Petrol to clean chain?

[Bicycle]

I have one of those clear plastic devices that I close over the lower run of my chain to clean it.

It's full of little whirring brushes and keeps me amused while I twiddle the pedals and watch it get to work.

It has a sump that I fill with cleaning fluid that I can watch as it splashes all over the brushes...

I've put all sorts of gubbins in it over the years, but I'm looking for a cheap and readily available alternative.

For mower, chainsaw and strimmer I keep a jerry and some plastic cans of unleaded petrol.

Question 1: Can I use petrol as a chain cleaner in my whirring-brush plasctic box before drying and lubing?

I may be mad to ask, but it's a serious question. In my youth one used petrol to clean all sorts of components... engine parts before reassembly and even air filters in the desert.

Question 2: If not petrol, what?

I am essentially tighter than a tight thing and don't like to use those posh brands that cost more per gramme than saffron.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

I use petrol for cleaning my chain, but it's both irresponsible and no longer cheap! I don't use one of those whirring brush cleaners, but have a quick release link and then put the whole chain in a plastic tub. It does a fantastic job and dries quickly, even in winter.

I'll let everyone else tell you why it's not a good idea.
Not that they'll convince me.

 

[tyred]

Petrol will work great, but there is a danger attached to it. If you must, use it outside and don't smoke while doing so.

 

[tyred]

Try white spirits. Cheaper than petrol, less volatile and you can strain the dirt out and re-use it.

 

[JohnHenry]

Try white spirits. Cheaper than petrol, less volatile and you can strain the dirt out and re-use it.

I love re-using dirt

 

[potsy]

I love re-using dirt

Re-use it? You could probably sell it on E-bay

Rag and bit of WD is all you need to clean a chain, then chuck any oil you have lying about on it and away you go

 

[jim55]

paraffin is very good and cheap ,,heater oil by any other name ,,u can even get it in bnq ,,much cheaper than petrol

 

[jim55]

and btw petrol will dissolve o rings if u have a fancy chain (i know cos i had a motorbike and its well known ,,do they do o ring chains for cycles?)

 

[Bokonon]

Try white spirits. Cheaper than petrol,

Are you sure?

Average petrol price £1.34/l (price quoted for 6 July 2011)
White spirit £1.99/l
Mineral water £1.63/l

Petrol looks quite cheap in comparison and is probably the better solvent!

 

[abo]

Mineral water HFM??? What is it, angel's tears?

 

[400bhp]

I use white spirit.

I find the gunk degreaser is inferior.

 

[Black Sheep]

A friend of mine cleans his in an old soup can using petrol

and a match to finish the job off as he can't think of any other way to get rid of the petrol.

 

[tyred]

Are you sure?

Average petrol price £1.34/l (price quoted for 6 July 2011)
White spirit £1.99/l
Mineral water £1.63/l

Petrol looks quite cheap in comparison and is probably the better solvent!

Buy 5 litre jars of white spirit from the local discount DIY shop. It's only about £3/5 Litre iirc.

 

[asterix]

Try white spirits. Cheaper than petrol, less volatile and you can strain the dirt out and re-use it.

+1
Why use petrol? Bomkers!!

 

[Tim Bennet.]

I ruined a perfectly good chain by cleaning it in petrol. I guess there is waxes etc within the chain that the petrol dissolved, after that, no matter how much oil I put on the chain it chain would feel and sound dry after about 50 miles.

You didn't ruin that chain - whatever you used for a lubricant (or however you used it) just wasn't very good. The 'wax' on chains when you buy them is principally there to stop them rusting before you get them. Any 'cleaner' will clean the wax off (inside and out) and any decent chain lube will replace the lubrication.

and btw petrol will dissolve o rings if u have a fancy chain

I've never seen or heard of a bike chain with O rings in it.

There's lots of reasons NOT to use petrol, but these are amongst them!