Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol?

Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - Printable Version

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Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - matt7chunk - 25-03-18

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.

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - bandit - 25-03-18

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

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - Disorderlypunk - 25-03-18

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

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - darrsi - 25-03-18

I use WD40 for cleaning my chain.

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - matt7chunk - 25-03-18

(25-03-18, 02:57 PM)bandit link Wrote: 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

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - darrsi - 25-03-18

(25-03-18, 04:09 PM)matt7chunk link Wrote: [quote author=bandit link=topic=23912.msg277244#msg277244 date=1521986248]
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
[/quote]

Not as slippery as oil?

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - bandit - 25-03-18

(25-03-18, 04:09 PM)matt7chunk link Wrote: [quote author=bandit link=topic=23912.msg277244#msg277244 date=1521986248]
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
[/quote]

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.

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - Triggergee - 25-03-18

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.

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - matt7chunk - 25-03-18

(25-03-18, 05:14 PM)darrsi link Wrote: [quote author=matt7chunk link=topic=23912.msg277249#msg277249 date=1521990583]
[quote author=bandit link=topic=23912.msg277244#msg277244 date=1521986248]
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
[/quote]

Not as slippery as oil?
[/quote]

I had that one coming :rollin

(25-03-18, 05:18 PM)bandit link Wrote: [quote author=matt7chunk link=topic=23912.msg277249#msg277249 date=1521990583]
[quote author=bandit link=topic=23912.msg277244#msg277244 date=1521986248]
Should be safe for O rings but it's not as cheap as paraffin.

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - fazersharp - 25-03-18

Paraffin here too. In a bottle with a squirty top cardboard between chain and wheel and Mrs Sharp's tooth brush.
[Image: index.php?action=dlattach;topic=20030.0;...1006;image]

[Image: index.php?action=dlattach;topic=20030.0;...1006;image]

And after

[Image: index.php?action=dlattach;topic=20030.0;...1020;image]

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - Dave48 - 26-03-18

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.

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - His Dudeness - 31-03-18

(26-03-18, 09:12 AM)Dave48 link Wrote: 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! :eek that chain must be clean enough to eat your dinner off :lol

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - Millietant - 06-04-18

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.

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - darrsi - 07-04-18

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.

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - Slaninar - 07-04-18

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.

[Image: 29597968_1851650524853657_35881357783037...e=5B76015D]

[Image: 29597968_1851650524853657_35881357783037...e=5B76015D]

[Image: 29790081_1851650541520322_91936970428130...e=5B67CF09]

[Image: 29791423_1851650521520324_23042914640639...e=5B66BE8E]

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - celticdog - 07-04-18

I swear by white spirit, does a great job of cleaning the chain and other bits too. Smile

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

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - darrsi - 07-04-18

(07-04-18, 08:31 AM)celticdog link Wrote: 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. :lol

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - fazersharp - 07-04-18

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.

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - fazersharp - 07-04-18

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.

Re: Chain cleaning with isopropyl alcohol? - Slaninar - 07-04-18

(07-04-18, 10:38 AM)fazersharp link Wrote: 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.