Chain Wax Removal

[Brace1]

I use mineral spirits on my mountainbike. Have a quick-release link, just drop the whole thing into a jar with mineral spirits and shake.

WD-40 should suffice too, since from what I understand it's merely mineral spirits with some lubricant in it anyway.

[memnuts]

For my mountain bike chains I use brake cleaner. There is a product for motorcycles that is made to get rid of chain wax. It is a two part system, for the life of me I can't remember what the name is. if i find it I will post it

[txscbr600]

I use a wd-40 to clean the chain itself and re lube with blue label. For getting it off the motorcycle i have good results with a product called Liquid Performance Spray Cleaner. Its real close to the Honda Brite Cleaner that is not distibuted any more. Its a great all around cleaner i keep a can at most times as it works great for removing bugs. You can find it in motorcycle shops and online for about 6$ for i think a 14 oz can.

[Type[R]+]

Don't use kero or wd40 on an o-ring chain. It will melt the lube inside and ruin the chain.

Use it on anything else though....

[vinnier6]

I use WD-40 as well - it works really fine! But don't forget to wax it then right afterwards before driving. I cleaned it once and want to wax it before the next ride and i almost broke my chain because I forgot it

your chain almost broke because it was probably too tight....wd 40 had nothing to do with it....

[vinnier6]

Don't use kero or wd40 on an o-ring chain. It will melt the lube inside and ruin the chain.

Use it on anything else though....

where the hell do you guys come up with this ####...did you just pull this out of your ass??

wd40 and or kerosene are fine for sealed oring chains......

[motonut]

Thanks for the reply.

Whatever we end up using, it has to be paint safe. The last bike we did had chain wax all over it. For the life of me, I can't figure out why the previous owner would use so much.

As expensive as chains can be to replace, you can never use too much chain wax/lube. I use Clear Lamp Oil to clean my chain which is basically odorless/clear kerosene. It can be bought at any wal-mart and is pretty inexpensive. The only thing you have to be careful about is using it near asphalt, as it can eat it holes in it being a petroleum product.

[ICEMAN]

Best way to clean/lube a chain.

If you chain a motorcycle owners chain just like this, he (or she) will love you forever.

Motorcycle chains need to be cleaned every 500-750 miles. NOT JOKING

(i have 8,000 miles on my chain **about half of normal lifem but i race my bike, so my chain gets a BIG BEATING** and my chain still looks BRAND NEW b/c i do these steps EXACTLY)
chains range from 70-300 bucks depending on many things, so its worth it to keep it clean and lubed. and if the chain goes bad, theres a very good chance your sprockets are toast too, there another 100 bucks. i work at a motorcycle shop and see it all the time. i have people always telling me that they LOVE the way i clean chains. i have papers with all the info below that i hand out to people. and we sell the brushes, cleaner, and wax at the shop!!

Let them know that and he (or she) will like you more!!!

Print out this post and give it to them and tell them to do this everytime they clean there chain then you wont have to worry about it anymore.

ITS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THEY SHOULD BE DOING IT ANYWAYS....

1. Let the owner take the bike for a 5-10 min ride to warm up the chain.

2. Spray Chain Degreaser (pic below) on the chain, works better than WD40, Kerosene, etc...

3. Use a grunge brush (pic below) is you have one, or a toothe brush

4. Wipe off with towel, old t-shirts work best!!

5. Degrease and clean again if bad.

6. Spray WD-40 on chain and wipe off excess.

7. Let owner take it for a ride again.

8. wipe off chain for last time

9. Spray (no-fling & o-ring safe) chain lube/wax (pic below) onto chain

DONT WORRY ABOUT THE CLEANER IN THE PICTURE, JUST THE BRUSH...
Notice how it has 3 sides of brushes, makes cleaning the chain very simple and gets a lot more than using a rag.


Here is the chain cleaner i use


here is the wax i use

[ICEMAN]

Pics got lost in my post above...

Here is the chain cleaner

Maxima Clean Up Multi-Purpose Degreaser - Dirt Bike Motocross - Motorcycle Superstore


Here is the wax

Maxima Chain Wax - Dirt Bike Motocross - Motorcycle Superstore