Can motorcycle chains be washed with brake washer fluid?

Don’t assume that just because the name is “cleaning agent”, you can wash everything. Whether it can be used depends on whether your chain belt has an oil seal, and you also need to look through the instructions of the vehicle and chain to see if the manufacturer has clearly stated that it can be used. Never use brake washer fluid as a chain washer without understanding compatibility “preferred by default”.

First, we need to see what the chain structure is

Let’s first look at the oil seal chain. The O-type oil seal chain on the market mainly relies on that sealing ring to lock the grease in the working area of the pin and sleeve, while blocking the water and mud on the outside. However, this does not mean that it does not require external cleaning and oiling. Remember, things like gasoline, brake cleaner, carburetor cleaner, high-temperature steam, close-range high-pressure water guns or stiff-bristled brushes, these “hard drugs” and “hard work” are very easy to ruin the oil seal or chain surface. For this type of chain, you must honestly pick the cleaning products that are clearly stated in the manufacturer’s instructions to be usable when washing.

What about oil-free chains? It does not worry about the seal corroding, but that does not mean you can just mess around. It also needs to consider the material of the chain itself, the surface treatment process, the lubrication requirements, and whether it will damage other surrounding parts. The absence of an oil seal only means that there is one less layer of concern, and it does not mean that you can just pick up the brake washer fluid and spray it down.

Before washing, make sure you follow the operating instructions

Each brand has a different temper with cleaning agents, and Zhang Sanjia’s instructions cannot be applied to Li Si’s car. When washing the car, you must turn off the engine and keep the car firmly planted. Don’t try to save yourself the trouble. It’s very dangerous to start a fire and put the rear wheel on its own to wash it. If it is an oil seal chain, do not scratch or squeeze it with anything, and do not rush at the sealing ring. If you find that the sealing ring has fallen off, cracked, squeezed out or deformed severely, simply applying lubricating oil to the outside will not help, and it cannot be restored to its original state. You must replace it as needed according to the manufacturer’s standards.

Don’t rush out after washing, check the drivetrain thoroughly

After cleaning the chain with the right cleaning agent, you must let it dry thoroughly before re-lubricating it according to the manufacturer’s requirements. Be careful during this time and do not let cleaning agents or lubricants splash on the tires, brake discs and brake pads; if you accidentally get them, you must clean them and check that there are no problems before riding on the road.

In addition, washing chains cannot replace routine vehicle condition checks. You have to refer to the instructions to see if the chain is tensioned correctly, if the links turn smoothly, if there are any jams “dead joints” or unusual noises, if there is rust, and if the oil seal is in good condition. You also have to wonder if the chain is stretched, and the tooth shapes of the front and rear tooth discs are not severely worn.

In short, if you don’t have any vehicle or chain information on hand, then there is only one conclusion ——“uncertain”. In this case, absolutely do not take brake washer fluid as a natural chain washing tool.