Please help me understand and select chain and sprockets

[littleroot]

hopefully you used kerosene to clean up that chain....and after you cleaned it all up, you did oil/lube it back up right......

just making sure...

glad to hear it was useable, it can get pricey on just those 3 items...

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I bought this stuff as it got good reviews on line and in the store. It really did clean it up - it looked brand new. If the link does not work the description is "MAXIMA Clean Up Air-Filter Cleaner and Chain/Sprocket Degreaser"

As for lube I used the PJ1 Blue can. This stuff is a lot thinner than I thought a chain lube should be. The stuff I use on bicycles is closer to the consistency of motor oil. I sprayed the PJ1 at the end of every pin (both sides) spraying downwards on the bottom, return run of the chain. Seemed to work well.

 

[Joe Nardy]

As for lube I used the PJ1 Blue can. This stuff is a lot thinner than I thought a chain lube should be. The stuff I use on bicycles is closer to the consistency of motor oil. I sprayed the PJ1 at the end of every pin (both sides) spraying downwards on the bottom, return run of the chain. Seemed to work well.

Chain lubes contain chemicals which allow it to spray thinly and freely but then evaporate to leave a thick, tacky lube behind. Feel the chain after a few minutes, it will not feel thin any more.

 

[littleroot]

Chain lubes contain chemicals which allow it to spray thinly and freely but then evaporate to leave a thick, tacky lube behind. Feel the chain after a few minutes, it will not feel thin any more.

Good to know! Thanks

 

[Guest]

I bought this stuff as it got good reviews on line and in the store. It really did clean it up - it looked brand new. If the link does not work the description is "MAXIMA Clean Up Air-Filter Cleaner and Chain/Sprocket Degreaser"

As for lube I used the PJ1 Blue can. This stuff is a lot thinner than I thought a chain lube should be. The stuff I use on bicycles is closer to the consistency of motor oil. I sprayed the PJ1 at the end of every pin (both sides) spraying downwards on the bottom, return run of the chain. Seemed to work well.

I would probably not use that degreaser on that chain again. I would stick with kerosene. A heavy duty degreaser could take out the grease inside the O-rings and you'll find yourself needing a chain sooner than you otherwise would.
Kerosene is the recommended chain cleaner. Motor oil is the recommended lube, these are the manufacturers recommendations that is.
I got a new can of PJ1 on my shelf, I used it a couple of times and then I went back to motor oil.

 

[littleroot]

I would probably not use that degreaser on that chain again. I would stick with kerosene. A heavy duty degreaser could take out the grease inside the O-rings and you'll find yourself needing a chain sooner than you otherwise would.
Kerosene is the recommended chain cleaner. Motor oil is the recommended lube, these are the manufacturers recommendations that is.
I got a new can of PJ1 on my shelf, I used it a couple of times and then I went back to motor oil.

I have to say after using this cleaner a few times it seems to not do very much, doubt it is hurting the o-rings as it is advertised not to.

I want to try the kerosene, how do you apply it?

 

[mike_of_bbg]

When I used kerosene in the past, I just put a little in a jar and used an old soft toothbrush to apply/scrub, then wiped with a rag. I only did that once when the chain was very dirty.

With a sealed chain, the biggest priority is to ensure that the seal rings, be they o-rings or x-rings or whatever, are clean. Particularly with o-rings getting dirt caught between the rings and the chain plates can eat away at the rings. Once they let loose their grease, there's no putting it back. For that reason I would avoid anything that gets tacky and might make that dirt stick. I use this stuff:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_213197-3996...on&UserSearch=teflon&productId=1059839&rpp=32

At $5/can at Lowe's (look in the tool section) it's cheap and readily available. The propellant makes a good cleaner, and once it dries it's Teflon so dirt is not so prone to stick to it. It's labeled O-ring safe, and even smells a bit like coconut I've never seen anyone that's used it have anything bad to say about it.