Gasoline to clean cassette?

[DDBB]

I used to have a free supply of kerosene. Of course I could buy a gallon at home depot now but I'm wondering if it's o.k. to use gasoline to clean the chain and cassette? It's a good solvent and of course the chain will be lubed after it's cleaned and dry. Thoughts?

 

[indianajo]

No, it will wash the lubricant out of the "freehub" the one way clutch inside. It will also wash the lubricant out of the chain over top of it. The lubricant is not for the outside of the chain, it is for the pins and rollers inside the chain. This spray on wax strikes me as the same category of fraud as spray tan.
I clean mine with a screwdriver to get the grass blades and seed/grease balls out of the grooves. Other than that, dirt doesn't hurt it. Properly maintained chains and sprockets drip lubricant; talk to any factory mechanic.

 

[DDBB]

Thanks,I assume kerosene is preferred because of it's lubricating qualities then. I used to think chain wax was a hoax as well. I used a wet lube on a mtc. chain exclusively and it was worn out after 20,000mi. I switched to maxima chain wax for the replacement chain (same chain brand) and now have over 50,000mi. on it.. Granted this is a sealed o-ring chain. I think the chainwax does a great job of sealing up the o-rings so the lube stays inside and dirt stays outside.. Our bike chains are a different beast. Still searching for a good wet lube that doesn't make too much of a mess. So many choices.

 

[ebikemom]

My bike tech recommends motor oil that doesn't contain a solvent additive. He puts it on a cloth and runs the chain through. If a chain is filthy enough to need a thorough cleaning, he removes it from the bicycle and puts it in a jar with a citrus degreaser. He told me NEVER to spray a degreaser on my chain or bike as is displayed in some videos on how to clean bike chains, since the degreaser can work its way into wheel hubs and ruin the "sealed" bearings.

 

[ebikemom]

Also, check out this thread:
https://electricbikereview.com/foru...-do-not-clean-your-ebike-with-gasoline.24679/

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I heartily recommend citrus solvents for cleaning chains and cassettes. You can buy the gallon jugs at Home Depot and dilute them.

A toothbrush is really useful for cleaning these parts, and I do the toothbrush thing about every couple hundred miles. I remove and soak the chain and cassette in diluted citrus solvent every 500-600 miles.

 

[indianajo]

I heartily recommend citrus solvents for cleaning chains and cassettes. You can buy the gallon jugs at Home Depot and dilute them.

A toothbrush is really useful for cleaning these parts, and I do the toothbrush thing about every couple hundred miles. I remove and soak the chain and cassette in diluted citrus solvent every 500-600 miles.

Any solvent should not be used to remove the oil from inside of chains. Washing the outside also cleans the inside. Use a scraper like a narrow screwdriver or a wire brush. If you are compelled to clean the oil off of and out of the chain, replace it with a liberal application. It should drip off there is so much.
Non-solvent containing oils include 5W/sus32 air compressor oil, SUS 32 hydraulic fluid NOT compatible with J Deere Cat NewHolland specifications (the generic grade in farm supplies), SUS 32 turbine oil from mcmaster.com, types F and A AutoTransFluid from grocery store/auto supply (not dexron compatible ATF which is 40% detergent), 3in1 oil in 4 oz cans, marvel mystery oil. The factory used "rock oil" available only in 55 gal drums for air drills.
I've never changed a bicycle chain that wasn't rusted on a used/abused bike, in 60 years of riding. The electric 8 speed chain may change that, we'll see in 5000 miles (coupla years). I put 1500 miles on it this year pedal powered.

 

[elliot friedman]

Mineral Spirits and then Denatured Alcohol