Randy Bosma

... well really chain cleaning solvent, but I 'm not looking for yet another thread on how-to and do or don't bother. I've picked the petrol-based no water method about every 500-1000 miles. What petrol-based solvent do 50+ bikers prefer for the cleaning phase? Paint thinner, gasoline, mineral spirits, etc?

TomD77

Kerosene makes a very good solvent without going aerosol and the attendant flash fire hazards.

jdon

Varsol but only when chains, chainrings and cassettes have been removed. Otherwise, a citrus degreser.

waldowales

Stoddard solvent or mineral spirits.

stapfam

Methanol

Commonly used within the truck business as "AntiFreeze" for the brake systems and is cheap. Clears grease and oil a treat-Non corrosive and evaporates quickly leaving an as new to look at chain. Does take a lot of oil to re-lube the chain though as it takes all oil away.

Rowan

Diesel, cheap, comparatively safe with a low flash point, and effective. Four litres from the gas station pump should last you ages.

leob1

If I remember correctly fom a past life, Varsol is nasty stuff, very efficient as a degreaser, but nasty. And flamable.
I just use mineral spirits, which is also pretty nasty.

jdon

It is nasty stuff indeed but that is what my neighbor runs in his parts washer.

Terex

No reason to use petroleum based materials when citrus based solvents work just as well, even if you have to apply a little more elbow grease.

GlennR

I use Safety Klean to clean my automotive parts so i'm sure it will do a great job on the chain.

I also have a ultrasonic cleaner

Bob Ross

Odorless mineral spirits, because I don't have a garage and I live in an apartment.
(But also because it works.)

volosong

Mineral Spirits in an old, metal pound cake baking tin. I completely disassemble the cassette and chainrings about once a month. Soak the chain overnight in a mason jar then go at it with an old tooth brush the next day before re-assembling and lubing the whole thing again.

Terex

I'm glad I live really far from most of you guys.

ericm979

I just wipe the chain off every couple rides (80-150 miles) and put on some lube. Takes less than a minute. Every couple weeks I use the same rag to clean off the jockey wheels. Unless I need to remove the crank or derailleur, the chain never comes off the bike.

I use my own homebrew lube that's half mineral spirits and half synthetic two-stroke motorcycle oil that I had left over from my racing days. It works as well as the commercial lubes but the only cost to me was a gallon of mineral spirits which I needed anyhow to remove tubular glue.

Randy Bosma

Well, thanks to all for a boatload of information. Looks like mineral spirits wins the popular vote. Running my chain through my Parks chain cleaner may take a bit of time, but hey, bike maintenance is a catharsis for the soul.

byte_speed

Just to add to the diversity, I use spray on white lithium grease to clean the chain in place. Sounds odd, but the spray on grease is mostly light solvent that evaporates quickly.

Spray it on, wipe off dirt & excess spray, ride. Quick, no danger of losing lubrication (you may even add some) no relube step, no solvent to dispose, and the chain is dry & doesn't tend to collect much dirt when you are done.

Now it doesn't deep clean the chain, but I suspect (hope?) the grease will fill the chain gaps & help prevent dirt intrusion.

Bent Bill

I like this stuff spray it on scrub a little with a brush an hose it off

https://www.gunk.com/products/cat_det.asp

DGlenday

Question: what's wrong with ... petrol? (aka gasoline in the USA)

I don't use it any more, but have in the past. Didn't seem to cause any damage...

zandoval 

For cleaning I like WD40 - When I am looking for a quick solvent the first thing I grab is the old bottle of charcoal lighter fluid siting next to his friend - The Grill...

Rowan

There is a Stihl power equipment dealer in another town near where I live. He uses petrol to clean the foam air filters of various small engines, then blows them out with compressed air.

I am waiting for the news one day that he has done this, a guy with a lit cigarette comes around the corner, and the whole place goes up in an explosion.

Gasoline fumes highly dangerous because of their flash point; diesel much, much less so.

Burton

None of the above. WD40 in my experience, works extremely well on cassettes, chains and chainrings. It can also be filtered through a paint-filter lined with a paper towel and reused a number of times. More if you dump the used liquid in a jar and let the solids settle to the bottom. Unlike Varsol, its safe for rubber seals, O-rings and plastics.

OK - its also safer for people too - less toxic and less flamable.

Cyril 

Naptha

hartphoto 

Here's everything you need. Works awesome whenever I have an extra 5-6 minutes and want to clean both the tandem chains....

https://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

GeorgeBMac

Thanks! Why didn't you tell us about that before -- instead of all this debate and bickering?

hartphoto 

I like

In all seriousness and to add more fire to the debate....

I went through this exercise years ago, and decided if it's good enough for motorcycles, it's good enough for bicycles. I use PJ1 Black Label. If you are doing your chain due diligence, then a solvent isn't really necessary IMHO.....PJ1 the chain every week, let it sit/soak a few minutes, and wipe it clean...twice.

I also have the Park tool for telling if a chain is worn. While I don't track my mileage as close as most here do, I end up replacing chains every 6 months to 2 years depending on the bike (7 active bicycles in our garage, 3 of which are tandems). With this regimen, I've only worn out 1 cassette.

YMMV