Something for those that like to use WD-40 on their chains:

From //www.webbikeworld.com
http://webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/#wd40

UPDATE: WD-40 and Motorcycle Chains
wBW Visitor "R.S." sent us some interesting information on the use of WD-40 on motorcycle chains:

"Saw your article on using WD-40 for chains and you asked for evidence of potential harm that WD-40 can do, so am attaching a photo. This photo is of a bearing surface from an airplane.

This is a ball and races in a sealed bearing that had been subjected to regular use of WD-40 for a year or two.  The grease was NOT cleaned out before taking this photo - there simply is no grease and the brownish tint is really rust.  The ball had grooves (visible) and was shaped like a potato chip.  The races had not evenly worn (see sectioned edge) and were rutted in spots, although neither shows too well.

We learned that WD-40 is really good for the light uses that it was intended for and that needs to be emphasized.  However, it is largely a penetrant, which will do just that!

Once it penetrates into the sealed area, it dissolves the petroleum out of the grease, leaving the clay binders.  What's left in the bearing is essentially dirt that cakes up, causing the balls to skid.  Without the petroleum, the bearing will also rust.

The reason that kerosene and diesel fuel are still favorites and recommended by the chain people is that while both can be penetrants, they are a thicker petroleum and just what the O-rings are trying to seal against.  Of course, gasoline cleans about the same, but with thinner viscosity and better penetrating power.  In all honesty, I still use gas to clean (I'm lazy), but don't beat the bike often, regularly measure for linkage stretch and sprocket wear, and re-lube on every other tank of gas."

Moral of the story is to not use WD-40 for cleaning motorcycle chains.  Does anyone know of a better product that is specifically designed for cleaning a motorcycle chain without dissolving the grease behind the O-rings?



From WD-40's web site:

http://www.wd40.com/Brands/wd40_faqs.html

What does WD-40 contain?
While the ingredients in WD-40 are secret, we can tell you what WD-40 does NOT contain. WD-40 does not contain silicone, kerosene, water, wax, graphite, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), or any known cancer-causing agents.


From DID website:

http://www.didchain.com/question.html

Question
7. What is the recommended solvent for cleaning my D.I.D X-Ring or O-Ring chain?

Answer
It is recommended that you wash your chain in kerosene. Never use steam, volatile solvents, gasoline, or benzine. After cleaning, you must lubricate your X-Ring or O-Ring chain with D.I.D special chain lube.

"you must lubricate your X-Ring or O-Ring chain with D.I.D special chain lube."

Special?  I doubt it's that special.  Just tell us what's in it, so we can buy it cheaper somewhere else.  You already made a profit on the chain, why pretend it needs "special" lube.  

Come on!

Quote from: dgyver"Saw your article on using WD-40 for chains and you asked for evidence of potential harm that WD-40 can do, so am attaching a photo. This photo is of a bearing surface from an airplane.

We learned that WD-40 is really good for the light uses that it was intended for and that needs to be emphasized.  However, it is largely a penetrant, which will do just that!


Moral of the story is to not use WD-40 for cleaning motorcycle chains.  Does anyone know of a better product that is specifically designed for cleaning a motorcycle chain without dissolving the grease behind the O-rings?


From DID website:

http://www.didchain.com/question.html

Question
7. What is the recommended solvent for cleaning my D.I.D X-Ring or O-Ring chain?

Answer
It is recommended that you wash your chain in kerosene. Never use steam, volatile solvents, gasoline, or benzine. After cleaning, you must lubricate your X-Ring or O-Ring chain with D.I.D special chain lube.

OK WD40 is a product developed by NASA originally ... and it stands for Water dispersion ... not lubricant, getting rid of water ...
Cleaning with wd40 is more like putting it there and letting centrifugal force remove the dirt, or having a liquid poured on it and wiping off...
And product to clean the chain ... yea water and dishwashing liquid ... and that 3 sided brush that's called grunge brush... I can see and hear nirvana when I use it or even look at it... and lube chain with maxima or motor oil...
Cool.
Srinath.

WD40 might penetrate the seals in a chain and might washout the grease.
You should only use it to wipe off the chain and sprocket.  Put it on a rag to make it slightly moist.  Don't saturate it.
It's a goo product but is what it is.  We use it all the time on machinery but we make sure we lubricate the parts with the appropriate oils afterwards.

That's exactly it.  As long as you get it off along with the dirt and follow up with an appropriate lubricant, I don't see the problem.  I've had service guys at dealerships recommend it, so if it harms the chain, I can go to them and Buddha Loves You.  

What does a bearing surface from an airplane that, according to the story, had been lubricated with WD-40 have to do with bike chains that are cleaned with WD-40 and then lubricated with chain lube?

The point of WbW's update seems to be:
WD40 is a penetrant, so may get behind o-rings.  
It is a water dispersion formula in a solvent carrier.  The solvent carrier will liquefy grease, letting it escape.

If their criticism is accurate, then you'd want a solvent that liquefies the old grease, but doesn't penetrate seals... like kerosene?  I sometimes wonder if WD40 is so popular just because it's one of the most-common petroleum solvents in a spray can, and everyone has some anyways.  I mean, look at us: we even use it to check for vacuum leaks!  Maybe I should "invent" a new cleaner called K3R0SEN3, and sell it in a little spray bottle, for $8 each.

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:
And I will develop a competetive product and call it ... K3ROS3N3 ... notice how you left out one E while I got them all ... ha ha ... better product and that will be $10 thank you very much... BTW diesel is now my cleaner of choice ... all carbs and stuff get sloshed around in that ... it evaporates slower and smells less and I believe it cleans better being a thick and gritty oil like substance ... after 2 sloshings in it... all the dirt is history ...
Cool.
Srinath.

I'm reading the back of my can of Liquid Wrench to see that it contains: Aliphatic petroleum distillate; 2-butoxy-1-ethanol; naphthetic petroleum oil mixture; and carbon dioxide(propellant).

If I read this literaly(or, more importantly, correctly), the petroleum distillate displaces petroleum, but what confuses me is the inclusion of the naphthetic petroleum oil mixture. So, it dsplaces and replaces?

I'm gonna call my dad, he used to be a chemical engineer.

Quote from: scratchI'm reading the back of my can of Liquid Wrench to see that it contains: Aliphatic petroleum distillate;

Aliphatic just means open-chain.  That includes octane (gasoline).  And a distillate just means a lighter esther (vaporizes sooner).  So that ingredient could mean "gasoline".

Quote2-butoxy-1-ethanol; naphthetic petroleum oil mixture

OK, I have no idea, but it sounds like ethanol, butane and moth balls swirled together .

Seriously, it sounds like just a mix of various hydrocarbon fuels.  
But I'm talking through my hat; I only took one chem class.

So what should I use to clean my chain?  Srinath uses dishwashing soap.  Ive heard of kerosine.  Any others?  By the way where do you buy kerosine?

Quote from: sprint_9So what should I use to clean my chain?  Srinath uses dishwashing soap.  Ive heard of kerosine.  Any others?  By the way where do you buy kerosine?

I know you can get Acetone and Denatured Alcohol at Home Depot.  I bet it's worth a call to see if they carry it.  My family has some of those kerosene lanterns so maybe some camping supply place can tell you where you can get it.  Of course I'm sure someone on here will be able to tell you for sure

Around here ... gas station... its got some red dye in it and says for non taxable use only, and that red dye will make smoke probably if you had in it a bike        ... but a house heater ... that red crap if it fogs up the place ... Clean the crap off a chan... doubt that dye hurts that...
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: 70 Cam Guy

Quote from: sprint_9So what should I use to clean my chain?  Srinath uses dishwashing soap.  Ive heard of kerosine.  Any others?  By the way where do you buy kerosine?

I know you can get Acetone and Denatured Alcohol at Home Depot.  I bet it's worth a call to see if they carry it.  My family has some of those kerosene lanterns so maybe some camping supply place can tell you where you can get it.  Of course I'm sure someone on here will be able to tell you for sure

ace hardware.

acetone DESTROYS anyhting plastic so watch out

Denatured alcohol is fine but don't go near the acetone...it will melt your O rings.

I think he was just saying that since "you can get Acetone and Denatured Alcohol at Home Depot" you have a good chance of finding kerosene there, too.

I found my gallon at a lumber / home center store.  Am I gonna have to take a picture?  :lol:

Quote from: KerryI think he was just saying that since "you can get Acetone and Denatured Alcohol at Home Depot" you have a good chance of finding kerosene there, too.

I found my gallon at a lumber / home center store.  Am I gonna have to take a picture?  :lol:

kerry I lub your pictures.... when is your valve adjustment video gonna be done/out/purchasable?  I've got paypal waiting......

Quote from: se7enty7when is your valve adjustment video gonna be done/out/purchasable?  I've got paypal waiting......

I was only able to spend 2 hours on it last week.  Tomorrow will be my first night with a big block of time since then -- I hope to finish editing the existing footage.  But I need to add some intro material and talk about tools, etc.  If I'm REALLY lucky I'll be "ready to burn" this weekend.

I'll post the announcement in the original thread.

PS - If everybody would quit posting for a week I could edit rather than surf.    Can you blame me for wanting to stay informed?  :dunno:

Quote from: Kerry

Quote from: se7enty7when is your valve adjustment video gonna be done/out/purchasable?  I've got paypal waiting......

I was only able to spend 2 hours on it last week.  Tomorrow will be my first night with a big block of time since then -- I hope to finish editing the existing footage.  But I need to add some intro material and talk about tools, etc.  If I'm REALLY lucky I'll be "ready to burn" this weekend.

I'll post the announcement in the original thread.

PS - If everybody would quit posting for a week I could edit rather than surf.    Can you blame me for wanting to stay informed?  :dunno:

lol... is there a price yet?  email? I can go ahead and send the $$$ over as an incentive!!

Quote from: se7enty7is there a price yet?  email? I can go ahead and send the $$$ over as an incentive!!

When I start doing it for the money is when it ceases to be fun and I probably cease doing it.    Unless something drastic happens I still plan to just recover my materials and shipping costs.

Hang in there - it's coming!