White spirit on chain

Dear Mr xxxxxx,

Thank you for contacting the WD-40 Company.

WD-40 is a multi-purpose light lubricating oil and cleaner. WD-40 will
definitely displace and remove the water or moisture from the chain, and it will also act as a rust preventative on any of the metal surfaces. WD-40 will not dry out the rubber o-rings, and we have found no visible effects on surfaces of rubber and o-rings. Certain types of rubber will swell under prolonged immersion in WD-40. A light spray is harmless.

Thank you again for contacting the WD-40 Company. Please let me know if I may
be of further assistance.

Best regards,
Eva Zabowski
WD-40 Customer Service

Trouble is, I guess, is that Nooj is speaking from experience. But it could be that the chains he's worked with were already covered in so much gunk, the o-ring seals let the WD40 in which did do harm. I'm guessing that response from WD40 is based on it being used on a good quality, fairly good condition chain. In which case it should cause no harm?

Just playing devils advocate...

If the chain is in good condition, as are the O rings, then it will be fine. If the O rings are shagged, then you can use whatever you like, it will get past the O rings and de-grease the rollers, parrafin/kerosene/petrol/white spirit/gt85/wd40 anything, it doesn't matter. BTW did you know wd40 is so called as it's properties last 40 days from application, whereas GT85 is teflon based and last 85 days, this may or may not be true.

I thought it was called that because it was the 40th attempt to come up with the product after the 1st 39 attempts didn't do the job properly?? Could be wrong but I've read that in a few places

Also what I've heard, WD= water dispersant, 40 =40th attempt to get it right.

I've never said anything about WD40 being harmfull to 'O' rings, only to the grease behind them if it gets past them. Personally I wouldn't ever use it to degrease a chain, but it's your bike, so it's up to you.

After all, I'm only a professional motorcycle valet and ACF50 acreddited anti-corrosion specialist, so what would I know about such thing? ;D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nooj

Also what I've heard, WD= water dispersant, 40 =40th attempt to get it right.

I've never said anything about WD40 being harmfull to 'O' rings, only to the grease behind them if it gets past them. Personally I wouldn't ever use it to degrease a chain, but it's your bike, so it's up to you.

After all, I'm only a professional motorcycle valet and ACF50 acreddited anti-corrosion specialist, so what would I know about such thing? ;D

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A Google search on WD40 and chains brings up some interesting useless information some of which seems to indicate its the propelant in the cans of WD40 which is harmful to seals, not the WD40 itself. I also wouldn't expect any employee of the manufacturing company or supplier to admit there could be any third party damage by their product - opens a can of worms and hundreds of punitive damage claims if they did. ;)

I of course, no nothing myself on the matter..... ;D

Nooj, i totally agree WD40 is a degreasant, and i totally agree that WD40 doesn't affect O rings. What i have a problem with, is if the chain and O rings are sound, how would it get past the O rings? Logic suggests it can't, therefore using WD40 on a chain is ok.

>
which seems to indicate its the propelant in the cans of WD40 which is harmful to seals
<
Although I've read the whole thread I still thought of this

That picture makes me want to go clubbing

Parrafin... degreaser for allmost anything, and cheap as chips compared to wd40.. used it for years on all my chains from a cg125 to a ducati, never had a problem.