o-ring chains
#2
03-28-2001, 12:07 PM
Date: Mon Jul 11 23:57:09 1994
From: chaplin@netcom.com (Mike Chaplin)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Myths: Solvents & O-ring Chains ...
--------------------------------------------
RK and the other o-ring chain manufacturers CLAIM that cleaning your
o-ring chain with solvents or using a spray chain lube (which has a
solvent in it) will damage the o-rings and shorten the life of the
chain. My friend, Earl Minkler (Valley Machine, Livermore, Ca.), and
I decided to do a little testing. We took some excess RK530SO chain
links apart and removed the o-rings. Each o-ring was placed in a
separate small bottle. We then added to each bottle one of the
following "solvents";
1. MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) a nasty solvent in the same
family as acetone, but much stronger.
2. Chevron Thinner # 325 - a petroleum naphtha-base solvent
3. Freon - the solvent in most "contact cleaners"
4. unleaded gasoline
5. WD40
The bottles were then capped to prevent evaporation for a week.
We didn't test kerosene as it is the ONLY solvent each chain manufacturer
actually recommends for cleaning.
After 24 hours, the only noticeable change was in the MEK; that o-ring
had swelled slightly.
After 1 week ... The o-ring in the MEK was twice as large in every
direction, the o-ring in the gasoline has swelled slightly, and the
others had not changed.
We removed all of the o-rings and let them sit for 24 hours.
The MEK and gasoline o-rings had returned to normal size. We checked
the surface of the o-rings vs. an o-ring that did not see any solvent
and there was no apparent change in the surface of any of them with 10x
magnification.
We then stretched each o-ring over a 1/4" bolt to check their elasticity;
again no difference in any of the test o-rings from the untreated o-ring.
Conclusions:
1. Any of the solvents that we tested would be safe for cleaning an
o-ring chain; if the cleaning time is normal, < 1 hour, and dried
afterwards.
2. Solvents in a spray chain lube will evaporate long before it can
effect the o-rings. Something else in the chain lube might damage
the o-rings, but most solvents won't.
Additional Thoughts ...
If the o-rings were to swell as we noticed in the MEK then it is possible
for the o-rings to wear more quickly against the chain's side plates.
I believe that the major failure modes of the o-rings are; (1) lack of
lubrication for the o-rings, and (2) dirty o-rings grinding against the
side plates.
There has also been some concern about a solvent getting past the o-ring &
diluting the internal lube. This shouldn't happen, unless the o-rings are
already damaged; in which case, you will be losing the internal lube at an
accelerated rate & shortening the chain life anyway.
------------------------------------------------------------------
From: chaplin@netcom.com (Mike Chaplin)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Myths: Solvents & O-ring Chains ...
--------------------------------------------
RK and the other o-ring chain manufacturers CLAIM that cleaning your
o-ring chain with solvents or using a spray chain lube (which has a
solvent in it) will damage the o-rings and shorten the life of the
chain. My friend, Earl Minkler (Valley Machine, Livermore, Ca.), and
I decided to do a little testing. We took some excess RK530SO chain
links apart and removed the o-rings. Each o-ring was placed in a
separate small bottle. We then added to each bottle one of the
following "solvents";
1. MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) a nasty solvent in the same
family as acetone, but much stronger.
2. Chevron Thinner # 325 - a petroleum naphtha-base solvent
3. Freon - the solvent in most "contact cleaners"
4. unleaded gasoline
5. WD40
The bottles were then capped to prevent evaporation for a week.
We didn't test kerosene as it is the ONLY solvent each chain manufacturer
actually recommends for cleaning.
After 24 hours, the only noticeable change was in the MEK; that o-ring
had swelled slightly.
After 1 week ... The o-ring in the MEK was twice as large in every
direction, the o-ring in the gasoline has swelled slightly, and the
others had not changed.
We removed all of the o-rings and let them sit for 24 hours.
The MEK and gasoline o-rings had returned to normal size. We checked
the surface of the o-rings vs. an o-ring that did not see any solvent
and there was no apparent change in the surface of any of them with 10x
magnification.
We then stretched each o-ring over a 1/4" bolt to check their elasticity;
again no difference in any of the test o-rings from the untreated o-ring.
Conclusions:
1. Any of the solvents that we tested would be safe for cleaning an
o-ring chain; if the cleaning time is normal, < 1 hour, and dried
afterwards.
2. Solvents in a spray chain lube will evaporate long before it can
effect the o-rings. Something else in the chain lube might damage
the o-rings, but most solvents won't.
Additional Thoughts ...
If the o-rings were to swell as we noticed in the MEK then it is possible
for the o-rings to wear more quickly against the chain's side plates.
I believe that the major failure modes of the o-rings are; (1) lack of
lubrication for the o-rings, and (2) dirty o-rings grinding against the
side plates.
There has also been some concern about a solvent getting past the o-ring &
diluting the internal lube. This shouldn't happen, unless the o-rings are
already damaged; in which case, you will be losing the internal lube at an
accelerated rate & shortening the chain life anyway.
------------------------------------------------------------------
#5
03-28-2001, 04:17 PM
Thor - I agree with you reasons for failures of O-rings, but keep a point in mind when considering the solvent testing that was described.
The o-rings in a chain are restricted by the sideplates and by the bushing on the inside. When the swelling from MEK or gasoline happens, the only place for the material to go is out in a radial direction. This a lot like squeezing a balloon on one end and the displaced air pushes out the balloon in another area.
If the o-ring swelling is enough, the rubber will split in many places on the perimeter. These cracks then lead to separations and loss of the o-ring. I have seen this on several chains over the years that have seen repeated gasoline exposure.
The o-rings in a chain are restricted by the sideplates and by the bushing on the inside. When the swelling from MEK or gasoline happens, the only place for the material to go is out in a radial direction. This a lot like squeezing a balloon on one end and the displaced air pushes out the balloon in another area.
If the o-ring swelling is enough, the rubber will split in many places on the perimeter. These cracks then lead to separations and loss of the o-ring. I have seen this on several chains over the years that have seen repeated gasoline exposure.
#7
03-28-2001, 08:15 PM
Since I have the 3yr extended warrenty on my Xplorer,I take the easy way out to clean the chain.I jack up the rear tires and POWER WASH the sides of the chain till they are clean.I then run the engine in gear for a minute to wash off the water.Than I use Bel-Ray chain lube on the inside and outside of the whole chain.I than again run the engine in gear while it is jacked up for a minute so that the lube gets evenly displaced.Works like a charm,
Bill
Bill
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#8
03-28-2001, 09:25 PM
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03-30-2001, 09:26 AM
#10
04-02-2001, 10:25 PM
I have always used kerosene with a grunge brush that fits the chain very nicely so you can scrub it. When finished we let the chain air dry completely and then coat with Maxima chain wax. No lubrication of any sort. I have never had any problems with this method and the long chain life speaks for itself. Do not use any lubricants/cleaners like WD-40, etc.
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