stantheman Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 hi guys. whats the best method for cleaning your motorcycle chain?I keep my bike outside and the chain gets a little rusty over the week. I have a scottoiler fitted and just wondered how you guys clean the chain and best methods.Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankbag Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Hi Stantheman, I use a cup of parafin, some old towels / rags & an electric toothbrush type tool from Aldi & start with the toothbrush first then suck up the mess off the chain with the rags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey1984 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I put my bike on a paddock stand and put a bit of cardboard behind it so i dont get shit all over the wheel/swingarm, then spray on wd40 work in with toothbrush wipe of excess crap with a rag, then move onto the next section. I then lube it but as you have a scottoiler you wont need to worry about that.It says in my bike handbook to use paraffin to clean the chain, i just never got round to nipping to b&q to get any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azen Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 hey guys, I bought some muck-off the other day can i use that instead of parafin to clean the chain? will a nylon brush work to get some of the rust off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I don't clean or lube mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankbag Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I don't clean or lube mine! True, but you have to change your drive oil though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I don't clean or lube mine! True, but you have to change your drive oil though Only every 4k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rice-pudding Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 WD-40 make a good chain cleaner now, that and a "gear gremlin' chain brush make easy work of a grubby chainhttp://www.wd40specialistmotorbike.co.u ... n-cleaner/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankbag Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I don't clean or lube mine! True, but you have to change your drive oil though Only every 4k Fair dinkum, I walked into that one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 True, but you have to change your drive oil though Only every 4k Fair dinkum, I walked into that one I actually told a lie in that though!! Its not every 4k as I thought its every 6k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiffer Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 WD-40 make a good chain cleaner now, that and a "gear gremlin' chain brush make easy work of a grubby chainhttp://www.wd40specialistmotorbike.co.u ... n-cleaner/I use that.. use a whole can easily on a grimey chain, but the crap literally drips off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 your using too much if your using a full can at a time I could clean my chain about 4 times from a can of cleaner! ok maybe if you have a badly abused chain you could use a fair bit but not a full can! give the chain a spray and keep spinning the rear wheel so it doesnt all just drip off this helps it soak in then use a rag, brush or tool of your choice on the chain then give it another going over dry off with a rag and lube it up job done there is no need to go mental Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 I agree with using a full can.Making sure that chain is spotless on all sides of it CAN use a whole CAN... Any cheap alternatives to this? Like tankbag said paraffin, would that be equally as good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mealexme Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Like tankbag said paraffin, would that be equally as good? Thats the stuff most manufacturers recommend, so I'd say its good enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dav3y Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Just did mine last weekend with a £5 chain brush from Busters/M&P and some WD40 and a rag. Transformed a chain with a lot of surface rust that I thought I was going to have to replace to looking like new. Re-lubed with some Gear/Axle oil and retensioned. Running great.Is the scott oiler working properly as I would gave expected it to keep the chain in tip top condition ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rik398 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I used to use paraffin. Works a treat, but recently I have been using the new version of the Muc Off chain cleaner. Works just as well, brings it up every time, and it smells of bubblegum. As for oiling, I did the old school painting on engine oil thing, but again the new muc off stuff is so much better than the old stuff (which was okay anyway), so that's where I go now. The regularity in which you do it is more important than what you use. Which is why I am thinking of Scotoiler, get rid of the ritual of getting covered in oil EVERY weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankbag Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 it smells of bubblegum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldie59 Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I use cheap WD40 type spray from Poundshops and an old toothbrush it's oil based (apparently) so safe to use on chains.Loads of different products out there to grease the chain, best stuff I think is the no fling type or a Scott Oiler.By the way, I'm a newbie on this site and this is my first post!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankbag Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I use cheap WD40 type spray from Poundshops and an old toothbrush it's oil based (apparently) so safe to use on chains.Loads of different products out there to grease the chain, best stuff I think is the no fling type or a Scott Oiler.By the way, I'm a newbie on this site and this is my first post!!Hi there oldie59 & welcome to the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiffer Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 your using too much if your using a full can at a time I could clean my chain about 4 times from a can of cleaner! ok maybe if you have a badly abused chain you could use a fair bit but not a full can! give the chain a spray and keep spinning the rear wheel so it doesnt all just drip off this helps it soak in then use a rag, brush or tool of your choice on the chain then give it another going over dry off with a rag and lube it up job done there is no need to go mental Can't take it off the wheel yet as I have no stand.. it was very very very filthy. I ride in all weather and they love a bit of gritting down my way, cheaper than fitting the pot holes. Since the last clean however it's staying clean looking for longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiffer Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I agree with using a full can.Making sure that chain is spotless on all sides of it CAN use a whole CAN... [emoji38] Any cheap alternatives to this? Like tankbag said paraffin, would that be equally as good?If I can't see my face it ain't finished.. its never been finished lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikerMooFromMars Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 Chain cleaner (or parafin), toothbrush and/or j cloth, then rinse and use bike chain lube.I also put newspaper or cardboard on the ground, and when using the toothbrush I hold a bit of cardboard behind the chain so none of the gunk sprays on my wheel when cleaning. I was told on here when I started out to never use WD40 because it dries out/repels the chain lube... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorian Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I used to use chain cleaner but at £8 a time i used a whole can it was to expensive. i now use paraffin in a cup and smother my chain in the stuff with a bristly brush. then i wipe it off with a couple of rags. let it dry, run the engine so chain warms up a little and spray on a good amount of dry chain lube. i like this idea of using cardboard to stop it going everywhere.. gonna try that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I use WD40 chain cleaner, with half a milk carton underneath to catch drips and a bit of card tucked between the chain and the wheel to act as a chute for any that misses the chain so that it all goes into the carton. Then once the chain has had a good spray, you can use a brush (dipping it in the excess chain cleaner caught in the milk carton) on any nasty bits. Then dry the worst off with a dishcloth (doesn't leave fibers all over it like a towel can) and leave it for a bit to completely dry.Then blast it with WD40 chain lube, again using card to sheild the wheel. I hoard old ceral boxes for this; if you rip off one of the top flaps, the adjoining face, the adjoining bottom flap, and one of the sides, it stays fairly rigid but also fits nicely around the chain and swingarm. And any runoff catches in what's left of the bottom of the box, so no cleanup required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankbag Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Chain cleaner (or parafin), toofbrush Fixed that for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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