Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol?

[matt7chunk]

Hey , as titled is isopropyl alcohol ok to clean chains without damaging the x rings? , its way cheaper than the aerosol cleaners on the market.

[bandit]

Should be safe for O rings but it's not as cheap as paraffin.    

[Disorderlypunk]

ive been using citrus sol to good results - good for cleaning all sorts of greasy parts

[darrsi]

I use WD40 for cleaning my chain.

[matt7chunk]

Should be safe for O rings but it's not as cheap as paraffin.

Isn't paraffin slippery as foc like diesel ? Not something I want near my tyres

[darrsi]

Should be safe for O rings but it's not as cheap as paraffin.

Isn't paraffin slippery as foc like diesel ? Not something I want near my tyres

Not as slippery as oil?

[bandit]

Should be safe for O rings but it's not as cheap as paraffin.

Isn't paraffin slippery as foc like diesel ? Not something I want near my tyres

You use a paraffin soaked rag to clean off crud then use a dry one after, unless your messy you shouldn't get any near the tyres.   

[Triggergee]

I've got paraffin in a garden spray bottle and one of those spiral/cork screw chain brushes (very good!). I just prop some cardboard between the wheel and rear sprocket. Works very well and is as cheap as it comes.

[matt7chunk]

Should be safe for O rings but it's not as cheap as paraffin.

Isn't paraffin slippery as foc like diesel ? Not something I want near my tyres

Not as slippery as oil?

I had that one coming 

Should be safe for O rings but it's not as cheap as paraffin.

Isn't paraffin slippery as foc like diesel ? Not something I want near my tyres

You use a paraffin soaked rag to clean off crud then use a dry one after, unless your messy you shouldn't get any near the tyres.   

Nice one bandit

[fazersharp]

Paraffin here too. In a bottle with a squirty top cardboard between chain and wheel and Mrs Sharp's tooth brush.


And after

[Dave48]

I buy a 4L container of paraffin from my local B&Q-lasts at least a year doing Tracer chain regularly. Protect tyre wheel & frame with newspaper. Have a dedicated chain cleaning brush that gets in the nooks & crannies then clean towelling rag and finally apply good chain lube or engine oil to clean chain.

[His Dudeness]

I buy a 4L container of paraffin from my local B&Q-lasts at least a year doing Tracer chain regularly. Protect tyre wheel & frame with newspaper. Have a dedicated chain cleaning brush that gets in the nooks & crannies then clean towelling rag and finally apply good chain lube or engine oil to clean chain.

4L in a year! that chain must be clean enough to eat your dinner off

[Millietant]

I'd be wary of using Isopropyl Alcohol on an O Ring chain - its very good at dissolving oils and greases, but also natural resins and it might affect the O Rings themselves, which could mean it might get past the O Rngs and dissolve the lubricant inside the chain elements.


We've used IA at work for many years fir cleaning work surfaces and simple tools, but we've always kept it away from rubber seals on machinery.

[darrsi]

IPA sorts out carb icing lovely, not recommended for chains though.
Keep it simple, WD40 dissolves shite, but weirdly lubes as well.
But then properly lube after as well.
Wurth is my weapon of choice, done me proud so far.

[Slaninar]

Years of not cleaning the chain. Using a Scottoiler. Recent (last weekend) pics of the bike and the chain after a ride on some roads right after some rain(s), with mud washed over them as well.

[celticdog]

I swear by white spirit, does a great job of cleaning the chain and other bits too.    At around £2 a litre you can't go wrong.
WD 40 is in fact made up of over 80% white spirit. It's good for driving out moisture but not aggressive like ipa

[darrsi]

I swear by white spirit, does a great job of cleaning the chain and other bits too.    At around £2 a litre you can't go wrong.
WD 40 is in fact made up of over 80% white spirit. It's good for driving out moisture but not aggressive like ipa

Think it's about £2.99 a pint when the cider festival is on in most Wetherspoons. 

[fazersharp]

You still can not beat the price of paraffin and is totally safe and if you leave the lid off it wont evaporate like IPB but that is one trate that is not good because it wont evaporate away and stays around the links which is not ideal when you are trying to relube. So I either blast it off with air or brake cleaner with instantly evaporates. So lots of cheap paraffin and a small amount of more expensive brake cleaner.   

[fazersharp]

I understand the idea of a scott oiler that it virtually constantly washes the chain as compared to a low fling wax type lube that will hold dirt and use a s a grinding paste, which is why the need to regularly clean. But I just don't like the ugly cable ties and the oil up my side wall and over the swing arm and up my boots and down Sharp Halls sweeping driveway.     

[Slaninar]

I understand the idea of a scott oiler that it virtually constantly washes the chain as compared to a low fling wax type lube that will hold dirt and use a s a grinding paste, which is why the need to regularly clean. But I just don't like the ugly cable ties and the oil up my side wall and over the swing arm and up my boots and down Sharp Halls sweeping driveway.     

Didn't have any boot problems. Nor anything noticeable on a garage floor. But the bike's side does get some. For me it's a good trade off for not having to clean and lube the chain.

[fazersharp]

I understand the idea of a scott oiler that it virtually constantly washes the chain as compared to a low fling wax type lube that will hold dirt and use a s a grinding paste, which is why the need to regularly clean. But I just don't like the ugly cable ties and the oil up my side wall and over the swing arm and up my boots and down Sharp Halls sweeping driveway.     

Didn't have any boot problems. Nor anything noticeable on a garage floor.

That's because all the crap on your bike soaks it up first 

[Slaninar]

I understand the idea of a scott oiler that it virtually constantly washes the chain as compared to a low fling wax type lube that will hold dirt and use a s a grinding paste, which is why the need to regularly clean. But I just don't like the ugly cable ties and the oil up my side wall and over the swing arm and up my boots and down Sharp Halls sweeping driveway.     

Didn't have any boot problems. Nor anything noticeable on a garage floor.

That's because all the crap on your bike soaks it up first 

Lol.    Good one.

Yes. I'm not a fan of washing the vehicles. Car used to be vacuumed inside, clean windows and lights, but the rest of the body - only when it rained.

As for (motor)bikes - clean chain, brake pads and disks/rims. Starts and ends there. With annual bearing service of the pushbike, and spring and autumn wash of the FZS - just to be able to spot any leaks - like you've noted.   

[darrsi]

I understand the idea of a scott oiler that it virtually constantly washes the chain as compared to a low fling wax type lube that will hold dirt and use a s a grinding paste, which is why the need to regularly clean. But I just don't like the ugly cable ties and the oil up my side wall and over the swing arm and up my boots and down Sharp Halls sweeping driveway.     

Didn't have any boot problems. Nor anything noticeable on a garage floor.

That's because all the crap on your bike soaks it up first 

Lol.    Good one.

Yes. I'm not a fan of washing the vehicles. Car used to be vacuumed inside, clean windows and lights, but the rest of the body - only when it rained.

As for (motor)bikes - clean chain, brake pads and disks/rims. Starts and ends there. With annual bearing service of the pushbike, and spring and autumn wash of the FZS - just to be able to spot any leaks - like you've noted.   

What's a car?


Are they those big things that are constantly driven by psychopaths out to get me?

[Slaninar]

What's a car?


Are they those big things that are constantly driven by psychopaths out to get me?

A jewel of Yugoslav engineering: