I was told by one of the mechanics at my usual service shop to use Mineral Spirits to clean the chain before applying whatever product, in my case chain wax.

I asked him about Kerosene and was told that it will prematurely wear out the o-ring but I still see many people using it so it can't be that bad for it I supposed. Either way I would rather keep a tin of mineral spirits on the shelf than a bottle/can of kerosene in my garage...

I was told by one of the mechanics at my usual service shop to use Mineral Spirits to clean the chain before applying whatever product...

I was told by my hairdresser, that if I wash my hair with shampoo, I would wash out the oil mineral spiritstyle >

How do I look? Dressed to kill? Now, if only I brought the, Ass-Trow-Glide, I could shove that dildo up some suggestion. If I look at shame poo'wing that chain, would a simple observation show you; WHY remove the grease in the pins with a grease cutter?

I am jamming grease into the chain with my bare hands. Slap that grease on I don't care how dirty the chain is. I can't get the little crunchers out of the chain on the dry-wipe-down. Could I not squeeze some grease in and push the grit in suspension? Would not oil/gas/grease be a natural detergent? Then clean with grease is me.

Me-can-nick a screwdriver at the back of 3 chains on 3 different bike sprockets right now. Show you my greased 13K miles, or there about > looking good on the pull back is not the way to check, but for purposes of: Lube vs. WD-40 vs. Chain Spray... Have I got video proof of the benchmark if blue is done with his at such a short a lube life.

One more "benchmark" call it WOT you will. Bet me I am harder on my bike than most 14 owners... BAD? Yes, or No? Sitting on that 1320 dyno of yours, I'll benchmark that chain; you Wahhhh-Wahhh cushion you! One bad video coming up is 2BADon't watchit!

Piss Pour One right ear/look/listen: GrabaBeer. Dis IS The UNDERGROUND! Sit on the BENCH that fucking mechanic is school that cleaner weener is get up in the morning one step meaner I set that bike on some race grid line.

I'm ready for WAR! Show me the Money, Honey!

* Last updated by: Hub on 5/23/2010 @ 11:12 AM *

GrabaBeer. Dis IS The UNDERGROUND! Sit on the BENCH that fucking mechanic is school that cleaner weener is get up in the morning one step meaner I set that bike on some race grid line.
I'm ready for WAR! Show me the Money, Honey!

So Hub, You disagree ? Sorry I had 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSA4HndKjPQ I set this in the wrong thread. I had the camera set up for the brake check but ran out of time. This is the chain dis on your cleaning buddy where I got his spirit against a screwdriver tip. Filmed as it happens.

IKeyes, I've used kerosene for more than 30 years and never had any problems with o-rings wearing out pre-maturely. Who knows what their life should be but mineral spirits would be harsher on them than kerosene. Many factory manuals call for kerosene when cleaning the o-ring chains.
Just another case of someone passing on poor information, in this case the mechanic.

Ya...I think the manual calls for cleaning with kerosene as well,then lubing with 90 wt oil.Okay...I've got a brand new chain on my baby.THIS go round....I'm going to do it exactly by the book....just to see what kind of life I get this time.I used Silkolene spray...very good stuff IMO.Cleanest and least fling of any spray I tried(Bel-Ray was THE ABSOLUTE WORST-stuff flew everywhere-even after I had wiped the chain down BEFORE the ride).Cleaned my last chain with Marvel Mystery Oil.Used Dupont Teflon "chain spray" lubricant...not so positive the Marvel was good for the X-rings.Started losing the roller/link grease out the sides of the links/pins-yet there wasn't any visible ring damage that I could see.I'm thinkin the Marvel oil affected the shape or size of the x-rings somehow.So I won't be cleaning my new chain with that again.I'll go with the book way....although the 90w oil sounds a tad messy.....guess I'll have to wipe it down really well after application.We'll see.Kawasaki's been correct so far with their manual instructions as far as I can tell so far.I'm gonna have to discipline myself a tad more when it comes to chain care.The book says something like every 400(maybe less)miles for lubing under dusty or high speed operation.I've stayed "kinda" close to that,but not using the kerosene and 90w.Have to see how that goes.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 5/24/2010 @ 1:21 AM *

Okay...in my mind's eye I've seen "how that goes".I aint gonna be usin 90w oil to lube my chain.Maxima....may be it.

I think the 90 wt suggestion goes back to the Flintstones. A million years ago it's all there was but todays lubes make it obsolete. I can just see it all flinging off and any moisture at all and you get rust.
I've used Maxima chain wax for years and it works well. It keeps the o-rings nice and doesn't fling. It doesn't attract much dirt either. There may be other good stuff out there but I'm not experimenting anymore.
But for cleaning the kerosene is still best in my opinion. I don't wash the chain in it or submerge it though. I just get a towel kinda half wet and lightly wring it out and then wipe off the old coatings. No dripping allowed. It takes more time to rub it all off but I feel better knowing nothing is getting past the o-rings. Any cleaner, even kerosene figures to compromise the factory grease job if any gets past.
Washing the chain and jabbing it with brushes, etc, is shortening the chain life in my opinion.
I find it hard to stick with the 400 mile routine too. Hell, there's just no time to be as perfect as you're told to be. Between cars, bikes, boats, lawnmowers, the house and whatever else you have, if you stuck to all the factory maintenance you'd have no time to live, not to mention the costs. Just glancing at my factory manual for the 14 I should already change the brake lines? And how about the fork oil, fuel lines, etc? And that's just my 2 1/2 year old bike. It would never end.
I probably coat the chain once every 2 months actually. I've cleaned it good I think twice so far (6,500 miles). I don't ride in the rain or any dirt areas. It stays fairly clean.

Im using something called Profi dry lube. Its some teflon stuff.. Only 5000km's so far nut it looks good.
No grease on the rear wheel and the chain&sprocket looks new.. Drylube

I think Wurth makes something similliar..
Wurth

Only downside is the chain have to be lubed more during wet conditions (every 300km).
In dry conditions i lube it after each ride/500km. Takes me 5min, using the sidestand and a piece of wood on the other side to lift the wheel of the ground. Aply on the inside, wait 3-4min and spray again, wait one min. and off you go...

As soon as the shipments start arriving, I'm on the list for Muc-Off Chain Doctor. Here's a video:
Video

* Last updated by: loadedmind on 5/26/2010 @ 2:27 PM *

not so positive the Marvel was good for the X-rings.Started losing the roller/link grease out the sides of the links/pins-yet there wasn't any visible ring damage that I could see.

Thanks blue. I used Marvel to clean the chain one time. Seemed to work very nicely but i don't know how much better it would be than plain old motor oil. I used WD-40 to clean also. Long story short-- i have o-rings broken on more links than not. Still runs fine, I lube it often but of course I would rather have intact o-rings. I still am finding one or two o-rings sticking out each time I clean the chain.

Kerosene works fine for cleaning as long as you wipe the stuff off right away. If you let kerosene set for a while and then come back to try to wipe it, almost all of the liquid will have evaporated and you have to start all over. Next chain I will be using ONLY kerosene to clean like you.

Well I'm glad I posted that... I trust you guys more anyways lol

found this on ebay check it out

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260616258553&viewitem=#ht_517wt_1167

LOL No thanks! That's much uglier than a dirty wheel.

nice find scottjkyl

@Rook - You take it off after you lube the chain dude ;)

lmao yea rook you just put that on there while your lubing the chain keeps you from over spraying lube onto the wheel

I don't know how close that thing fits on the right side of the sprocket but it looks like it's in the way, at least where I spray.
You're supposed to spray the lube right where the sprocket and chain meet, both sides, to get the lube on the pins/rollers. Then I shoot all the plates on each side.

I use WD-40 on a rag, grip the chain with the rag while turning the rear wheel. I don't think it really matters what you clean it with as long as you don't spray it right on the chain, I spray it on the rag only.
And i use this stuff to lube it, the best stuff I have ever found, get it at Lowe's and try it out. Always spray the inside of the chain...

* Last updated by: Gabriel on 6/26/2010 @ 10:57 PM *

I pretty much do the same as blue except I havent tried the marvel mystery oil yet. I usually spray it down with wd40 then I go back over it with the dupont teflon. I picked it at lowes and it doesnt sling off as bad as some of the chain lube/wax I have used. A lot of times I dont even put that on, just a coat of wd40.

That maxima chain wax is impressive. I cleaned my chain and applied the wax liberally after a 30 minute ride and then left the bike on the stand for the night... I've been riding all week and there is no sign of fling off on my rear wheel whatsoever.

I also have one of these arriving soon, looks to be worth the $ hopefully, and plan to just dip it in kero:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/9/205/26792/ITEM/Simple-Solutions-Grunge-Brush.aspx

Nice brush, Ikeys.

@Rook - You take it off after you lube the chain dude ;)

lmao yea rook you just put that on there while your lubing the chain keeps you from over spraying lube onto the wheel

Thank god. The thought of riding around with that was so horrible, i couldn't read about it. Thought it was some kind of chain guard for the over zealous neat freak sport bike rider.

K-Y lube works great ,sorry wrong topic,for cleaning the chain I use kerosene,WD-40 for overspray,any reputable wax for the chain.I like golden specto for long distancs riding,you can buy it in very small cans so its easy to pack

Lookat you poop stains.

I took a dry paper towel and wiped my rim off of grease is the way to go you with the cans laid out on the gay rage floor is someone show me the door, I'm outta here tell you is tell me about greasing my KY you jelly gum drops, go take that paper towel and clean up your rear end, I need to bend over and lube my chain with some special sauce is that you charlie?

Someone's at the door... brb.

IKEYES; mate how ya going with the grungebrush I bought one this week, and ordered 12 for my mates, as I am injuried at the moment It would be good to get your feedback!!

I have a grunge brush like the one pictured, above. Have never used.

I just put kerosene on a shop rag, and with the bike on the center stand, spin the tire while holding the rag to the chain with a cupped hand. Cleans it very well.

Then I put chain wax on it, which doesn't overspray unless you are a totally uncoordinated and can't spray with one hand and turn the wheel with the other. And of course, you got to get the wax where it does some good, getting on the gear teeth doesn't help much. Heh.

Spin the tire a couple times after you are done, chain looks nice!