Chain clean-up

[brebett]

Does anybody know what to use to clean the chain. I have an argo avenger and took all the chains off and would like to clean them before putting them back on the sproket and lubricate.
Jack

[hydromike]

I have a lot of luck putting the chain in a five gallon pail and covering them with diesel fuel. I agitate it, let it sit, agitate, let it sit.... It's basically like a hand-operated washing machine for chains. After most of the gunk comes off, I hang them over a bucket and let them drip-dry (as best as diesel will drip-"dry"), and then repeat the process with motor oil. After they sit for a while (a day or so?) in the oil, and following a few "shake ups", I let the oil drip off and wipe them down. I initially let them run on a machine for a while to work the excess oil off of the chains (and into the tub), and then re-lube with proper chain lubricant of choice.

I typically let any sediment fall out of the diesel, and then siphon it off to reuse for the next cleaning. Unless your chains are extremely dirty, you can get a few cleanings out of a couple gallons. It's a great, relatively cheap solvent.

~m

[brebett]

Hi, Thank you for your suggestion. I've also heard cleaning them with no odor varsol. Is that anygood or a bad thing to do.

[JoeMeg]

I've got a nice square shape 5 gal pail with a lid.On the bottom old pc of junk grate proped up as a standoff 1-2" from the bottom. I have kerosene in it. I put my chains in there and use a parts cleaning brush for the "mechanized cycle".Most of the sediment falls thru the grate. I then also hang the chains to let them drip dry then a shot of chain lube and back into the machine.

Joe.

[hydromike]

Hi, Thank you for your suggestion. I've also heard cleaning them with no odor varsol. Is that anygood or a bad thing to do.

I've never heard of Varsol, but I can't imagine anything would hurt a typical steel chain. Exxon-Mobil's (proprietor of Varsol) website says that it's basically a low-VOC alternative to kerosene, so I think it'd work fine. I can't imagine it's cheaper than diesel.

[Stonewall]

Are you saying that varsol is a brand? We have a parts washer like you can get from Northern Tool,(looks like a sink on a 30 gal drum) that we put clear stuff that smells kinda like alcohol in and use to wash any delicate parts like engine internals. It works great, I used it to wash the internals of my t-20 when I rebuilt it. We always just called the stuff varsol, but I'll have to go find one of the jugs that it comes in now.

[racerone3]

Varsol is a brand name, but most people call any parts cleaning solvent "Varsol", just like most people call facial tissue "Kleenex"

I use the same procedure as Hydromike, (typically I use gas... just make sure to keep it covered and keep sparks away). The problem I see with solvent is that it never really dries. It will stay in the rollers of the chain and actually repel any lubricant from getting in there.

[hydromike]

Are you saying that varsol is a brand?

Yup.

Answers.com - What is varsolAnswers.com - What is varsol

Varsol™ fluids

The problem I see with solvent is that it never really dries. It will stay in the rollers of the chain and actually repel any lubricant from getting in there.

Water-based solvents (simple green, purple power, and a lot of much higher-power industrial grade water based solvents) aren't really a good choice for cleaning chains. The goal of most solvents is to degrease and remove hydrocarbon residue. For chains, the idea is NOT to necessarily "degrease" but to get all of the nasties off that cause excess wear. Petroleum-based cleaning (gas, diesel, kerosene, etc.) will help to remove a lot of grease and the dirt/grit/grime and they're compatible with the relubrication of the chain following cleaning. Dousing a chain with water-based solvents isn't the best idea, for exactly the reason Race states. You'll have to cook them to get all the water out.

[brebett]

Thanks to everybody. What I called varsol is a solvent they use to clean paint brush.

[brebett]

Hi, I just cleaned my chain but I'm a little bit worried about dipping them in motor oil. Mostly on the drive chain near the cluch and disk brake. Won't that throw oil on the cluch and disk brake.

[famvburg]

That would probably be mineral spirits.

Thanks to everybody. What I called varsol is a solvent they use to clean paint brush.

[Rock Doctor]

Hi, I just cleaned my chain but I'm a little bit worried about dipping them in motor oil. Mostly on the drive chain near the cluch and disk brake. Won't that throw oil on the cluch and disk brake.

If you dip them, then wipe them off, you will likely be fine. Not much chance of slinging oil on the clutch, but it's easy to contaminate the brakes with oil. Even so, that's not really a problem, I always carry a can of "Brake Clean" or something similar like Electromotive (Gas could be used in a pinch if needed). Dribble it or spray it on the brake rotors and in the brake mechanism to get rid of the oil.

Don't try to go too far with oil contaminated brakes. The last time I tried to "just make it to the truck" I managed to catch my brakes on fire from the heat generated. Talk about "action packed" for a few seconds there. Not a raging open flame or anything, but red hot and smoking like crazy.


RD

[ardie]

I found this a couple weeks ago. There's nothing like a little ingenuity.

Chain Pickle Motorcycle Chain Cleaner - webBikeWorld

[brebett]

Hi, it seems very interesting. I hope that I can find those dill around here.

[Patmax]

You CAN use 30w- or 40w motor oil on chains, but it really isn't the best stuff; In a pinch in the field, yes.
Stop at the local motorcycle shop and get some decent quality chain lube. You might also find it at an auto parts store or hardware store.