Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MECHANICAL & TECHNICAL => Topic started by: txbanditrydr on April 06, 2005, 05:08:40 PM
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I'm looking for the best way to clean the chain without removing it from the bike. Kerosene is the recommended cleaner and WD-40 has also been used IIRC. So whats your technique.... toothbrush, solvent sprayer, WD-40 right out of the can?????
Also, what other cleaners an be used or have you used? This might be my weekend project with some less than stellar weather forecast.
Finally, how often do you do a chain cleaning? I try to lube every tank of gas or so but not sure the owners manual recommendation is often enough for a full clean. :thanks:
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I use a tool called a Grunge Brush. It should be available from any motorcycle dealer and is packaged either alone or with a special cleaning solution. I bought mine alons and use kerosene.
The bristles are adjustable for different size chains and it's easy to move them into position for a 530 chain as on the Bandit 1200.
Mine looks like new after several years of use and the bristles are still effective. I use it from the outside AND inside of the chain run and in just a minute or two the chain sparkles.
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I second ray's method.
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Get this old enduro rider trick: Oil the chain a sloppy wet with 10/30 or the like,
take a brush to it ,oil again ride the sucker a couple miles. everything on it will sling off all over everything but the chain will be clean. Then wash the bike & lube the chain.
:beers:
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Jay,
I've done it a number of ways and I always use Kerosene as the manual suggests. It really cuts the gunk and lubes the chain too. I know lots of guys that use WD-40 and I use that on Cory's non O-ring chain. I don't use it on the bandit chain because I'm afraid that in might penetrate past the O-rings and breakdown the oil around the pins. I guess I don't know this to be fact but thats what I have heard before - rumors maybe...
As for brushes? Well I started off using a soft bristled paint brush because I was affraid of damaging the o-rings. I did buy a grunge brush, and used it for a time, but I think the bristles on that thing are way too stiff. I never let my chains get that dirty, so that kind of course brush is not necessary for me. It proably would be excellent for a non o-ring chain, thats real dirty, on a dirt bike. The other day, Rider magazine had a great write-up on chain construction and maintenance. They recommended using a soft cotton cloth soaked in Kerosene and clean the chain regularly with that - every 500 miles or so. I think I'm going to start doing that. If I ride in the rain and the chain gets a bit gritty, I'll use my old paint brush rather than the stiff Grunge brush. If you want to give my Grunge brush a try, I'd be happy to bring it with me to Palestine tomorrow night. I will say that it does not take as long to clean the cahin using that Grunge brush because it cleans three sides of the chain at the same time.
Dave
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I'll be getting some kero this weekend. The chain is not terribly dirty - the OEM grease in the nooks and crannies is the worst so a toothbrush will suffice I'm sure. I also have a solvent sprayer that hooks to the aircompressor (would dial the psi down a bit) which might work too. Need to catch the residue and find someplace to dispose of the old gunk unless there is a trick for recyle/reuse of the kerosene.
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Kerosene and a rag has worked fine for me...
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all that sound like to much work dirty street riders i just throw mine away and buy a new one . I also have a hand grip fetish
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Like your avatar Jay ! :lol:
Chain
I use those blue disposable shop towels you get at autoparts stores ot walmart ina paper towel roll and WD40. Spray soak the towel, they're tough paper-doesn't take much, then just hold it in my hand and wrap my hand around the chain -slide back an forth. Repeat with new towels. After 7 or 8, wipe evrything else around the area down and done. it gets done pretty often, so is never really caked with junk... plus I hate the way some chain lubes build up around the chain guard and sprockets. rather keep it semi clean...
I guess I started doing it that way living in an apartment, so I could just throw the used shop towels away. No garage, just a parking lot...
Whatever works for you is my motto...
Mike
:)
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Thanks Mike..... kinda cute for a BUZZARD!! :grin:
Yeah - whatever works will be great once I do it a time or two. Just trying to keep it simple though I have a hard time with that. :duh:
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yea sometimes i feel deleted , mike. good to hear ya about!
seriously its good to hear peeps cleaning there chain !! :beers:
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:duh: :duh: Should have known it wasn't my avatar.... :duh: :duh:
:grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
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I like 'em both... You ever hit one of those Turkey Vultures as they launch from carrion on the side of the road. They can hit like NFL linebackers... :lol:
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As a matter of fact I have hit a turkey vulture in "Ol' Blue".... sumbeech decided to take one more freekin' bite and WHAM - I'm out a turn signal and a trim piece.
Now adays I blow the horn and wave my arms.... anything to get them to move on or else slow down :duh: as I approach - those are some dense birds.
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I tried some great stuff last year: WTK chain cleaner by wtkchemicalsolutions.com. They are based out of Markham Ontario (just outside of Toronto. They said to spray it on then hose it off. They weren't lying! I was bad and hadn't cleaned my chain for a few thousand miles so it was really "grimy". Well I did what they said and now I have the original golden colour of the chain, looks brand new. Definitely worth the $10.00 Canadian. No scrubbing (although I did some in heavy spots with a toothbrush but I put in more effort opening my beer.) :beers:
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For chain cleaning or any general degreasing job you can't go passed good old kero. Brillant stuff, just don't smoke around it.
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I'm with Aussiebandit, good old kero and the old shaggy toothbrush.
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i just cleaned mine for the first time since i bought it (around 600 miles). used paper towels and kerosene. i can't believe i didn't use a toothbrush, i always resort to those to clean everything. anyway, it's looking in good shape, i think the guy i bought the bike from took really good care of it.
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I've used a paint brush to clean my chains but I recently switched to just a rag soaked in Kerosene. I just don't see the need to use any kind of bristle-type brush on these, unless you do alot of driving on dirt roads where sand and grit are a serious issue. Those grunge brushes are entirely too stiff IMO
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:beers:
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I wouldn't worry to much about using WD-40 either for just cleaning
or exclusively as a lubricant.
I got 52,000 miles miles out of my chain by just spraying WD-40
on my chain every time I took a break(my bad knees make this an
hourly routine.) I never "cleaned" my chain unless I ended up riding
on gravel roads for a length of time. The only time I applied any
additional lubrication is when I knew I would be gone for several
weeks time. Then I just coated the chain with some of my old
Amsoil synth oil before I left and cleaned it off with WD-40 when
I returned. I did this twice I believe. Maybe cleaned twice too.
My chain still looked good when I changed it but was starting to
show some signs of kinking when not fully "lubed" with WD-40.
I've never experienced the dreaded red dust that seems to indicate
your rings are drying out and disintigrating. My guess is that the
lite oil and aromatics in the WD-40 probably kept the rings soft
and plyable and may have replaced/reinforced any lubrication
behind the rings. Myabe not. I don't know.
What I do know is that I get a LOT of miles out my chains using
just WD-40 and I'm "guessing" that there is nothing in the product
that destroys o-rings or cause problems in the way in which
they function.
:lol: :sad: :lol:
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I must say 50K+ out of a chain is damn impressive no matter what you use! :bigok:
OTOH, lubing a chain every hour is a PIA for most.
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I use WD-40 to clean and then a good chain wax to protect. According to WD-40 website it does not contain kerosene, but I have read that some testing revels a chemical "very" close to kerosene makes up the major portion of WD-40. WD-40 also works great for getting excess chain wax and grime off of areas like your wheels, under the rear fender, etc. IMO it makes a great cleaner/degreaser, but a terrible lubricant.
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:banana: :thanks:
Thanks for the WD40 tip.
I was doing a quick clean up last night (didn't have time to play with the bike but cleaned it anyway...he he) During my last service some mutten head spread something (not sure the name brand) that comes out and stays WHITE on my perfectly clean and GOLD chain/rear sprok. :wtf:
But with the WD-40 and just a couple of minutes I got an ouhh nice from the wife. THANKS GUYS
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That white grease is actually good stuff. It's what most OEM's cover the chain with on new bikes.