Kerosene is BACK!!!...

[TIMMYDUCK]

Yes, I've used everything from a nice stiff denture brush down to my finger nails, to polish, clean and lube my chain.
Some of us live in places when there are dirt roads.

 

[Henryace1]

The Home Depot near doesn't carry Kerosene. Why I don't know but there is a little local hardware store down the street from me and they carry kerosene all year long.

 

[Narcissus]

If you don't mind the smell, diesel works just as well as kerosene.

 

[techbum]

My bad....you're right.....I was under the impression that a solvent was like ...uh .......electrical cleaner, naptha or something.. but I stand corrected.....sorry.

 

[FourWinds]

If you don't mind the smell, diesel works just as well as kerosene.

Precisely. Diesel works very well, and last I knew - costs less than kero. I'm an industrial mechanic, and have been involved with industrial MRO for the past 15 years. In my studies, WD-40 and the like are merely kerosene-based solvents with additives for cling, surfactants for film strength and chemicals to lower evaporation rate. Essentially, just kerosene with some dish soap (albeit a small amount) added to it. Also, for the record, Low-Odor Mineral spirits is kerosene that has been refined and filtered. The chemical composition is very close, and the flash point is the same. Lately I've been using WD-40 in bulk cans, because the kero smell has really been irritaing my sinuses (long story). It costs more, but does a damn fine job.

My chain scrubber:

I use an old clorox jug with the top cut off halfway down. In the sides of the jug, I make cuts wide enough and deep enough for the chain to set into. I then use that to catch the dirty WD-40 drippings. I use a parts brush to scrub it with. I find that doing this once a week works much better than waiting until its really scrungy and caked with goop.

Bottom line is that I don't really give a rat's behind how many miles I get out of a chain, just that it's working properly as part of the whole machine.

 

[eynlai]

I used kerosene for the first time yesterday to wipe the swingarm. It worked great!! I can't wait to try it on the chain itself. I even used it to wipe down the sub-arm, the rims, and the back mud-guard behind the license plate. One question though: Is Kerosene safe to use on the rim (since it's painted) and the mud guard (since it's plastic)?

 

[FourWinds]

I used kerosene for the first time yesterday to wipe the swingarm.  It worked great!!  I can't wait to try it on the chain itself.  I even used it to wipe down the sub-arm, the rims, and the back mud-guard behind the license plate.  One question though:  Is Kerosene safe to use on the rim (since it's painted) and the mud guard (since it's plastic)?

I would only use kero for tar-removal on painted surfaces, followed by washing. Anything powder-coated should be fine, but over time you stand the chance of "crazing" or degrading the paint.

 

[busa_boy_69]

Kerosene works awesome. I put the bike up on the pitbull stand. Put some kerosene in a bowel with a toothbrush.....dip and soak the chain good and give it a better cleaning than the dentist can do to ur teeth. It removes the chain lube and dirt with no problem and most people don't know it but wd-40 will actually cause dirt to STICK to the chain if left uncleaned for long periods of time. Kerosene is a natural oil so what better lubricant for ur chain. Just my two cents everyone does there bike to their own liking. Thats what makes things so cool. Everyone can show u a new trick.

 

[oldguy]

Do NOT breath wd-40 fumes. Always use this sh*t with lots of ventilation(or with gas mask). It has additives that get into your lungs and never leaves. This is fact from my WHMIS training.

 

[justintime2]

Kerosene + rags + wheel stands + spray wax = good times and clean chain!

These things actually look pretty good gold!

 

[bacharles]

Kerosene works awesome. I put the bike up on the pitbull stand. Put some kerosene in a bowel with a toothbrush.....dip and soak the chain good and give it a better cleaning than the dentist can do to ur teeth. It removes the chain lube and dirt with no problem and most people don't know it but wd-40 will actually cause dirt to STICK to the chain if left uncleaned for long periods of time. Kerosene is a natural oil so what better lubricant for ur chain. Just my two cents everyone does there bike to their own liking. Thats what makes things so cool. Everyone can show u a new trick.

EXACTLY HOW I DOES IT...

But I personally prefer a "bowl" as opposed to a "bowel"...

Kerosene is a by-product of oil in the refining industry so it does have some lubricating capabilities while at the same time cleans. Not to say that you can lube your chain with it, but it does seem to work well that it keeps lubing the o-rings, or in my case... x-rings. Don't mean to sound all uppity and shiiite, but since I work at a Refinery the kerosene is FREE!

 

[busa_boy_69]

Rock on man. Yeah I did mean bowel. Thanks for being my English teacher haha. Seriously though I run the x ring chain also and it does an awesome job for it. I like to keep it clean and use PLENTY of chain lube after the kerosene dries. But hey since u work in a refinery how bout sending me a little five gallon care package every six months or so? Free is always nice.

 

[bacharles]

5 gals. may be getting a tad bit greedy on my part. I usually get a gallon of it at a time and it lasts me the entire riding season. Actually wasn't trying to ream you on the 'bowel' thing, but as I was reading it I was laughing my ass off because I was picturing the scenario as you described it.

 

[busa_boy_69]

It's all good man long as you got a laugh out of it. Send me the five gallons and we will call it even though. hahaha

 

[Sane_man]

That's a good tip, run the chain through your Bowel crack to keep it clean.

 

[#cruncherbusa]

You know I always wondered how the heck you clean a chain. I just lube and lube and lube...and lube some more and hope it magicaly cleans itself.

And here I was thinking that it was just me.