If you clean your chain with Soap and Water (not recommended) ... well, if it's dry, chain wax should stick OK.

Also, if you clean with WD or Kero ... then apply 90 wt oil (a very common and good chain lube), WD on there won't matter.

On the road, far from home, I often use 90 wt. as it's cheap and available worldwide. It's messy but a good lube, cleans up pretty well with Diesel.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Yea but ... certain things won't matter. If you clean your chain with Soap and Water (not recommended) ... well, if it's dry, chain wax should stick OK.

Well, if it's dry after using WD-40 or Kerosene, whatever you're spraying on there should also stick okay.

 

[kuksul08]

I don't get how you came to that conclusion.

When I've been riding in the dirt, cleaning it definitely removes a lot of dirt from the chain. This is what I'm talking about:


Using kerosene, a toothbrush, and a rag gets the dirt out of there and I don't see how it will get dirt where it shouldn't be as you've implied.

How did I come to that conclusion? Well let's see, how about because its obvious? The same reason washing your bike is bad for it because it pushes water, dirt, and abrasives in places where it doesn't belong and promote corrosion.

When you scrub a chain and soak it in liquids, unless you flush it thoroughly you're just getting dirt under the rollers and next to the o-rings. Normally this stuff flies outward. Dirt sitting on the side of your chain links does no harm other than it's ugly.

 

[Rumbo Sur]

Well, if it's dry after using WD-40 or Kerosene, whatever you're spraying on there should also stick okay.

Have you used Dupont Teflon lube? How about Chain Wax?

I think you'll find that the better you WIPE OFF the WD40 ... the better the Wax or Teflon lube will adhere to the chain. Works best if you really get it CLEAN before applying WAX or Teflon lube.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Have you used Dupont Teflon lube? How about Chain Wax?

I think you'll find that the better you WIPE OFF the WD40 ... the better the Wax or Teflon lube will adhere to the chain. Works best if you really get it CLEAN before applying WAX or Teflon lube.

I used chain wax until the DuPont Teflon stuff came out, and have used that exclusively ever since. I've never used WD-40 on a chain. Kerosene is better in every way and relatively cheap to buy.

 

[jwb]

Have you used Dupont Teflon lube? How about Chain Wax?

I think you'll find that the better you WIPE OFF the WD40 ... the better the Wax or Teflon lube will adhere to the chain. Works best if you really get it CLEAN before applying WAX or Teflon lube.

I like to use compressed air, blown gently, tangentially to the rearmost part of the chain as I turn the wheel by hand. This seems to get all the cleaning solvents out so I can apply the lube.

 

[Rumbo Sur]

I like to use compressed air, blown gently, tangentially to the rearmost part of the chain as I turn the wheel by hand. This seems to get all the cleaning solvents out so I can apply the lube.

 

[Schnellbandit]

Counter shafts, chains, blowing air softly and tangentially, lube, do it while its warm...

Do you people not understand this is a G rated thread?

 

[orbframe]

I used chain wax until the DuPont Teflon stuff came out, and have used that exclusively ever since. I've never used WD-40 on a chain. Kerosene is better in every way and relatively cheap to buy.

I miss the old blue can stuff when it was good... the yellow chain saver is great but not as good as the original

I hate chains. But my vfr only gets dupont