It certainly does work , but paraffin is far better for the longevity of the chain . It's less likely to dilute or wash out the grease inside the links , or damage the "O" rings ( or "X" rings ). It's the solvent component of products like WD40 that make it a bad choice .
Parafin for chains. WD40 for electrics or general cleaning. Petrol (old) for engine muck if no parafin handy.
I remember back in the day a product called Linklife, or something like that. It was essentially a circular biscuit tin half full of a solidified graphite grease that you laid your curled up chain on top and then heated it up on a small camping Gaz stove, melting the grease. The chain would disappear into the grease and after a prescribed time you hooked the chain out and hung it over the tin to catch the liquid grease runoff. When “dry” put it back on the bike.
I have attached a Ducati publication distributed to the North American Dealer Network regarding Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions. I have no idea why they termed it “Precautions” and only distributed it to dealers in North America.
9 Back in the day of non sealed chains and split links. The advent of o-ring chains and more powerful bikes necessitating a pressed/peened link has done away with that ritual. I remember getting bollocking for doing my chain with that stuff on my mum's Aga...
That was before the days of modern o and x ring chains i believe. That from memory was how you revived the chain.
And look out if you forgot to put a nail through the hole in the handle when picking it up. Don’t ask how I know
This. Why would you use (and pay through the nose) for anything else? "In 2007 "Machinist's Workshop Mag. tm" published information on various penetrating oils including subjective tests of many of the popular penetrants. The following list is the results of their test with the control being the torque in foot pounds required to remove a nut from a bolt in a "scientifically rusted" environment. Penetrant ------------------------------------------ Average Load None ------------------------------------------------ 516 Ft. Lbs. WD-40 ---------------------------------------------- 238 Ft. Lbs. PB Blaster ----------------------------------------- 214 Ft. Lbs. Liquid Wrench ------------------------------------ 127 Ft. Lbs. Kano Kroil ------------------------------------------ 106 Ft. Lbs. ATF*/Acetone Mix --------------------------------- 53 Ft. Lbs. ATF= Automatic Transmission Fluid The ATF/Acetone mix was a "home brewed" mix of 50/50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone which proved to be better than any of the commercial brands of penetrant on a removing a nut rusted onto a bolt. No matter which penetrant is used they all require a period of time to wick down into the threads, but because acetone has an extremely low dynamic viscosity, it's thin, it gets into the threads quicker than the other products with the ATF following shortly behind for lubrication."
