What do you use to clean drive chains?

**BIGCRIP28** · 05-02-2005, 03:45 PM

I finally got some good lube and need to clean a non and a oring chain.
What should i use to clean them?

**bigredhead** · 05-02-2005, 04:43 PM

is it currently ON the machine of off ?

if it's off.. dip it in gas and shake it around good.. then let it hang dry.. and lube it up.

if it's on..... welll... i'll let someone else chime in on that.

**BIGCRIP28** · 05-02-2005, 05:39 PM

its on but i can take it off. the manual says to use kerosene.

**Mr. Sandman** · 05-02-2005, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by bigredhead

is it currently ON the machine of off ?

if it's off.. dip it in gas and shake it around good.. then let it hang dry.. and lube it up.

if it's on..... welll... i'll let someone else chime in on that.

Dipping or soaking the non o-ring chain in gas is fine but don't use gas on the o-ring chain as the o-rings will react and expand and the chain will be ruined. Don't use a wire brush on the o-rings either as that'll cut them up and ruin them too.

**BIGCRIP28** · 05-02-2005, 07:31 PM

well then what do you ^^^ use to clean it?

**RichinMO** · 05-02-2005, 07:33 PM

O-ring on bike: parts washing brush and kerosene

**SoCalDesertRider** · 05-02-2005, 08:54 PM

I put some old pre-mixed gas in an old ~2 gallon liquid laundry detergent jug (that's been washed out good) and drop the chain in there and shake it around real good, then take it out, pour some of the gas into an oil pan and scrub the chain real good with a parts brush, then back into the jug and shake it around again to rinse off any sand clinging to it and hang it out to dry. My chains are non-o-ring, but I used to do that with my old o-ring chain too untill I got a new one. Nothing happened to the o-rings and I cleaned it that way quite often for about 2 years.

**chris200x** · 05-02-2005, 08:56 PM

Which ones are better? O or no O?

**trikerider2oo7** · 05-02-2005, 09:23 PM

x-ring is best, then o-ring, then non o-ring. i just spray down my whole bike with super clean, leave it set a few minutes, then pressure wash it all off, it works good on the chain and everything

**BIGCRIP28** · 05-03-2005, 10:42 AM

whats super clean?

**ClayW** · 05-03-2005, 11:33 AM

The purple stuff you buy at the parts store. Kind of a degreaser. AutoZone has it. Thats what I use. That and Bleech White. Gas will definately make the o-rings swell up. If you ride it while they are swollen, they will be toast. The swelling will usually subside a bit, but they will never be the same. Just use the purple stuff or bleech white and a plastic brissle brush. It will get it all off for the most part.

**sandrooster** · 05-03-2005, 02:35 PM

I've been using pump gas to clean my O-ring chains for twenty years on all my trikes.

I remove the chain and clean after every ride. Still using the original stock chains. Never had a problem, no cracks on any O-ring. Of course I use good chain lube after I wipe and hang dry.

**Viper 350X** · 05-04-2005, 02:53 AM

Use a chain scrubber........ Here is one link I found
http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/ac...ries104502.htm

**BIGCRIP28** · 05-04-2005, 08:44 AM

the owners manual recommends kerosene so you think it would be ok to use diesel?

**asc180** · 05-04-2005, 12:14 PM

I use kerosene for my chains. Diesel will work fine.

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What do you use to clean drive chains?