Ultrasonic cleaners?

[DieselnDust]

7 minutes ago, aag said:

I used this stuff. Muc-Off is a well-known brand, I'd be surprised if they sold something that destroys a chain within days... 

I dont trust their stuff to be honest. 
 

however nevertheless, likely your cleaning solution is too strong and all protective hydrocarbons have been removed, or your passivation layer has been deactivated by the cleaning agent. Is this stuff quite acidic?
 

[ChrisF]

8 minutes ago, aag said:

I used this stuff. Muc-Off is a well-known brand, I'd be surprised if they sold something that destroys a chain within days... 

 

I have used different products, some purely to experiment.

 

In ALL cases I work on the assumption that the product has REMOVED all lubrication inside the rollers.

 

I repeat my last cycle in the US bath with mostly water, to ensure all chemicals are washed out.  (same process even when I use the Park Tool chain scrubber on the bike) ... Make SURE the cleaned (degreaser) is completely removed.

 

THIS is where my compressor comes in handy .... blow that chain DRY !!!  Get the moisture OUT ....

 

 

If done properly, you now have bare metal with ZERO lubrication, and ZERO water (and hopefully zero dirt) .... now the important task of lubricating it well into the rollers and pins (with your lube of choice)

 

 

Any bare metal and the water from the next bike wash will result in rust ....

[DieselnDust]

Oil stripped metal must be oiled immediately. Corrosion starts immediately after contact with oxygen

[BuffsVintageBikes]

1 hour ago, DieselnDust said:

Oil stripped metal must be oiled immediately. Corrosion starts immediately after contact with oxygen

This is a problem if you're using a waxed based solution. Any sort of petroleum based product on your waxed chain will break down the effectiveness of the wax.
This why companies like Smoove make their own chain cleaners which are water based. It's the only product I use on my chains in the USC and I simply recycle it each time as the dirt sediment falls to the bottom on the container that I store it in.

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

This is a problem if you're using a waxed based solution. Any sort of petroleum based product on your waxed chain will break down the effectiveness of the wax.
This why companies like Smoove make their own chain cleaners which are water based. It's the only product I use on my chains in the USC and I simply recycle it each time as the dirt sediment falls to the bottom on the container that I store it in.

There is some truth here because essentially what will happen is the wax emulsion will be competing for bond site area with Extreme Pressure additives present in motor oils and hydraulic oils. So as long as you don’t use an oil with EP additives it should be fine. Examples of EP less oils would be vegetable or tallow oils (fish oil). But essentially the bst course of action is once the chain is cleaned , rinse it in hot water immediately and then lube it with your water carrier wax lube. Let that dry and then apply some more. There’s no point drying a chain thoroughly from water only to add more water back to it. Water carrier wax lubes can be applied to wet chains , in fact this allows the line to spread itself more effectively