How often do you clean your chain?

[speedylocksmith]

Originally Posted by Gear Head

What about degreaser?

same thing. If you use it, make sure to spray it off within a minute or 2 and make sure you get it all off. I use a degreaser once in a while to clean areas that I can't reach like around the rear shock, but i use it very carefully. WD40 cleans the chain just as well and less of a hazard or you can clean it with regular oil on a rag.

[Gear Head]

So in regards to cleaning the chain would you say it would be better to buy PJ1 chain cleaner or WD-40?

[BRAT1000]

I don't, JBYRD does it.

[speedylocksmith]

Originally Posted by Gear Head

So in regards to cleaning the chain would you say it would be better to buy PJ1 chain cleaner or WD-40?

save your money and use WD40, then for chain wax, Maxima is the best I've found.

[Gear Head]

ok cool will do. Why do some say that WD-40 will hurt the O-rings and cause them to expand?

[speedylocksmith]

[HANS]

Originally Posted by compulady5

Now this is a very interesting topic. I have to say that through the years I've heard many conflicting things. I've come to the conclusion that cleaning your chain is up to interpretation....

I had a mechanic tell me once that a chain should never have to be lubed/cleaned unless the bike is stuck in a downpour while riding...

I had another mechanic tell me- lubed every 500 miles; and clean whenever it appears dirty.

I just clean it whenever it looks dirty or "feels" gritty. I've used that brake parts cleaner to clean it; then lube.. A rear stand helps ;-)

first off that mechanic must be an idiot. in order to get the maximum life out of your chain it should be cleaned regularly. doesnt HAVE to be every 600 miles but thats what most chain manufacturers recommend.

i wouldnt recommend degreaser either as that can lead up to rotting away at the o-rings.

but wd-40 wont hurt the o-rings as people claim. just dont get overly excessive with how much you apply. and always spray your chain wax/lube when the chain is somewhat warm and let it sit for a while afterwards to avoid sling off

[Gear Head]

Will WD-40 take off the gunk left behind from the PJ1? Or is it going to be hard?

[HANS]

Originally Posted by Gear Head

Will WD-40 take off the gunk left behind from the PJ1? Or is it going to be hard?

it does for me.

[ticktock4792]

Originally Posted by speedylocksmith

save your money and use WD40, then for chain wax, Maxima is the best I've found.

Originally Posted by Gear Head

Will WD-40 take off the gunk left behind from the PJ1? Or is it going to be hard?

comes off for me

[GT5000]

IDK but I'm not too much of a fan of WD40 on chains. With WD40 it soaks into the o-rings. If you ever notice before when you spray an o-ring with WD40 it does change in size a tad bit. Now just imagine that size change and the bike moving 70mph+. Things can get bad causing the o-ring to fail. Best way to clean it would be kerosene or a can chain cleaner. Make sure you get most of the dirty out and lube it back up. If your using a Chain Wax the chain has to be as clean as possible or the wax will sling off and wont be doing it's job. With Chain lube it actually gets in and protects it and the fling you get is most from the dirt that was left behind.

[HANS]

i either use wd-40 or kerosene. either one works

[bigjoe87865]

Where in sofla can I buy kerosene?

[HANS]

home depot or lowes last time i checked.

[Rabbit_Racer]

Ive noticed the hardest part is getting the old gunk off the chain. I have a rear stand too and i was wondering if its a bad idea to just the chain and sprocket down with a pressure washer to get the extra grease off before cleaning and lubing it.