Topic: Chain cleaning question

[krksquared]

I did search this forum and the Internet for an answer but got nothing pertaining to my question. I know of several ways to clean a chain but what I'm wondering is would it be ok to remove the chain and give it an ultrasonic bath? I'm talking about a non O-ring chain. Seems like it would be a better (but more laborious) method. Anyone try it? Gotchas?

[Flyin900]

That would make one nice mess in your UltraSonic cleaner. If you remove it just give it a good soak in a mineral spirits or kerosene or your choice of a decent degreaser . A proper chain cleaning brush when the chain is on or off the bike and some elbow grease will clean it up nicely. It will be dirty again in another 500-1000 miles depending on your riding area.

[krksquared]

Might be interesting to see what happens if I do a good clean on the bike and then drop the chain in the ultrasonic bath to see what gets missed...

[ckahleer]

To keep your ultrasonic cleaner clean, put the chain in a zip lock freezer bag filled with cleaning solution. Seal the bag. Put the bag in the ultrasonic cleaner, fill with water, and clean.

[PeWe]

I sprayed my chain on bike with naphta.
A few minutes later pressure washer (145 BAR) with warm water only spraying the chain and sprocket. NOT bearings. The chains golden surface shine again. (For a few rides)
Lubed the chain again after it has dried.
I have riveted chain so that is nothing I remove, not even for pulling engine or rear wheel.

[BenelliSEI]

The problem with cleaning any chain that well is you get lubricant out of places it may never return to. On winter work (no rush) I’ll sometimes give a chain a good wash laid out on the top tray of my cleaning tank (not fully immersed). Wipe it down and hang it from the a ceiling hook to drip dry. If I am doing an oil change, I’ll put the chain in that tub too. Stir it around a few times, wipe it down and hang it up overnight (drain tub below). It will throw a bit of oil on the first ride, chain lube after that.

[pjlogue]

I would soak it in Kerosene, use a wire brush on it and then give several rinses in Kerosene while agitating it.  Dry well and then lube it really well with a good chain lube like PJ-1 or similar.

-P.

[rotortiller]

Give this to your girlfriend after cleaning the chain and send her to the kitchen LOL.

[jakec]

I've cleaned a chain in the ultrasonic cleaner, but first I soaked it in mineral spirits to remove grease. it didn't make the cleaner especially dirty and the chain came out nice.

[MauiK3]

For a non o ring chain I would think getting grease back into the pins would be iffy. Perhaps heat it surrounded by the grease?

[HondaMan]

In the old days, when dirt and I were both young...
..we laid the chains in pans of gasoline and worked it until the chains were clean, then hung them up and hosed them off. This was before the hi-pressure carwashes appeared, circa 1967 or so. Then we hung them up on [something] and washed them off with a garden hose, let them dry awhile, then laid them into a pan with heavy oil (40w or 50w)  in the sun and left them, like overnight. Next day we'd hang them up for an hour (or until we got tired of waiting for them to stop dripping) and then put them back on the bike.

Then came along that spray stuff in a can that you can just squirt onto the chain....

[BenelliSEI]

+1 to HondaMan (and my earlier post). That’s the only way to really get lubricant where you want it. Now if you have an “0” ring chain, just spray and go. The old way is pointless.....