Road Cycling - Carburator cleaner?

Was experimanting on ways to clean my chain and gears, parts etc. Tried some Carb cleaner, and oh my gosh, why didn't I think of this before. Works awesome and cleans the metal down to a shine, even strips off some of the rust. Cheap too.
Found good lube for the freehub, bar and chain oil for my chainsaw. Super thick, but still thin enough to slowly run into the hub and lubes the parts so well, the rear wheel runs so smooth now, I can barely here the pawl inside.

Patriot

I agree completely as I've also tried the carb. cleaner and it does work great, but the Park chain cleaner with Simple green is just as good, actually better and much less messy.

Does it stink? Is it earth friendly?

or brake cleaner. that works great too. for a chain you need to put the chain in a dish so you can submurge it and get the dirt thats inside out too. this will chean a chain in minutes and have it dry and ready to relube.

carb cleaner doesn't realy stink any more than any other cleaner, and uses some pretty good solvents, so it tends to evaporate. Not sure if is totally "green". But, used sparingly, I don't see a problem with it.
People use it everyday to clean carbs, so why not bicycle chains and parts? I will admit, I like to be "green", but not fanatically. As long as the stuff won't knock over an elephant, it's ok with me.

Patriot

I read somewhere, about 20 years ago, that carb cleaner works too well, if that's possible. It removes every trace of lubricant, even in the pores of the metal, which the article said wasn't desirable. Regardless, I used it back then and I did break a couple of chains, so I quit. It was also very caustic at the time. I think the "green" aspect of it has been improved in recent years, so maybe it is more gentle on your chain, too. :)

Does it stink? Is it earth friendly?

Yes. No. But you probably do much worse with a gallon of gas in a car.

Strangely placed sponsor link on this subject. Keep this stuff away from bearing seals.

Well, the thing about bicycles is you don't put a gallon of gas in a car. I use white lightning (self-cleaning), wipe it off and add more until chain is clean. Don't know if this is better for mother earth, but its easy and works ok. Might not be the slipperest lube but it is pretty slippery and doesn't attract dirt like oil does.

Citrus cleaner works great to clean other greasy parts. I don't think it is completely benign but ok compared to petrol based product or other hydrocarbon compounds?

Was experimanting on ways to clean my chain and gears, parts etc. Tried some Carb cleaner, and oh my gosh, why didn't I think of this before. Works awesome and cleans the metal down to a shine, even strips off some of the rust. Cheap too.


PatriotNasty stuff,for you and stuff you shouldn't be gettint it on.

I read somewhere, about 20 years ago, that carb cleaner works too well, if that's possible. It removes every trace of lubricant, even in the pores of the metal, which the article said wasn't desirable. Regardless, I used it back then and I did break a couple of chains, so I quit. It was also very caustic at the time. I think the "green" aspect of it has been improved in recent years, so maybe it is more gentle on your chain, too. :)
this could be true. I noticed my last chain cleaned this way seems to be wearing faster then the last one I used in winter and it got dirty a lot. I used a parts washer on it.

Most carb cleaner is NOT green...
usually contains one or more of these chemicals;
Toluenes, xylenes, napthas, acetones
methyl alcohols, Ethylbenzenes, propanols.

They don't contain CFC's any more, but these aromatics
have a ppm maximum, which means you really don't want to inhale them too much, for too long. If you do use them, outdoors is always best. But, make sure you use a pan to collect the runoff. Then dispose where you would used oil
at specified depots or garages.

My uncle swears by the stuff. He claims he has never replaced a chain because of it, and he rides quite a bit. I'll stick to a wipe-down with a little Tri-Flow on a rag along with an occasional bath in citrus degreaser and replace the chain once a year.

Lots of different stuff will work. It seems to run the range from dishwashing liquid to high zoot bike shop only cleaners. I say if you like it use it, but please keep it away from your paint. Carb cleaner is some bad ____! :D