Advice required

[Scottymac]

So I'm sitting on my garage floor , it's monsoonical (?) outside and I'm not really doing much of much  - you know the score - and out the corner of my eye I'm spotting a long forgotten piece of kit that's worth its weight in gold - a steam generator ! It was a great tool with a nice pressurised jet of steam that worked wonders on engine bays , alloy wheels , ovens etc and it sends the old grey matter into wondering - it would be great for cleaning all the old grease and stuff off my bike chain - it would make it look like new and would allow me to put nice , clean uncontaminated lubricant onto it .
But my brain also said DONT do it until you find out if it's safe to do - I know there's orings that might get damaged
So has anyone done it and recommends it or is it a big NO NO ?

[KiwiCol]

Hi, mate, I'm with you on this. I'd like to do it as well, but my brain says same!
So, have you an old chain around you could try it on? See how the o rings stand up. Think it's more the pressure, blasting grease ot from behind than the temp, but an old chain trial would sort it. You could even break it after n see what it's done inside, hell, break the old chain first so you have an internal comparison .

[seth]

id keep the steam away from bearings and the chain (just use chain cleaner)
i use a steam cleaner to get in about the engine area as it gets right in about the tricky bits .

[gsxbarmy]

Steam cleaner if too close to the chain could ruin the rubber seals in the links, also remove too much grease from bearings. Get it too close to paintwork and it will dull it or lift it.

Personally I wouldn't use it, there are proper cleaners you can use why risk steam?

[grog]

not sure about steam cleaner on o rings. i use kero, hose off, wd40, wipe off then lube. brush in link , very good for the kero clean first up. have read the brush damages o rings. load of crap in my mind. i keep saying vmx gear oil the best chain lube, one day someone will believe me. https://www.ebay.com/p/The-Grunge-Brush-Simple-Solutions-Chain-Cleaner-Motorcycle-Bicycle-ATV-MX-Moto/692207282?iid=321755816835

[RickC]

I have to try your VMX gear oil Grog, I believe you.

Chain brushes are good, $2 from China if you aren't in a hurry.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Plastic-Cycling-Motorcycle-Bicycle-Chain-Clean-Brush-Gear-Grunge-Brush-Cleaner-Outdoor-Cleaner-Scrubber-Tool-ARE4/32658352066.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.34.dkUwJg&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10065_10151_10130_10068_10309_5430020_5410020_10307_10137_10060_10131_10155_10132_10133_10154_10333_10334_10056_10335_10055_10054_10059_10332_100031_10099_5400020_10103_10102_10052_10053_10050_10107_10142_10051_10326_5390020_10084_10083_5370020_10080_10082_10081_10110_10175_10111_5420020_10112_10113_10114_10312_10313_10314_10315_10078_10079_10073-10333,searchweb201603_15,ppcSwitch_5&btsid=a07b7113-0d35-4d83-8f74-9cc0d7551d14&algo_expid=0b740618-0342-49cf-937d-9325fd859cf0-7&algo_pvid=0b740618-0342-49cf-937d-9325fd859cf0&transAbTest=ae803_3

[Scottymac]

Ok I'm going to take that as a resounding no then !
Pity really as it gives great results elsewhere - just have to go down the cleaner and brush route as usual and i'll go have a look at the eBay links you guys have recommended- anything to make it an easier less messier job !
Thanks again o wise ones

[VladTepes]

grog


I have one of the brushes you linked and I hate it, the gap is to big / bristles too long/flexible and it just doesn't do a good job of scrubbing. I think an old toothbrush is better,


I believe you about the VMX mate, really I do.....

[Andre]

To get a real clean chain, in- and outside, take it off and put it in an Ultra Sound bath. 

[gsxbarmy]

To get a real clean chain, in- and outside, take it off and put it in an Ultra Sound bath. 

Or buy a bike with a shaft drive 

[KiwiCol]

Don't start on about shaft drive 1400's!   Remember the s**t Mike got into when he started that a while ago?

Now, there is another way though, I remember someone had done a belt conversion on their 14, posted pics n all. Was a while ago on the old org. Think it was somewhere Eastern Europe off top of me head. There were a few comments about it at the time, anyone else remember?

Sounds like a mod Lawrie could work out & tell us you need x y & z and put it together this way.


@lawrie

[seth]

just buy a quality chain and sprocket kit every 20000 miles then replace sprocket carrier bearing aswell .
other than that clean and lub regularly.
job done .

[Notty]

Don't start on about shaft drive 1400's!   Remember the s**t Mike got into when he started that a while ago?

Now, there is another way though, I remember someone had done a belt conversion on their 14, posted pics n all. Was a while ago on the old org. Think it was somewhere Eastern Europe off top of me head. There were a few comments about it at the time, anyone else remember?

Sounds like a mod Lawrie could work out & tell us you need x y & z and put it together this way.


@lawrie

798 Euros plus p & p ( couldn't work out how to do the Euro thingy symbol on my apple )
http://www.rf-biketech.com/shop/index.php?language=en&cat=c235_GSX-1400.html

[Andre]

To get a real clean chain, in- and outside, take it off and put it in an Ultra Sound bath. 

Or buy a bike with a shaft drive 

Just as silly of an idea as cleaning the chain in a US-bath

[gsxbarmy]

Don't start on about shaft drive 1400's!   Remember the s**t Mike got into when he started that a while ago?

Who said anything about shaft on a 14? I'm talking about proper bikes