Re: [CR] Cleanint dirty bike parts: What NOT to do

(Example: Framebuilding)

Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 23:07:06 +0000
From: "M-gineering" <info@m-gineering.nl>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
References: <1DD2BAA7272B41D4988C26DA5905A66C@ddddPC>
In-Reply-To: <1DD2BAA7272B41D4988C26DA5905A66C@ddddPC>
Subject: Re: [CR] Cleanint dirty bike parts: What NOT to do


On 1/12/2011 9:43 PM, David Snyder 2 wrote:
> I have to add to this, never leave anything made of STEEL soaking in Simple
> Green.
> It absolutely will destroy the metal's strength, I'm talking about crumbling
> sprockets here, parts that lost easily more than half of their original
> strength!
> And due to the thin side plates on chains, I would expect even more-rapid
> deterioration of strength there.
> No joke!

Higher strenght steels are more prone to this than low strenght stuff. Expensive chains can split for your very eyes. The effect is called hydrogen embrittlement, and anything acidic is bad!

Much safer to use a simple solvent like liquid parafin. Motorfuels are expected to be burnt, and thus idealy suited to get rid of nasties the refineries need to ged rid of. The additives are not exactly a plus either -- mvg

Marten Gerritsen
Kiel Windeweer
Netherlands