Chain cleaning

[636steve]

OK need to clean all the winter crud and old lube off my chain.

What's the best stuff to use?

[Carbon_ZX6R]

OK need to clean all the winter crud and old lube off my chain.

What's the best stuff to use?

Degreaser then use a hard brush on it
Or chain cleaner

[ash]

Paraffin and a paint brush.  Cheap and effective.  You don't need to scrub hard, just work it.

[636steve]

Think I've got some paraffin in the shed so will give that a go.

[Fastas......]

I always use paraffin and a cheap toothbrush. Up on the paddock stand, a liberal soaking with the paraffin and then brush in. Wash off, I use a garden pressure spray bottle with warm water. Dry off and re-lube. Jobs a goodun 

[Alzo]

No hard rubbing required...does more harm than good. Paraffin with liberal use will do the job...some mild agitation if required.

[636steve]

All done an re-lubed

[Carbon_ZX6R]

All done an re-lubed

tingle or cherry?

[Gobert]

Degreaser

Not really the best thing to use.............

[Fastas......]

No hard rubbing required...does more harm than good. Paraffin with liberal use will do the job...some mild agitation if required.

That's why I find a toothbrush is good. Gets into all the nooks and crannies. Nice minty freshness too 

[Carbon_ZX6R]

Degreaser

Not really the best thing to use.............

ive always used it gets all the road shit off

[Gobert]

It's not recommended because it can effect the rubber O / X rings. Makes them swell?

[Carbon_ZX6R]

It's not recommended because it can effect the rubber O / X rings. Makes them swell?

it does depend on the chain I forgot to mention that but ive always used it then just put the chain lube on

[ash]

Most degreasers are mineral oil based (as is paraffin)  and so is most chain lube and so is the grease within each link, so if the expansion is part of the o rings working environment, everything around it will have been toleranced to allow for this. The greatest problem with o ring chains is allowing them to dry as this massively increases the wear on the o ring. The other issue is grit sticking to the lube and making good grinding paste,  and lastly rough handling  risking damage to the o rings when cleaning.

Useful info about  o ring chains, and why they need to be kept wet  ...

http://www.loobman.co.uk/faqs.asp

[big gav]

Best thing about using paraffin is that its a seaking agent. i.e it will find its way into to smallest of gaps . Consequently when you lube the chain after using paraffin the lube will follow the path the paraffin took.