I need to clean the chain and I have done it with kerosine and or gasoline for regular bicycles over the years, but my main question is, is it too difficult for a somewhat mechanical savvy person to take off the chain to clean it and how do I go about doing it?

Do you plan on the soaking the chain? In my opinion it'll probably be easier to leave the chain on the bike so you have something holding it taut while you clean it. I just cleaned my chain 2 days ago and I would clean the exposed part/sprocket, then move the bike/rotate the wheel and clean the new exposed part.

Also, good idea to clean the inside of the sprocket cover.

You will need a chain press/breaker to get the chain off.Be careful what you clean the chain with.It can cause the O ring seals to swell and seize the chain so it won't follow the sprockets.

Maybe just a good idea to take a good wife brush and some kerosine to it while it is still on then. Good idea. Any good tool sales this memorial day? haha

Quote from: Fausty0 on May 30, 2011, 10:44:55 AM
a good wife brush

  Lol, tell me the secret to getting your wife to clean the chain!

i just clean it with the chain on the bike.
i use kerosine, or some old gasoline. I've heard people have had good result with diesel fuel as well.
and a chain brush or grunge brush to scrub it down ( http://www.amazon.com/Finish-Line-Grunge-Brush-Chain/dp/B000BS02LS )
then wipe it down with a clean rag
and lube with teflon lube.

Quote from: Fausty0 on May 30, 2011, 09:38:04 AM
I need to clean the chain and I have done it with kerosine and or gasoline for regular bicycles over the years, but my main question is, is it too difficult for a somewhat mechanical savvy person to take off the chain to clean it and how do I go about doing it?

Kerosene = good idea

Gasoline = Bad idea

Too much needless work to remove chain every 600 miles......probably not good for chain and o rings either....

Not like bicycle, which is easy.....with chain tool or master link on old style track bikes....

Put motorcycle on center stand....put tray with kero under bike....put open pizza box under everything to collet over-drips.....use fairly soft brush...I use 1" wide artist brush with long handle....use plenty of kero....let it wash away all dirt....and drip into tray.....dry off with soft cloth or shop towels.......apply favorite spray lube (made for o-ring)

Good for another 600 miles   I do every 500 miles because I can't divide by 600 in my head!

Cookie

I just spray it down with WD-40 and wipe it clean with a rag. Let it dry, then put on the chain lube.

Why is gasoline a bad idea? I have used it for a degreaser in the past and it works fantastically? Just curious?

Quote from: Fausty0 on May 30, 2011, 10:44:55 AM
Maybe just a good idea to take a good wife brush and some kerosine to it while it is still on then. Good idea. Any good tool sales this memorial day? haha

Post memorial day sale at motorcycle super-store. I've spent over 1,000 dollars there and I have never had a problem with them. Even price match.

http://image.exct.net/lib/ff041575746606/m/6/Memorial_Recovery_05_31_Street_Web.html?WT.i_e_dcsvid=407034799

Quote from: Fausty0 on May 31, 2011, 10:15:59 AM
Why is gasoline a bad idea? I have used it for a degreaser in the past and it works fantastically? Just curious?

Yes - the chain contains O-rings that will be damaged by gasoline.  The officially 'correct' way is to clean with kerosene, dry and warm the chain with a quick ride, and lubricate.  There are many ways to get the kerosene on the chain and scrub off the gunk - which way works best for you is up to you to experiment and decide. 

Taking the chain off every time would be a huge pain with little benefit.  Plus you'd be introducing significant risk of damaging something in the process.

I would also suggest against WD-40 since it leaves a residue and may damage the chain.

Quote from: LimaXray on May 31, 2011, 11:13:00 AM

Quote from: Fausty0 on May 31, 2011, 10:15:59 AM
Why is gasoline a bad idea? I have used it for a degreaser in the past and it works fantastically? Just curious?

Yes - the chain contains O-rings that will be damaged by gasoline.  The officially 'correct' way is to clean with kerosene, dry and warm the chain with a quick ride, and lubricate.  There are many ways to get the kerosene on the chain and scrub off the gunk - which way works best for you is up to you to experiment and decide. 

Taking the chain off every time would be a huge pain with little benefit.  Plus you'd be introducing significant risk of damaging something in the process.

I would also suggest against WD-40 since it leaves a residue and may damage the chain.

The major problem with using gasoline as a cleaner is the risk of fire.  Gasoline is far more volatile then kerosene.  Open containers of gasoline and spreading it all over the place with a brush is not a good idea. 

Some consider open containers of gas to be an environmental issue.  Some consider breathing gas fumes, and getting gas on the skin as health issues.

Kerosene is still a great grease cutting slovent...but far more benign than gas.   It won't harm the o-rings.  It leaves a light lubricating coating as well as a light corrosion resistant coating.


Cookie

I appreciate it. I suppose I will use Kerosine next time. Crazy to think the gas has so much more of a bad effect even though their molecular composition is so damn similar. Well, at-least i got to burn some gas soaked paper towels at the end of it haha. Thanks for all the advise.

For what it's worth, I clean with WD40 and lube with PJ1 about every 300 miles because I ride through the rain a lot.  My last chain lasted for just under 20,000 miles so I'm doing something right, or at least not-terribly-wrong.

Quote from: outapsyt on May 31, 2011, 01:47:07 AM
i just clean it with the chain on the bike.
i use kerosine, or some old gasoline. I've heard people have had good result with diesel fuel as well.
and a chain brush or grunge brush to scrub it down ( http://www.amazon.com/Finish-Line-Grunge-Brush-Chain/dp/B000BS02LS )
then wipe it down with a clean rag
and lube with teflon lube.

There really is a tool for everything

Quote from: HardcoreKeith on May 31, 2011, 05:27:55 PM
For what it's worth, I clean with WD40 and lube with PJ1 about every 300 miles because I ride through the rain a lot.  My last chain lasted for just under 20,000 miles so I'm doing something right, or at least not-terribly-wrong.

A little Internet research shows that WD-40 is made up of primarily "hexane" which is a compound which is very similar to kerosene.   WD-40 also contains "light oil" which again is similar to kerosene.

WD should be fine to clean chains......It is not too expensive, and sprays out thru the little red tube with some power to blow off the crud......

Deisel is also very close in chemical structure to Kerosene..so that should work too, as would jet fuel, or home heating oil!

All of the above have relatively low volitility and minimal toxicity, better safety, compared to gasoline...

I still  prefer kerosene, since I always have some around left over from the heater in my shop...I also like the brush and drip method.

Cookie

I used WD40 as a lube and cleaner on my first chain and got 23,000km out of it.

Now using Belray Super Clean after using Lanolin for a while - Lanolin is sticky as. Nearing 20,000 and no signs of any tight spots developing. So all good 

Michael