A question for the chain gang.

[Uncle fester]

Hi I'm still new to all of this and I would like to know what's the best chain cleaner and lube . I've bought a 2005 varadero 125 which had a new chain and sprocket a few months ago but it looks dirty and clogged up to me so I want to vive it a clean . Is acf 50 any good for it?
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Tomorrows another day .just as we'll at my age

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally on the odd occasions I clean the chain I use old engine oil and a toothbrush.

All the best

Keith
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[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Cheap and very effective de-greaser is Paraffin. Old nail brushes, cotton rags...let your imagination go wild.
Cheapo car shampoo to wash off the Paraffin, some use furniture polish on the plastics but I use auto glym a few times a year.

Acf50 is best used before the bad weather sets in (road salt, mud etc)
Keep it off discs and tyres. Best applied to a clean bike with a cotton rag...goes further and you can use the soaked rag over and over...stash in a plastic freezer bag)
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[Uncle fester]

That's great thanks .ive just ordered a litre of acf50 so I will get busy with a brush cheers
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Tomorrows another day .just as we'll at my age

[P.]

Wouldn't use ACF50 on the chain, just the bike, swing arm and visibly frame areas and the front fork area would be nice...

I just use old used engine oil and a toothbrush on the chain.

[pinkyfloyd]

As HT said. Parafin is great for removing the crud off the old chain and then wiping with a rag. Make sure you give it a good clean and let it all dry out before adding more oil.

In truth though I never clean my chain in winter. The grease build up helps keep the salt away from the chain. Seems to work anyways.
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[Andrew_]

Wouldn't acf-50 attract more dirt?

[haroman666]

I use White Spirit to clean off and I scrub it with a brush and then wipe it with kitchen roll/blue roll tissue.

I then wipe on car gearbox oil with a paint brush. I never used to use this but upon reading on here and other forums that a lot of people use it, i thought i'd give it a try. It flings off so easily and the chain is dry within 50 miles... So I might go back to using the aerosol tacky wet lube that I used to use.
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The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[WetAndCold]

I just spray on degreaser, give it a brush and a rinse. Then spray on some muc-off chain lube.

Once a month if it's lucky
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Honda CBR600f sport
Cage: 2008 Honda Civic type-R

[esullivan]

I do mine once a week lately because I'm commuting every day and it gets dirty quickly with the rain and road spray. I use a (relatively) expensive method, compared with the people doing this with a paint brush and old engine oil.

1. Spray on chain cleaner. Usually Muc Off or similar. Let sit for five minutes.

2. Go over the chain with a brush, lightly, to loosen any dirt and grime. I use a brush designed for this. Search for chain cleaning brush on Amazon. They're cheap. But I'm sure an old, soft toothbrush would be fine too.

3.Wipe chain with an old rag (this is when it starts to *look* clean) and then let sit for 5-10 minutes to make sure the chain cleaner has dried/evaporated away.

4. Spray dry chain lube (again, usual Muc Off, or whatever the local Halfords has this week) on the inside bottom of the chain. I probably put too much on, but I spray liberally, with my left hand, while moving my wheel with the right. I'll go twice around one direction, wait two minutes, and then go twice around the other direction.

5. Leave the bike to sit for at least 30 minutes, but more like an hour or two, before riding again, to let the lube set.

Hope that helps.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Ribenapigeon]

I wouldent use ACF50 on the chain. Also better just spraying lube on the chain and wait till spring to give it a clean.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[P.]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Yeah - I just found it didn't work as well. I think diesel - despite having a somewhat oily consistency - does have a solvent in it, and that seems to leave the chain much cleaner than old oil. But yeah - the latter is cheaper.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[P.]

Chains aren't meant to be clean. Lubricated IMO is far better than just a clean chain.

I've used engine oil since getting a bike and I've got a sports bike chain to 27k and it wasn't all the way back to the adjusters yet

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Wow that's some going. Fwiw I clean my chain about once every 6 weeks, when grit and shit have clogged it and you can hear/feel the crud grating when you lift it up and down for a tension check. That's when I get busy with the diesel, then give it generous squirts of clean oil after. Yeah that can mean fuck loads of fling, but shit - riding it after that sounds so awesome. Even gear changes are better. It's surprising how much difference it makes tbh.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Rowey]

You need to clean chains periodically as dirt and what ever lube you use combine into a sort of grinding paste.

I tend to just use a non fling waxy type lube once a week or so after a ride while the chain is warm. Stuff like Wurths dry lube is very good. Although I get whatever from the nearest bike shop or Halfrauds if I can't find it. The problem with used oil is it can be acidic and damage the ring seals. It also flicks everywhere.

To give the chain a quick clean I just use some Muc-Off water soluble chain cleaner, stiff brush and hose. If I want to give it a deep clean then I use paraffin first, then Muc-Off ect.

I wouldn't use ACF-50 on the chain. It's not really a lube. It's an anti corrosion treatment. Not to say you've wasted your money, that stuff is great at looking after your bike through winter.
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Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[Alpha-9]

I'd keep ACF50 well away from the chain, i'd be surprised if it DOESNT devour o-rings like no man's business

I use hot soapy water, dry it off and lube
Wurth stuff is good

ACF50 is pretty dear too
Wurth dry chain lube ftw, also Wurth brake cleaner is fucking excellent, cleaned my drums up nicely
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Fzr-600 1999

[Rowey]

[sidewinder]

Heating oil cleans chains well
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