Originally Posted by
1Coopgt
WD40. I've been using it on my motorcycle chains for 30yrs works great . Ride to get the chain warm , clean with WD40 then spray on the chain lube . Gonna do the same thing with my bike.
I got this same tip from a LBS mechanic. I've used it successfully a number of times. But I cleaned two very old chains this weekend with WD-40. Both had years of caked-on grunge (old bikes, very neglected). It was a lot of solvent and a lot of scrubbing. I kept thinking 'there must be a better way'.
It works pretty well with a better maintained chain. I usually hang it up to dry out at least a day before reassembly and lube.