tag1963
Junior Member
Silly question. Can I use a brake or carb cleaner to clean my chain? Some guys I ride with say's it's just as good as the stuff you buy at a cycle shop and it cheaper. What do guys and gals think?
Silly question. Can I use a brake or carb cleaner to clean my chain? Some guys I ride with say's it's just as good as the stuff you buy at a cycle shop and it cheaper. What do guys and gals think?
Does it say you can on the label? I wouldn't use anything that has a sovlent base. The manual recommends Kerosene... I spray WD-40 on a rag then wipe down the chain. There are o-rings that can be damaged by solvents. The chain is a sealed type as well... meaning there is permanent lubricant behind the O-rings in the core of the chain. If you get brake cleaner or carb behind the o-rings... that can't be good for the chain...
Ok now where exactly is the info that brake clean will damage the "O" rings in chains.
How is the material different than the "O" rings around brake cylinder pistons?
Kerosene is a solvent, wd-40 is a solvent.
I have seen it repeated over and over, but no proof.
Brake clean is a very good cleaner of grease and oils. It does not damage rubber brake lines, it does not damage brake seals, it does not damage brake piston O rings, it does not damage grease seals.
If someone can provide proof positive that the O ring seals on chains are in some way a different material than the other seals used in simular applications and that brake clean is proven to damage them I will believe it and be glad to know it.
Havent seen it one time anywhere. Only the statement over and over that you cant use it, never a shread of proof.
If someone can provide proof positive that the O ring seals on chains are in some way a different material than the other seals used in simular applications and that brake clean is proven to damage them I will believe it and be glad to know it.
Havent seen it one time anywhere. Only the statement over and over that you cant use it, never a shread of proof.
It's an excellent question. In fact, while googling for an answer, I ran across this thread on ADVrider of a controlled study of the effects of different cleaners on O-rings. :jawdrop:
Link: Chain O-ring WD-40 exposure effects study and results - ADVrider
Results:
Alas, Brake Cleaner wasn't tested, but Carb Cleaner was and I don't like the results.
Silly question. Can I use a brake or carb cleaner to clean my chain? Some guys I ride with say's it's just as good as the stuff you buy at a cycle shop and it cheaper. What do guys and gals think?
Anytime you see the chain links turning shiny it's time to wax.
See here is the thing, Carbs have O rings in them. They survive being cleaned in Carb cleaner no problems.
Brakes have seals made of the same material, they survive being cleaned with brake cleaner just fine.
Would you all agree that spraying some on a paper towel and wiping the out side is completely different than soaking it for 24 hours?