Bicycle Mechanics - Anything cleaner than WD40?

I was just wondering? The Cranksets and cogs get scrubby looking after a while...

WD40 works well. For an all-out, non-residue laden cleaner, use brake clean. Envionmentally safe types are not quite as effective but do work well though. Brake clean, sold in auto stores or depts. doesn't harm paint or anodized finishes either. To be safe wipe it off sooner than later. It will remove wax and some clearcoats, some, not all.

I was just wondering? The Cranksets and cogs get scrubby looking after a while...

Regular degreaser works fine. Wd-40 is not a good general purpose agent for cleaning bikes.

OxyClean does a great job of cleaning cranksets and sprockets.

lol... I should have worded the question differently. I was trying to ask if there was an ALTERNATIVE to WD40 to greasing my chain and crankset as opposed to WD40. Something that wouldn't be as gunky in the long run like WD40 can be...

triflow teflon lube works great and teflon resists dirt

watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSNUCd7Xx1s

I was trying to ask if there was an ALTERNATIVE to WD40 to greasing my chain and crankset as opposed to WD40.
WD40 is NOT a lubricant. It's a solvent. Use TriFlow. That's what we use at the shop I work at.

lol... I should have worded the question differently. I was trying to ask if there was an ALTERNATIVE to WD40 to greasing my chain and crankset as opposed to WD40. Something that wouldn't be as gunky in the long run like WD40 can be...

Oh, my, yes. I have a drawer full of alternatives. Chain lubes are like religions: there's one out there for everyone :D.

During this past summer I've been running Rock & Roll Gold Lube. I'm not sure what it's made of, but I suspect some sort of teflon base. During winter I'll run wet-lube on my around-town bike, because wet-lube holds up better in the snow and the slush.

My advice is to just try a few different, bike-specific lubes until you find one that you like. You'll get plenty of suggestions, but there's nothing like making a few experiments for yourself.

WD40 is NOT a lubricant. It's a solvent. Use TriFlow. That's what we use at the shop I work at.

I'm always hearing this recommended but can't find it in the UK. I think it is seen as a good cable lube as well, which would be handy.

WD40 is NOT a lubricant. It's a solvent. Use TriFlow. That's what we use at the shop I work at.

Wrong. WD-40 contains the same 20-30% oil as my regular homebrew lube. I've actually used it in a long term chain wear test. I found that the oil in WD-40 does not do nearly as good a job of preventing elongation as motor oil or gear lube, thinned 4/1 with naptha. I't's fine for items like derailleur pivots, but not good for a chain.

Wrong. WD-40 contains the same 20-30% oil as my regular homebrew lube.

Thank you.

As I put it ... it IS a lubricant, but -- for bikes -- not a great one.

On the WD40 website they have a FAQ section. Here's some of it:

What does WD-40 contain?
While the ingredients in WD-40 are secret, we can tell you what WD-40 does NOT contain. WD-40 does not contain silicone, kerosene, water, wax, graphite, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), or any known cancer-causing agents.

What does WD-40 do?
WD-40 fulfills five basic functions:
1. CLEANS: WD-40 gets under dirt, grime and grease to clean. It also dissolves adhesives, allowing easy removal of labels, tape and excess bonding material.
2. DISPLACES MOISTURE: Because WD-40 displaces moisture, it quickly dries out electrical systems to eliminate moisture-induced short circuits.
3. PENETRATES: WD-40 loosens rust-to-metal bonds and frees stuck, frozen or rusted metal parts.
4. LUBRICATES: WD-40's lubricating ingredients are widely dispersed and tenaciously held to all moving parts.
5. PROTECTS: WD-40 protects metal surfaces with corrosion-resistant ingredients to shield against moisture and other corrosive elements.

What about using WD-40 on my sports equipment?
WD-40 is safe and effective to use on all types of sporting goods. Use WD-40 on your bike to clean, degrease and lubricate your chain, derailleur, gears, cogs, and moving parts. It will help remove stickers. Use WD-40 to clean and protect your gun. It will prevent corrosion and it won't damage bluing. Spray it on dirt bikes to protect parts and prevent mud from sticking. Use it on watercraft to protect metal surfaces from corrosion and to drive out moisture. WD-40 is also great for cleaning golf clubs and preventing rust on hockey skate blades.

The only problem with WD-40 is that it's sticky. If you ride in dusty areas the dust will be kicked up by your front wheel, and stick to the chain and gears. There are better chain lubes around. These contain a thick lubricant in a thin carrier so the lube will be taken to the inner part of the chain. Overnight the carrier will evaporate, leaving less sticky material on the outside of the chain. I've been using this type of lube for several years now and other than needing more frequent lubrication it seems to work well. Most of the year the trails here are dusty, so if I use WD-40 the oily dust builds up rapidly. In areas where rain is more of a problem WD-40 or Tri-flow would probably be better choices. You have to suit your lubricant to your needs and how much effort you want to put into the process.

There are several brands. The one I use is called ATB. After roughly 60 miles of mixed mountain and road riding I apply new lube, one drop to each joint, and let it sit overnight. Wipe it off before the next ride.

I wish someone would do a controlled test of chain lubes and cleaning techniques. Bicycles are really hard on chains. We need better equipment, especially for mountain riding.

Ugh - WD40 is a water displacer, nothing more. It leaves a gummy residue on whatever its applied too.

If you need to free rusty bolts - use PBBlaster. Automotive brake cleaner would clean without residue, but isn't the nicest stuff to work with. Simple Green works really well for cleaning bikes. Another tip I got from a local wrench is to use Scrubbing Bubbles (the Bathroom cleaner), seems to do a good job on cassettes/freewheels when they are removed. Get a dedicated chain lube/cleaner for your chains. I also use Rock and Roll Gold, its made locally so I support it.

More corrections. All oils are sticky with regard to picking up dust. WD-40's oil is very light and no more sticky than any other, but the oil is just too light in weight with no extreme pressure additives like you would find in motor oil or gear lube, so it will not do an adequate job as a chain lube.

The only lubes that won't attract dust are either dry or waxy and neither produces very good chain life unless applied very frequently.

With wet lubes, frequent wiping of the exterior with a rag paper shop towel will improve the external cleanliness. I wipe mine after every ride.

OP.. first you state scrubby, implying cleaning; then you state greasing, WD40 isn't grease. Then you state gunky in the long run which also doesn't apply to WD40......LOL... TriFlow on the chain and clean the parts with... at times.

lol... I should have worded the question differently. I was trying to ask if there was an ALTERNATIVE to WD40 to greasing my chain and crankset as opposed to WD40. Something that wouldn't be as gunky in the long run like WD40 can be...
The black gunk comes from inside the chain and is the result of metal wear. I remove the chain every 500 to 650 miles and clean it and the reat of the drive train. WD 40 isn't the best lube for a chain. I use it once in a while when the chain gets wet to help dry it. The WD stands for water displacement.
I lube my chains with a mix of 4 parts mineral spirits to 1 part chain saw bar oil from Ace.

I was just wondering? The Cranksets and cogs get scrubby looking after a while...

Gasoline. Does a great job of cutting grease....the down side is it can explode with toxic results.

Debating whether something is a lubricant per se, or not, is a meaningless exercise. Almost anything is a lubricant. The question is whether its a suitable lubricant for a given purpose.

Lubricant's need to be chosen according to the specific application, and vary tremendously from WD-40 which might be OK for a pin tumbler lock, or derailleur pivots, to heavy greases for large bearings. Just as you use different products in a car - motor oil, gear oil, transmission fluid, axle grease, cable and linkage oils, etc. and different versions of each according to specific conditions - you need different lubricants on a bike. What makes a good cable lube makes a lousy chain lube and vice versa.

As far as the chain goes, the needs are complex, and choosing a lube requires balancing lubrication properties, weather resistance, dirt attraction/resistance and other needs. Where you ride and what your priorities are will determine your preference in chain lubes. That's why there are so many choices out there, not only in brands but in their approach to problem, from light teflon based products to heavy oils like my stuff, to waxes and wax like products.

The only thing I can say categorically is that WD-40 is not a suitable chain lube. Where you go from there is up to you.

Gasoline. Does a great job of cutting grease....the down side is it can explode with toxic results.

Please don't use gasoline. At least, I wouldn't. Had a friend a few years ago who tried to light his grill using gasoline. Cost him about $30,000 just for the flight to a burn center.

I usually begin with something like Pedro's Green Fizz (spray bottle) or Orange Peelz. Other brands have similar products.

For tough dirt, I sometimes use White Lightening Clean Streak. That's potent stuff though.

Please don't use gasoline. At least, I wouldn't. Had a friend a few years ago who tried to light his grill using gasoline. Cost him about $30,000 just for the flight to a burn center.

I usually begin with something like Pedro's Green Fizz (spray bottle) or Orange Peelz. Other brands have similar products.

For tough dirt, I sometimes use White Lightening Clean Streak. That's potent stuff though.

I would not recommend WD-40 for starting a grill.

lol... I should have worded the question differently. I was trying to ask if there was an ALTERNATIVE to WD40 to greasing my chain and crankset as opposed to WD40. Something that wouldn't be as gunky in the long run like WD40 can be...

WD40 isn't gunky and it's not grease, what EXACTLY are you trying to accomplish?

For general grease cleaning, I use an aerosol electrical contact cleaner. Company is Nu-Calgon. Alcohol-based, evaporates quick, leaving no residue of its own to attract more dirt. I have a can in the shop as well as the work truck.
Just keep blasting until all the greasy junk has come out. But I don't use that on a chain.

Interesting!!! A refresher course--who knew?

Water Displacement #40. The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreases to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a water displacement com-
pound. They were successful with the 40th formulation, thus WD-40. The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.

Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you...' IT IS MADE FROM FISH OIL'

When you read the 'shower door' part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It is a miracle! Then try it on your stovetop... It is now shinier than it has ever been before.

1) Protects silver from tarnishing.
2) Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3) Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4) Gives floors that ..just-waxed.. sheen without making it slippery.
5) Keeps flies off cows.
6) Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7) Removes lipstick stains
8) Loosens stubborn zippers.
9) Untangles jewelry chains.
10) Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11) Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12) Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13) Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14) Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15) Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16) Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17) Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
18) It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19) Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car. Removed quickly, with WD-40!
20) Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21) Lubricates gear shift on lawn mowers.
22) Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23) Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24) Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25) Restores and cleans padded leather dash boards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26) Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27) Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28) Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29) Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30) Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31) Removes splattered grease on stove.
32) Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33) Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34) Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35) Removes all traces of duct tape.
36) Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain .
37) Florida's favorite use 'Cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38) Protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39) WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time.
40) Fire ant bites . It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41) WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
42) If you've washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
43) If you spray WD-40 on the distributor cap, it will displace the moisture and allow the car to start.
I keep a can of WD-40 in my kitchen cabinet over the stove. It is good for oven burns or any other type of burn. It takes the burned feeling away and heals with NO scarring
Remember, the basic ingredient is FISH OIL

Spraying WD-40 on yourself lmao. Anyone even bother to read the material saftey sheet for that? That is some nasty **** man.

Interesting!!! A refresher course--who knew?

Water Displacement #40. The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreases to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a water displacement com-
pound. They were successful with the 40th formulation, thus WD-40. The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.

Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you...' IT IS MADE FROM FISH OIL'

When you read the 'shower door' part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It is a miracle! Then try it on your stovetop... It is now shinier than it has ever been before.

1) Protects silver from tarnishing.
2) Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3) Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4) Gives floors that ..just-waxed.. sheen without making it slippery.
5) Keeps flies off cows.
6) Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7) Removes lipstick stains
8) Loosens stubborn zippers.
9) Untangles jewelry chains.
10) Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11) Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12) Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13) Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14) Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15) Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16) Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17) Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
18) It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19) Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car. Removed quickly, with WD-40!
20) Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21) Lubricates gear shift on lawn mowers.
22) Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23) Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24) Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25) Restores and cleans padded leather dash boards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26) Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27) Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28) Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29) Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30) Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31) Removes splattered grease on stove.
32) Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33) Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34) Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35) Removes all traces of duct tape.
36) Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain .
37) Florida's favorite use 'Cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38) Protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39) WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time.
40) Fire ant bites . It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41) WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
42) If you've washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
43) If you spray WD-40 on the distributor cap, it will displace the moisture and allow the car to start.
I keep a can of WD-40 in my kitchen cabinet over the stove. It is good for oven burns or any other type of burn. It takes the burned feeling away and heals with NO scarring
Remember, the basic ingredient is FISH OIL

Will it remove those coffee pit stains from the white jerseys?

Will it remove those coffee pit stains from the white jerseys?

I think bleach does that.

Kingsford (or other) starter fluid

I think bleach does that.

And eats the jersey, in the process....

I don't use WD-40 on my bikes...

Try ProLink Chain Lube squeeze bottle.... best stuff I found for street use bike chains.

T-9 Spray Can is great for post ride cleaning and protecting of parts, shifters, brakes (not pads of course), cables and such. Great for rust protection and when I use it with a microfiber towel, I get rid of all that street crud from my gears.

I haven't used Tri-flo for a long while... more for when I mountain biked.

White Lighting is a great chain lubricant for mountain biking, dirt, sand, mud... that sort of thing. Wouldn't use it for street bikes.

Clean bike, happy bike, happy bike, happy cyclist.
:thumb:

lol... I should have worded the question differently. I was trying to ask if there was an ALTERNATIVE to WD40 to greasing my chain and crankset as opposed to WD40. Something that wouldn't be as gunky in the long run like WD40 can be...

My local bike shop took me out back and whipped with old hyperglides for allowing WD40 to touch my bike. According the JT's, (good bunch) it removes all lubrication from whatever it touches. Use bike specific products (I do like the BrakeClean idea though).

Wrong. WD-40 contains the same 20-30% oil as my regular homebrew lube. I've actually used it in a long term chain wear test. I found that the oil in WD-40 does not do nearly as good a job of preventing elongation as motor oil or gear lube, thinned 4/1 with naptha. I't's fine for items like derailleur pivots, but not good for a chain.

OMG. Yes, WD-40 contains lubricant but it is a multi-purpose solution and not meant as quality bicycle chain lube. If you spent more than $50 on your bike you should not be using WD-40 as a lube. (That is not to say you need to pay $50 an ounce for bike lube either.)

From KMC (http://www.kmcchain.com/index.php?ln=en&fn=service#2), you know those guys who make all those chains.

Cleaning
- Clean your chain after each trip, especially after riding in the wet.
- Always use a piece of dry cloth to clean the chain and it's component parts.
- If neccesary, use an old toothbrush to clean between the plates.
- Do not forget the sprockets, front changer and derailleur pulleys.
- To remove mud or sand, use a bristle brush, if necessary with light soapy warm water.
- Never use acidic or alkali based detergents (such as rust cleaners), these agents can damage the
chain and may cause breakage.
- NEVER EVER use a so-called'chain washing machine' in combination with solvent. This is the one
and only sure way to instantly ruin your chain.
- Avoid the use of solvents, not only are these bad for the environment, they remove lubricant from the
chain's bearing.


If I recall WD-40 contains a rust-cleaner and most of it evapourates leaving not much oil remaining in your rollers.

I recently started using Simple Green, undiluted, to scrub gunky chains clean.

For tough jobs I use an off-the-shelf degreaser from Costco, BJs, Home Depot or automotive shops. The one that smells kind of like Fantastik. It's made for cleaning tools and metal parts and it doesn't harm plastic, rubber and paint. It just stinks badly and yes, it removes all grease down to bare metal so use caution and re-lube afterward, and yeah, it's probably bad for the environment. I flush it immediately with cold water, dry the parts quickly and lube right away though. The stuff is like $5-8/gallon. The bike specific degreasers are a ripoff IMHO, but I still use them for lighter jobs.

Never use anything designed for rust removal!!! It'll "eat" the metal and corrode/weaken it.

Use a lubricant that is appropriate for the given part.

A tip: I use my shop vac as a blower with a thin attachment to dry parts by blowing the water away.

Z.