Chain Cleaner

[NewTampaGSXR]

Anybody know of a good chain cleaner and subsequent lubricant?

And what is the best way to clean the chain?

Thanks!

[Mr magoo]

dont know if it is proper ? but i use SIMPLEGREEN to clean with THE GRUNGE BRUSH make sure too rinse well .dry . then run down the road a few miles too warm the chain the i use BELRAY Super Clean CHAIN LUBE ..
then let set fore a while about 15 - 20 min. i like this lube cause it drys WHITE and looks nice and fore the most part almost none slings off !!!
i don't know if it is write but that is how i do it !!! take your time and it will look a whole lot better .. have fun ..

[PoppaNoDoz]

I'm pretty sure this has been covered a few times but I'm too lazy to look. I use diesel fuel in a mist bottle to clean the chain and sprocket off completely. Then I use Honda Lube or Chainwax. A light coat first with the bike cold, then I run it on the rear stand in 1st until it warms up, then I put a second coat on and wipe off the excess with a rag. Be sure to clean both sprockets as the front one can get really REALLY gummed up.

[Gibby]

spooles way is how i do it, the book says kerosene, which is very close to diesel. I have used simple green, works good as well. I also use chain wax, works good, nearly 0 sling off. If in doubt, wait til tech night, someone will show ya how!

[Jgennaro]

Anybody know of a good chain cleaner and subsequent lubricant?

And what is the best way to clean the chain?

Thanks!


Take a look in the owners manual to see what they suggest. Generally speaking most sportbike chains are some type of O-ring. The best way to maintenance the O-ring style chain is to kerosene the old lube off. I use a rag with a little kerosene on it and clean the top of the chain, bottom of the chain, and the sprockets. After that job is complete I hose the whole thing down and let it dry. When it's dry I take the bike for a short ride to warm the chain. Once the chain is warm you can protect it with a spray chain wax. There are several different chain waxes and lubes but I prefer the wax because it has the least amount of sling. That's my $.02.

[wolfey971]

WD-40 is the way to clean it, then some good Bel-Ray chain lube after that.

[The_Jarhead]

I normaly use Simple green and a good stiff brush to cleen and the pretty much follow the same process as Jgennaro but I always put a thin coat on and let it dry befor warming up the chain. I don't like riding a complety dry chain.

[FrankC]

I've used these things for years on both street & dirt bikes. Works fantastic and takes two minutes. You can put anything in it: kerosene, diesel, simple green, wd40....

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/frankc_photos/moose-chain-cleaner.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/frankc_photos/moose-chain-scrubber.jpg

[Big E]

Has anyone used break cleaner?

[skip]

Has anyone used break cleaner?

It works, but thats the expensive route. I use kerosene,(diesel fuel), and then chain wax........

[Big E]

Good info thanks

[yoshi]

Kerosene, diesel, gas, parts cleaner fluid, carb cleaner, break cleaner are all petrolem distillates. Which are bad for rubber in large amounts. These chemicals will soften rubber and cause it to expand. If you use any of these chemicals, use them in limited quantity so you dont stretch the rubber and cause it to dry out and eventually break or crack. Best to use WD40 and a rag, then a lube.

[skip]

Kerosene, diesel, gas, parts cleaner fluid, carb cleaner, break cleaner are all petrolem distillates. Which are bad for rubber in large amounts. These chemicals will soften rubber and cause it to expand. If you use any of these chemicals, use them in limited quantity so you dont stretch the rubber and cause it to dry out and eventually break or crack. Best to use WD40 and a rag, then a lube.

RK chains manual says to use kerosene cause specifically it will not harm the o-rings in their chains. Is this info incorrect??

[Jgennaro]

RK chains manual says to use kerosene cause specifically it will not harm the o-rings in their chains. Is this info incorrect??

Motorcycle chain O-rings are made out of neoprene not rubber(to the best of my knowledge). Additionally, most manufactures suggest cleaning with de-greaser or kerosene. Here's some more info:

http://ekchain.com/install.htm

[sixxer]

from an artical i was reading

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motorcycle-chain-cleaner/

"So how do motorcyclists clean their chains? I wish I knew... I find it hard to believe that everyone removes their chain every 200 miles and soaks it in kerosene. We always used WD-40 in the shop until an aerospace engineer (who is a chief airplane crash investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board) told us that this wasn't a very good idea because it displaces the grease in the chain's O- or X-rings"


also see:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/


I have heard good things about this but havent tried it yet
http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm

[777R]

WD-40 is the way to clean it, then some good Bel-Ray chain lube after that.

I do this too...

30K miles on my RK, came stock with my bike when I bought it new in the summer of '02, several track days too, knock on wood, no problems yet... Although I am getting it replaced simply because of the age/mileage...

[ctate]

easiest and best way to clean your chain is at a Bikini Bike wash....


Your welcome!:occasion1

[Azazel]

easiest and best way to clean your chain is at a Bikini Bike wash....


Your welcome!:occasion1

As long as they use WD-40 and chain wax on the bike chain....all good:occasion1

[ctate]

Oh and if you can't wait till the next Bikini Bike wash.



Try a chain cleaning brush and some Dawn dish soap and scrub it till it's shinny again... then I use Honda chain Lube.

I never use presure or degreaser on my chain because I don't want to remove any grease from inside the chain rollers.

What also works is some Honda polish on a rag after the chain has been cleaned to get anything missed by the brush...

Remember to warm the chain up before Lubing so the heat can draw the lube into the rollers and o-rings. let dry a minute and wipe off the excess lube so it don't fly off on your clean tailsection. urDone!

[Azazel]

I liked your first solution better mang

[ctate]

I liked your first solution better mang


Me too. LOL, Less work...

But I know John and I'm guessing he can't have his bike be dirty that long Like I can.
so he'll have to get out the scrub brush. hahahaha

[NewTampaGSXR]

Me too. LOL, Less work...

But I know John and I'm guessing he can't have his bike be dirty that long Like I can.
so he'll have to get out the scrub brush. hahahaha

You know me well man!!

[Gibby]

In my opinion, I think TSB should host a Bikini Bike Wash.....white suits required!