Chain Cleaning - Kerosene?

[MNGreg]

Hey everyone, I looked but I could not find anything giving a good description of this. Here is the issue.

I am due to get some more chain cleaning solution. I currently use Motorex, which I have liked so far... Just seems like allot goes to waste in the spray. So I am contemplating getting Kerosene to try cleaning. I have read that people use a tooth brush to "dispense" it onto the chain. My Questions:

Does it do as good of a job as Motul, Motorex etc?
Do you just dip the toothbrush into the can of kerosene repeatedly or what do you do?
Depending on how you use the Kerosene (to get it on the toothbrush), how do you dispose of the excess since cant really pour it back in the container?

Thank you.. I think I am interested since my cans of Motorex are about $8 maybe? But can get a gallon of Kerosene for only $11..

 

[JSP]

Kerosene works awesome. I put it in an old spray bottle and spray it on.

 

[See red]

It is petro based so it will be fine. I would suggest also to use solvent. I put a pan under the bike and roll the chain forward so it drips into the front sprocket, that way It's already got the crap broken down for when I clean it.

 

[Uno979]

$4 at Walmart. Spray on, leave for 60 seconds/ 1 minute and wipe off.. Do not rinse. This is my chain after.. Was black before.

Kerosene will harm your o-rings if left on too long.. Like 30 minutes. Deteriorates rubber and plastic.

 

[JSP]

$4 at Walmart. Spray on, leave for 60 seconds/ 1 minute and wipe off.. Do not rinse. This is my chain after.. Was black before.

Kerosene will harm your o-rings.

Kerosene will NOT harm O-Rings. It is what is recommended by most manufacturers to clean them.

I also use the Dupont stuff and works great too though.

 

[Uno979]

Kerosene will NOT harm O-Rings. It is what is recommended by most manufacturers to clean them.

I also use the Dupont stuff and works great too though.

I edited.. Typed too fast. I'm just saying don't soak over night. It'll pull moisture out of plastic and rubber then make it brittle. Happened a lot to me in my younger years rebuilding carbs, motors and marine engines.

 

[MichaelInVenice]

I edited.. Typed too fast. I'm just saying don't soak over night. It'll pull moisture out of plastic and rubber then make it brittle. Happened a lot to me in my younger years rebuilding carbs, motors and marine engines.

Depends on the specific plastic or rubber compound. Some are built to handle it, others (especially any form of natural rubber) are not. Most kerosene storage containers are plastic and they can hold up for years.

Still, following the manufacturer recommendations is essential whether you use kerosene or anything else. Misuse it and you have no idea what the long-term impact will be from any of these solvents.

 

[Wooster]

Hahaha.....my chain has never looked that clean. Maybe I'll give that kerosene a try.

 

[dart1963]

don't let the epa know you're using kerosene and getting it all in the ground water..... lol

toothbrush, dip it, spray bottle, however you want... it does not take much, just keep working it over it, let it sit for a few tens of seconds, then rinse it off...

 

[Blue-Sun]

I used diesel fuel on my last bike chain. Kawasaki actually recommended kerosene or diesel for chain cleaning.

Diesel did a great job on that O-Ring chain. The chain was the only thing on that bike that lasted 20,000 miles...

This is my opinion, based on my own experiences.

 

[buzzbomb]

I keep an old, one gallon gas can of kerosene around. I've got a wide mouth tin can that I actually work from. I put cardboard under and behind the chain, and dip the Grungebrush in the wide mouth can to clean my chain.

I never take the kerosene out of the metal can. Some evaporates between usage, and I just replenish from my one gallon container. Kerosene is what was recommended in the Owner's Manual, so that's what I've used.

However... That stuff Uno uses looks like it does an amazing job. I'm going to have to look into it.

I've never seen a chain that clean though, and it kind if scares me as to what it's doing to the o'rings. Generally speaking, degreaser and o'rings don't play well together. If you get everything lubricating off of a chain, then it's just metal on metal, never mind the fact that the rubber o'rings are possibly degraded.

Know what? Gonna stick with the kerosene. It works, it's recommended by Yamaha, and my set up has zero environmental impact.

Damn, if that wasn't one clean-ass chain, though!

 

[BKP]

Just cleaned/lubed my chain (I've always used Motul cleaner / PJ1 Blue lube), and I realized something...

I should NEVER clean the chain without removing the front sprocket guard first on this bike.

Man, what a @#$%^ mess can accumulate under that thing... (should've taken pics... bleeccchhh)...

 

[dart1963]

I don't take it off every time... but maybe every 3-4 times, 'cause yeah, it gets pretty nasty in there

 

[MNGreg]

Just cleaned/lubed my chain (I've always used Motul cleaner / PJ1 Blue lube), and I realized something...

I should NEVER clean the chain without removing the front sprocket guard first on this bike.

Man, what a @#$%^ mess can accumulate under that thing... (should've taken pics... bleeccchhh)...

Ohhh WOW. I know what you mean. I took the cover off mid summer to clean the chain good, wash the bike etc and could not believe the amount of wax buildup around the front sprocket and the oil filter area... Of course not having checked there before.... I plan on cleaning out that area every 4k oilchange now.

 

[Alex6]

Can someone tell me why the front sprocket guard/cover bolts are screwed in so f#ing tight?! No wonder the oil filter was fully covered by the slippery grime, it sits right below the front sprocket. I had too use the hammer/screwdriver combo to remove the OEM Yamaha filter. Never again, the K&N-204 will be the ONLY filter for my bike.

 

[dart1963]

bolts have loctite on them... take them out and clean them really good, then just hand tighten (or if your hand isn't calibrated, torque them)...no problems after that!

 

[Alex6]

Back to the topic...
Yes, kerosine is recommended by the Yamaha Owner's manual, but please keep in mind that some believe it is a carcinogen, so wear gloves.
I have never seen a chain so clean that Uno979 showed. I hear many great things about the DuPont products for chain maintenance, tried myself, but I feel the Motul/Motorex products are better.

 

[Alex6]

bolts have loctite on them... take them out and clean them really good, then just hand tighten (or if your hand isn't calibrated, torque them)...no problems after that!

Exactly my point. Why locktite was even needed at all on this cover?

 

[yellowfz]

Crap, just cleaned mine today, and used the Citrus Cleaner I posted about before, the chain was as clean as the one pictured in the post #4.
No residue is the trick, Kerosene does that and so does the Citrus Cleaner which doesn't hurt rubber o-rings or environment.
The difference beween Diesel Fuel and kerosene

 

[BKP]

K...

WD-40, Kerosene, and the rest of the sh!t exposed:

Cleaning a Motorcycle Chain - webBikeWorld