Chain Cleaning/Maintenance

[benji182]

For ages I've used Muc-Off on my mountain bikes and was considering the same for my ZX-6R, but after a quick read of the manual it states

"CAUTION
The O-rings between the side plates seal in the lubricant between the pin and the bushing. To avoid damaging the O-rings and resultant loss of lubricant, observe the following rules. Use only kerosene or diesel oil for cleaning of the
O-ring of the drive chain. Any other cleaning solution such as gasoline will cause deterioration and swelling of the O-ring. Immediately blow the chain dry with compressed air after cleaning. Complete cleaning and drying the chain within 10 minutes."

Where would I get Kerosene from?

 

[benji182]

Are you sure it's the same thing? I thought paraffin was for fire breathers and heater?

 

[benji182]

excellent

Thank you for clearing that up

 

[benji182]

It is looking pretty gunky and I'd rather just give it a good clean to remove the thick sludge that has accumulated in this damp weather.

 

[benji182]

I use WD40 (which is against recommendations) and GUNK, slap on the nice golden Renthal chain and use a tooth brush and quickly go over it... rinse off and then apply Wurth's chain lube. My Sports Sprox rear sprocket and chain look epic. I don't like oil and crap on my stuff.

All of this is done while on a paddock stand for hand rotation of the rear wheel. When applying the Wurths I tend to start bike put in 1st gear and run for a minute or two... warm the chain slightly, then leave it running in 1st pulling the chain through then (CAREFULLY) just spray keeping fingers etc well away from the chain (use the WD40 extender/straw applicator thingy). That way it's working it's way in nice and slowly. LAl this takes 20 minutes form start to finish once every say 400-500 miles?

I've seen a lot of pictures of people taking their fingers off doing moving chains etc... KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM THE CHAIN IF RUNNING IN GEAR!!!

Gosh! I couldn't imagine anything worse than watching your fingers go between a chain that thick (and tight) over a sprocket

 

[benji182]

This is how mine always is... special chain lovin' lmfao

http://www.pugheaven.co.uk/Eric/Eric1_small.jpg

Very clean



My first go at cleaning the chain went pretty well I think

After using Paraffin and about 5 J-Cloths to get the majority of the gunk off I used a chain brush with a few drips of paraffin on it and came out very nice.

Then used this after reading up on some reviews

She is happy once again after her Friday afternoon bath