Removing and cleaning chain

[Ton1959]

Or just use teflonspray to lubricate the chain as you only look after the O rings really. And them you don't get a dirty chain.

[Tamara]

Seriously, the brush in Gatekeeper's post is really good. No taking things apart, it gets much more dirt out than a rag, much easier, with zero risk to your hands.

I'm going to get me one of those .

[Tamara]

Dupont now sells a spray chain cleaner that is really good, and quite reasonably priced. You can get it at Lowes, right next to their teflon chain lube (hint, hint).

I have to go to Lowes later this week so I'm going to check it out.

[tkent02]

Nothing more than mineral oil with a solvent in an aerosol-

Which is just about exactly what an o ring chain needs.

[Baatfam]

Chains are so good these days they last damned near forever even with no maintenance at all. 20,000 - 25,000 miles is easy with no special rituals. Hell I haven't even adjusted the chain yet on my 12,000 mile 2009 bike.

The days of removing chains and doing all kinds of religious experiences with them to get 6,000 miles out of a chain are long gone.

BINGO!....
Put a new one on and ignore it forever. Sometimes I squirt a little chain wax on mine, but mostly...I just ignore them.

[bluewool]

+2 On that brush and WD40.
I actually use the belray more on the car door hinges...

[koolaid_kid]

Or just use teflonspray to lubricate the chain as you only look after the O rings really. And them you don't get a dirty chain.

The DuPont chain lube is a teflon spray, merely more focused on chains than anything else. The original formula was just a teflon spray.

[koolaid_kid]

KK, You wouldn't last long on the FZ1 site dissing WD-40.

75% of the members use it for everything chain related and no one reports any bad effects. Hell some of them gargle with it. Personally I use it for cleaning but I usually spray it on the rag not on the chain itself. I occasionally use it as lube as well sprayed directly on the chain.

I don't prefer it as lube because Chain Wax last longer but no one (including me) is reporting less than 20K miles of service out of FZ1 chains, whether they use conventional lube and cleaners or WD-40.

This calls for multiple WD-40 threads as its reputation has now been sullied.

I'm touched.
It worked great when I sprayed it in the distributor of a 1966 Olds 88; the car started right up because it displaced the water.
For anything I need to do, I will use something engineered to do the job. Clean a chain - chain cleaner. Lube a chain - chain lube. Displace water - WD-40.

[mrbill5491]

I've used WD40 when cleaning my chain, I don't spray it on, I take an old sock soak it good then scrub my chain down. My clean white sock turns black in a hurry. Then I take another old sock that is clean and dry and wipe the chain down good to remove any left over WD40. Leaves the chain nice and dirt free I won't let it dry on the chain. I clean the sprockets as well especially between the teeth. No cavities

Oh yeah, the chain remains on the bike during all this. I just slowly rotate it by hand.

[Dogma]

BINGO!....
Put a new one on and ignore it forever. Sometimes I squirt a little chain wax on mine, but mostly...I just ignore them.

That's what I want to hear. Confirmation bias says you're probably right. Case closed.

[tatu]

I'm touched.
It worked great when I sprayed it in the distributor of a 1966 Olds 88; the car started right up because it displaced the water.
For anything I need to do, I will use something engineered to do the job. Clean a chain - chain cleaner. Lube a chain - chain lube. Displace water - WD-40.

I'm with you on this, Aerosol mechanics, doubtful at best and it can be used for many things but for sure it isn't the magic pill for all ills that many believe it is, in fact it does much damage, I've seen it sprayed on PCB's and it lifts the tracks off the boards, when its squirted onto stuff like hinges it washes off any residual oil then evaporates leaving the thing in a worse condition, on plastics it makes it go brittle especially wires, it buggers rubber.
I read someplace its main ingredient is fish oil.

[Ton1959]

WD40 doesn't bugger up rubber when used in a normal way. So you can spray it on your O ring chain as often as you want.
But some rubbers will swelll up when they are left for a long period in WD40. Now that is not something what happens when spraying in on a chain. On a chain it just lubricates the O rings and it shifts a bit of rust.
Its main ingrediënt is a secret anyway but people can guess I suppose.
So it can swell up some rubber sorts but after the WD40 evaporated they take there normal shape again.
I have used it for many years on chains never had any problems. There is one thing that it will do though. Don't use it too often on switches as the painted letters on them will disappear eventually. I would say that using th wrong chain grease/lubricant can do more harm to your O rings.

[earlfor]

Chains are so good these days they last damned near forever even with no maintenance at all. 20,000 - 25,000 miles is easy with no special rituals. Hell I haven't even adjusted the chain yet on my 12,000 mile 2009 bike.

The days of removing chains and doing all kinds of religious experiences with them to get 6,000 miles out of a chain are long gone.

I agree! On my Bandit 1200, I normally adjust my chain only when I need to replace the rear tire. Chains don't stretch like they did in the old days. Technology has improved them immensely. A little lube for the "O" rings to keep them pliable and a occasional wipe and spray on the side links to keep them clean and rust free and that's it. The chain almost takes care of itself.

[earlfor]

I'm with you on this, Aerosol mechanics, doubtful at best and it can be used for many things but for sure it isn't the magic pill for all ills that many believe it is, in fact it does much damage, I've seen it sprayed on PCB's and it lifts the tracks off the boards, when its squirted onto stuff like hinges it washes off any residual oil then evaporates leaving the thing in a worse condition, on plastics it makes it go brittle especially wires, it buggers rubber.


I read someplace its main ingredient is fish oil.

Not quite. WD40 is primarily Stoddard solvent and mineral oil. It has minimal lubricating qualities and is not considered a lubricant. It's a water displacement formulation/rust preventative.

[GSXR7ED]

Dangerous!

If no master link then you cannot remove it with out taking things apart, and or breaking a link, and then using a master link to put it back together.

if it's just cleaning then your chain does not need to be removed at all

use a brush



or a rag and your cleaning solution

don't get your fingers caught

and do not clean the chain by having the bike running and in gear, VERY Dangerous and should not be done period...

.

Wow--this is an understatement!

I've seen a pic where someone tried to clean their bike chain with the engine running and fingers were sheered off by the sprocket. (Nasty!!!)

Why anyone would do that is beyond me.

I do like the suggestions for the brush GK and WD40. I will be cleaning my chain soon...she needs some love!






Ed