Scooty Puff Jr

Stuff works; put a old 20 year old worn out chain in it that saw all types of oil and wax based lubes and it seems to work. Had it in a strainer for two days, pulled it and changed the SG for a few more days, what I first though was rust and mold; which didn't make sense, but turned out to be years of petro/wax lubes. Now I will let t soak for a couple more days, then clean it up and use it for an ornament.

79pmooney

Careful, Simple Green has a deleterious effect on high strength steels. I have heard of parts breaking after long spells of soaking. I might use the stuff for hours but not multiple days. (I haven't yet used it as a soak, just as a cleaner, then rinsed thoroughly soon after.)

Edit: I missed that this chain was becoming an ornament.

Ben

Scooty Puff Jr

Thanks for the info, I will look into that, the idea of soaking the old chain was just experimental for cleaning bike chains that are used on a daily basis. Though I can't see why a biodegradable non toxic solution would be a problem, unless its water based and I let the chain dry without drying and lubing it shortly after wiping it down ?

Yeah, the chain is of no use, very old, not sure what to do with it, but it will be clean.

dsbrantjr

You can speed up the process a lot by putting the chain and solution into a plastic (glass can break) soda bottle and shaking vigorously. You will need to rinse it well; I rinse it until the rinse water doesn't foam, and then dry it thoroughly. I put mine in a pan in a 250 degree oven for 1/2 hour to vaporize the water. Blowing or air drying doesn't get the water out of the tiny crevices of the chain.

Marcus_Ti

Someone's gonna be pissed when they find out what their prized strainer was used for

cny-bikeman

Or one could save a lot of time, effort and money by just using mineral spirits, which can be reused and recycled. What did you do with the solution contaminated with all that junk?

blacknbluebikes 

RE: Simple Green "threat" to chains. Zinn covered this a bit a ways back, a bit "inconclusive": Zinn Article 2005

dr_lha

Simple Green is effectively a soapy water solution, so I really don't see the benefit of having something soak in it for days. I use it to clean bike parts (like my cassette for example), but usually it's a "spray on, wash off" application. If you're going to soak something for days, use a solvent, not a water based cleaner. Mineral Spirits was recommended by a poster above, that's a good one. Simple Green is great for spraying on, then washing off.

Crankycrank

And do not use the "Green", non-petroleum version of Odorless Mineral Spirits. That actually can make the chain steel brittle.

Shimagnolo

I use Simple Green in an ultrasonic cleaner to clean parts, (including chains).
But I never soak parts for more than 30 minutes in SG.

ThermionicScott 

There was a thread a while back where @cyccommute figured out the mechanism and was able to replicate it... ah, here it is: https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-me...-too-long.html

I agree that you shouldn't leave a chain in solvent for any longer than you need to, and if you're agitating the chain while cleaning it, you don't need to have it in solvent very long anyway.

corrado33

Get an ultrasonic cleaner and do your multiple days of work in 10 minutes.

Talarspeed

Love the Lean Cuisine Strainer

rydabent

Saying simple green or any other cleaner is going to damage a steel chain IMO is an old old old old old wives tail. Makes you wonder what the motive of anyone that started something a silly as that, and why.

rydabent

This year for the first time I used Super Clean that I get at my auto parts store. It is super aggressive at dissolving grease.

Dave Mayer

Water based degreasers, including anything 'green' are useless. Varsol, mineral spirits, etc. are far more effective. Basic chemistry.

kingston 

I've had good luck soaking old motorcycle carburetors in pine-sol. Never really thought about using it on bike parts. Perhaps an experiment with an old chain is in order?

Scooty Puff Jr

Ha, thanks ! I have a ton of them, and finally found something useful for them.

Doc V

Simple Green does not recommend extended soaking of aluminum parts due to the alkalinity as it can cause the metal to become brittle and all parts should be rinsed thoroughly after use. Instead they developed formulas for the aircraft industry that are safe to use with aluminum and that was adapted for consumer use as Simple Green HD Pro. You can find it at some home improvement stores and definitely at Home Depot. It is purple in color.