Cleaning off lubricant residue

964cup
964cup Posts: 1,362
edited October 2013 in The workshop
I've got a chain, a cassette and a chainset all of which have a black, waxy residue on them (presumably from dried-on lube). I've tried detergent, alcohol, white spirit, WD-40 and petrol; it appears insoluble in all of them. So far the only thing that works is my fingernail. Apart from being ludicrously time-consuming, the scrape-it-off approach won't work for the cassette or the chain. Does anyone have any better ideas?

Comments

  • mpatts
    mpatts Posts: 1,010
    I tend to wipe it on the curtains.
    Insert bike here:
  • 964cup
    964cup Posts: 1,362
    I see what you did there.

    We have shutters.

    Ouch.
  • davis
    davis Posts: 2,506
    Have you tried nail polish remover? It's the only other solvent I can think of to try. Plus your hands will look *fabulous*, darling
    Sometimes parts break. Sometimes you crash. Sometimes it’s your fault.
  • 964cup
    964cup Posts: 1,362
    Worth a try. I was going to dig out our steam cleaner, too, in case heat does the job.
  • mpatts
    mpatts Posts: 1,010
    I use white spirit and a toothbrush, works a treat

    (Is the 964 reference a Porsche one?)
    Insert bike here:
  • monkimark
    monkimark Posts: 1,546
    Soak it in paraffin, give it a bit of a scrub and wipe off the excess.
  • 964cup
    964cup Posts: 1,362
    mpatts wrote:
    I use white spirit and a toothbrush, works a treat

    (Is the 964 reference a Porsche one?)
    White spirit didn't cut it. Turned out that disc cleaner was the thing. And, indeed, a toothbrush.

    Yes, I had a cup car until recently. Just gone, sadly. May have to change my handle.
  • BOYDIE
    BOYDIE Posts: 528
    I take the chain of and pop it in a plastic container with some gunk, or white spirit. Shake and leave over night. I use gunk degreaser on everything else.

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