My mate who is far too smart for his own good suggests against it, saying the particles are so small they get into the chain and clean out the lube behind the O/X rings... I understand where he has come from, but I have not heard any horror stories and mostly suggestions. I'm sick of being ripped off at £7 a can of chain cleaner only for it to last 1 or 2 applications at best. I clean my chain every weekend in the current weather. I'm thinking of just using an old toothbrush, a rag and a bottle of paraffin. This one to be exact: B&Q Bartoline Premium Paraffin 4 Litres, 15135245 Will this really harm the chain so much it is advised not to use it?
I've always taken the view that one shouldn't use a volatile solvent (petrol, thinners etc) and there's no problem. I don't think paraffin attacks the O/X rings or gets past them either. Just wish I had a nice warm place to sit and clean my bikes!
Used paraffin for many years...with almost no problems. Make sure you clean any overspill off your tyre before going around a left hand bend* * right hand if on a bevel R
Will have to give paraffin a try, I too use tins of WD40 type spray a cheaper brand but paraffin would Definetly be a cheaper bet.
Well, I just put the centre stand back on ready for the ride to Belgium in a few days, now to tackle the chain with paraffin... Using an old toothbrush and a rag to wipe it down with.
The way you clean your chain has more effect than the cleaning agent you use. If you're OCD and dive in with toothbrushes and chain cleaning machines every 5 minutes, you're going to foreshorten the life of the chain no matter what material you use. Over-cleaning it will kill it quicker than anything. If you simply must have a clean chain, apply the cleaner to a rag rather than directly onto the chain, and only use your hands, that way you can't over-apply the cleaner and force it past the o-rings. Only deep clean it 2 or 3 times a year, and even then make bloody sure you dry it off and reapply lube.
I think I read somewhere that you shouldn use wd40 on your o ring chain as it expands rubber o rings. in fact its used to expand o rings in some cases to fit them and another product is then used to shrink to original size. perhaps someone can confirm this ,or not.
If you were to believe every internet dietician you'd never eat or drink again. I can tell you, as an expert in this field, that this would not be very good for you. The same is true of just about every other subject on Earth, including chain cleaning. Every cleaner on the planet is bad for chains, but nowhere near as bad as the shit that flies up from the road and sticks to it, so clean it with whatever you've got. People have used paraffin and wd40 for generations without dying - go figure - but if you're unsure about it do as I say, put the cleaner on a rag rather than directly on the chain, there's less chance of using too much, of the cleaner seeping behind the o-rings, or of it attacking your stylish gold plating... Just be sensible. You don't have to scrub the chain after every ride, that's bloody ridiculous, just wash the bike, then rub the chain with a rag-full of whatever cleaner, job done. The thing with clean chains is that nobody notices but you, you OCD-ridden wretch.
I use white spirit. Easier to find than Paraffin and cleaner to use and the good new is that my local 99p Shop has it.
And anyone who has an oil-fired boiler has a plentiful supply (Kerosene)... I've been taking a bit out via the old-fashioned level-gauge on the side of my tank for years now whenever I want to clean a chain (using toothbrush/rag). I dont't know what Ducati say (and I don't really care, because my chain was made by DID) but I have an old Suzuki manual which specifically recommends cleaning the chain with kerosene, explaining in the same section that the O rings keep the grease in, but that the kerosene cleans off dirt and "will provide some lubrication as well as cleaning action" - the lubrication in this case must refer to the outer rollers rather than the pins in the links (which are of course sealed). I reckon the kerosene/paraffin residue (after drying off) should help any additional lubricant get into the outer rollers. Whatever you do, it's unwise to put the bike in gear (while up on paddock stand) and let the engine turn the wheel as you use brush/rag to clean - I saw some horrifc pictures on another forum site of what can happen if your finger gets between chain and rear sprocket...
Another use for parffin is to mix it with a cheap washing up liquid (back to the 99p shop) and it makes a great de geaser.
