Cleaning build up off chain and sprockets

bike on stand. soak chain in WD40. run chain through a rag (by hand NOT with engine running) leave for a while to dry a bit. lube up chain again.
thats all i do. saves having to take the chain completely off

Use kerosene and a chain brush (or failing that a toothbrush), apply liberally, hose off, re-lube.

Lifting the rear wheel off the ground and turning it BY HAND makes the job easier. BE CAREFUL to not get your hand pulled into the sprocket and chain, I've seen the results of this twice and it's something you really don't want (mate of mine had half his thumb ripped off wiping down his chain with a rag while the bike was running and in gear, he now has a fleshy stump).

Justin.

soak chain in WD40

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Really ? WD40 ?
I use kero as justin said, works a treat... removes and breaks down all the old lube/road grit.
Usually helps if the chain is warm, helps the lube adhere and stop from spraying all over your bike.

I buy those $1 rattle cans of degreaser from SuperCheap and use that with a toothbrush.

If my dad is around I'll get him to spin the wheel while I scrub and spray. Otherwise it's a one man show.

Muuuuuuch easier if you have a rear stand. Probably one of the best investments you can make for your bike's maintenance.

yup, I got a rear stand. My rear rim is currently off so figured I should clean this all up before I put it back on...

But wouldnt u need to hose off all the degreaser thoroughly before re-lubing? Just to make sure?

Might be easier with the chain off... it's caked on pretty good. So getting it really clean now and will just maintain it.

Sorry, yeah, I've give it a rinse and a wipe down and leave it to dry for a bit. Then I regrease it.

Kero by far the best and safest thing to use on your chain and sprockets, amazing stuff, works awesome.

Cleaned up my chain and sprockets two days ago with just Kero and a rag (i usually use a toothbrush aswell) sprockets and chain look like new again, actually look like they have been polished! lol RK chains are so prettyful lol.

if you use degreaser, you need to get it off before you re-lube. otherwise the new lube wont stick properly to the chain/sprocket

^^
good stuff. thats pretty handy to know.

^thats a good bit of info.

red hot tip, dont use carb cleaner on anything else unless cleaning carbs. itll remove pain a fuck plastics if you arent careful.


i read you have the rear wheel off. perfect time to clean the chain! get an icecream container, put some kero in it and grab a brush.

i took off my front sprocket cover a while back and found it pretty much hadnt been cleaned for ages as i removed a handful of grease n crap. i dunno what crap was used to lube the chain by the previous owner but it was the worst crap ever.

Freddy Kruger said:

^thats a good bit of info.

red hot tip, dont use carb cleaner on anything else unless cleaning carbs. itll remove pain a fuck plastics if you arent careful.

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got that shit in my eye once.. tried to run to the nearest tap but tripped over a bin.
wasnt fun

i found out spiders hate it, especially if they are sitting in a puddle of it and you add a flame...

isRR said:

Read this:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345397

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those results are interesting but as one or two guys in that thread said.
WD40 is a penetrant.
although it has no effect on the O-ring, it has the potential to get past the O-Ring and dissolve the lubricants found within.

fwiw i think kerosene, a chain brush and toothbrush work a treat and cut through road grime a treat.

i use degreaser.

and silkolene chain gel. $25 per can, but it doesn't fling off like some of the other shit i've used.

Freddy Kruger said:

i read you have the rear wheel off. perfect time to clean the chain! get an icecream container, put some kero in it and grab a brush.

i took off my front sprocket cover a while back and found it pretty much hadnt been cleaned for ages as i removed a handful of grease n crap. i dunno what crap was used to lube the chain by the previous owner but it was the worst crap ever.

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Thats exactly what I wanted to know :nod:. I'm painting my rear rim atm which is why I figured clean everything while it's off. I haven't had a good look at the front sprocket casing yet. Is it just allen key bolts to get it off?

i used silkonlene chain cleaner....pitt its $20 a can!

Yeh, dont use WD-40.

I went to the extent of ringing the people who make it. They said dont use it for o-ring chains.

BriZer said:

Freddy Kruger said:

i read you have the rear wheel off. perfect time to clean the chain! get an icecream container, put some kero in it and grab a brush.

i took off my front sprocket cover a while back and found it pretty much hadnt been cleaned for ages as i removed a handful of grease n crap. i dunno what crap was used to lube the chain by the previous owner but it was the worst crap ever.

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Thats exactly what I wanted to know :nod:. I'm painting my rear rim atm which is why I figured clean everything while it's off. I haven't had a good look at the front sprocket casing yet. Is it just allen key bolts to get it off?

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on my mc19 its 3x 8mm bolts, i assume itd be the same thing on a mc22[hr]

Chukitova said:

Yeh, dont use WD-40.

I went to the extent of ringing the people who make it. They said dont use it for o-ring chains.

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hmm. there was an email somewhere that had wd40 saying it was good for cleaning chain but they did not recommend it as a lube. its not like you are soaking the chain in it for a week or so...