CLEAN BIKE: The Ultrasonic Part Cleaner! // How to Clean a Bicycle Chain
Vložit
- čas přidán 22. 12. 2016
- Von asked me to clean her bike prior to our Festive 500 kms we'll be doing in the coming week. Here's a quick-fire way to get things looking shiny with baby wipes and the magic machine that is the ultrasonic parts cleaner!
Similar product on Amazon: amzn.to/2n0aiBl
Subscribe for notification of new videos! bit.ly/3aUph9W
My CZcams Equipment:
Cannon G7X Mark II: amzn.to/2sTJdFl
GoPro Hero5 Session: amzn.to/2tLDzCa
Apple iPhone7: amzn.to/2tLo39n
Rode smartLav+ Lavalier Microphone: amzn.to/2tqRuhl
Samson Meteor Mic USB Studio Microphone: amzn.to/2sobQcH
JOBY GorillaPod SLR Zoom: amzn.to/2sTO3T8
JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Stand: amzn.to/2sTRPvK
-----------
Web: shanemiller.net
Instagram: / gplama
Strava: / strava
Twitter: / gplama
CZcams: / gplama
-------------------------- - Sport
A little tip. When lubing the chain, keep it on the big chainring. Any excess lube is more easily whiped of the big chainring than the little one.
Hi Shane, it's me the wheel balance guy from Seattle. Just giving your loyal folowers like me a little heads up if you use an Ultrasonic cleaner... I used to use the same Ultrasonic cleaner and soon discovered not to ever put Aluminum parts in it because it pits the surface especially when it is anodized. I ruined a perfectly like new pair of Campagnolo super record 11 brake calipers when I put them in for a quick clean, and was horrified when I pulled them out to rinse them. Yeh hard steel stuff like chains and cassette cogs good. Aluminum parts to risky.
Heya Shane. Thanks for the follow-up for the Ultrasonic Cleaner. Top stuff!
Here's a few things I've found (a bit more homebrew) than yours, that I think are good take off points too, that I've come across to help us reach the Nirvana of cleaning things.
1. Baby Wipes. You can get the Mama Mia ones from ALDI for about $2.00 that are paraben/alcohol free. Great for everything. I discovered these when I used to work in animation using Plasticine. They were the only thing to get off the oily residue.
2. Like a car, start the clean from the top down, due to the gravity factor.
3. Chain breaker with a KMC quick link = no need for chain cleaners. KMC actually have a little blurb written on their website advising against them.
4. Cheap ass USC = Icecream bucket filled with Kero. Put your chain in, put in like 250 ml's of Kero. Shake it like Shakira. I made the mistake of not using gloves the first time with Kero. I now use Nitrile gloves (mechanic gloves) which are like a dollar each from supercheap. Supercheap also stocks grease cleaners for your hands that are great if you're getting super dirty. Having wrinkled hands that smell like jet fuel is no fun. Leave the excess Kero in the sun to evaporate and throw or re-use the bucket.
5. Rinse off chain and dry to remove excess degreaser as you don't want this when re-lubing.
6. Same as you, I tend to do a solid lubing. I tend to leave the lube in overnight to soak into the rollers and wipe the excess in the morning. This type of deep clean though is probably great for a dry paraffin wax based lube like squirt, which adheres better with super clean chains. I think they're becoming more common now as they do reduce friction.
7. I know this is isn't required, but I put an ultra-thin layer of grease in the cassette body (not in the spline grooves) to help taking off the cassette next time. It serves no other purpose.
8. I finish with a UV protectant called Aerospace 303. I use this for car interiors mainly, but it works great for gloss-free carbon parts. It's water based, so no silicone and dries up after about 5 weeks. Great for frames, carbon parts and even running gear. Matte stuff works best and it literally makes stuff look out of the box new. This stuff is even recommended by guys like Parlee, for protecting carbon frames from the QLD sun.
9. Acetone works great on carbon brake tracks and rims for removing stubborn dirt.
10. If you have an air-compressor lying around, also a great tool to get dirt out of bolt heads, and brake parts without degreasing.
11. I use the soy base triflow product for quickly lubing spoke nipples and the friction points of brake cables. This just gives them a protective layer that dries naturally in a month and is environmentally friendly.
Most of these tips I borrow from car detailing experience, but the apply to bikes equally. It's great to see the reception from brands like muc-off, but a tonne of this stuff has existed for decades for cars and just as easily goes on bikes.
Geek out.
Also Von short for Veronica? Mind BLOWN.
10/10 quality CZcams comment! That's bloody brilliant mate. Thanks for taking the time to put that together, it'll help me and a ton of others. Yep on Von/Veronica. :)
Thanks mate! Avid watcher of your vids. This is one I could actually provide some input on ha. Keep it up!
Don't use flammable fluids in parts washers. They can heat up and catch fire. Neutral industrial detergent is the go. Don't use alkalis nor acids either.
I left muc-off on too long on the aluminium swing arm of my motorbike and it etched it and left a permanent mark
Gixer750pilot water Muc Off down 50-50 even less if you want also makes it last longer ;)
Putting kerosene in a high frequency (electrical) environment isn't smart, even if it's in H20. There's a lot of electricity driving the transducers below the tank and it's also a high a capacitance area. Strongly you suggest using a water-soluble cleaner. I worked in an industrial ultrasonic cleaning environment for many years and that's why I'm commenting here.
One person, a chemist, charged that putting a chain in an ultrasonic cleaner would strip off the metal plating leaving bare metal that will quickly rust. What has been your experience?
@@philhouck3560 just wax the chain afterwards
I just use a dishwasher tablet in my US cleaner. Works every time and its safe to pour the water down the drain.
thank you.
I just bought mine today and tried it out on the the chain I have been running all winter through snow, salt and grime, the result is much better than I would have expected. So thank you for this great tip
Could I make do with a washing up bowl and my wife's vibrator?
Maybe if you hot-wire it to 240V (110 in the US) and put some degreaser in with it. Please upload this to CZcams if you do it! ;)
Mr B you sir are a legend
I'll give it a try when the kids have gone to bed. Merry Christmas, Shane, thanks for the entertaining videos this year.
yep only if you make the video..............dildo buzz
Why would she have a vibrator if she has you? Throw that thing right in the bin mate.
Tip: I always run a zip tie through the loose cassette parts, just cause it's easier to put back onto the wheel. Good trick for newbies as... then you do t need to think order of rings, Shims, etc
Do the same through the end of your chain so you don’t lose the rollers in each end. Put the zip tie through both ends of the chain and through both parts of your speed link.
When I clean mine I also check for wear just as you did. While going up hill and hard accelerating over a speed bump I've had a worn chain slip. With all my weight forward and suddenly no gears I ended up over the handlebars. That was fun.
The reason it didn't come out spotless clean is that kerosene does not mix with water. Water will stay at the bottom of the tank (where the parts are) and the kerosene will float on top (providing little contact). But ultrasound cleaning is so good that you get results even with just plain water. For best results some water soluble detergent is needed if you're going to use water.
Good tips. I usually pull out my little camping folding stool for when I have to do a lot of hunched down work.
We use ultrasonic at work to clean sensitive aircraft parts. Two of the secrets are heat at about 120 C & time. Basic is 30 minutes, heavy is 60. We use other processes like deionized water & rust block in the process also.
That is an super amazing tip with the ultrasonic cleaner we have one of these at home and nobody is using it but now there is a usage
Thanks for the parts cleaner link. As much time & effort I put into prep’ing my chains for hot wax, $75 USD Harbor Freight (an inexpensive good-enough quality vender) is nothing in comparison to speeding up and improving the process. Great professional CZcams channel. 👍👍👍 And Merry Christmas 🎄
Hey Shane, great advice. I also use an ultrasonic cleaner on the drive chain. I've found that if I run it twice I get a good bit more of the gunk out on the second run. Then I run a second ultrasonic cleaner with paraffin. Perhaps my OCD is more severe. :-)
Hi Shane
After such a good clean where nearly all grease and oil are removed, I will recomend Ufo DRIP from Ceramicspeed to oil the chain again. Ufo DRIP is pretty expensive an difficult to use, but when both chain and Ufo DRIP are about 20 centigrade in temperature, it works fine. I hang the cleaned chain on a nail and let the Ufo DRIP ran down on the chain until every part of the chain have some lube added. Here in Denmark where the temperature not so often are 20 degrees or above, I heat the chain after lubricating with a electrical warming gun, to make sure the lube are absorbed into the chain joints as god as possible.
Se you on the road :-)
This is one the most useful videos that I use, I ultra sonic clean my stuff all the time. I did purchase a bit better ultra sonic cleaner and hot wax the chains.
108k views! Amazing. Bike cleaning at it's finest. The day spa treatment for your bike
Nice video with good information, thanks for using natural light.
This was one of the most satisfying videos in the last months!
You should have done this video two weeks ago, now it's too close to christmas to change my wishes to an ultrasonic cleaner :D
Talk about perfect timing. Just bought one today.
keep up the good work love seeing the progress. just bought a trainer in large part because of you
That's the only reason I need a lawn: bike cleaning!
Baby wipes and an ultrasonic cleaner. Excellent! This is the way you do it.
Hi Shane, if you want to clean it quicker and save your detergent. You can use a glass jar or zip lock bags. Just put your parts there it will work for you!
Bike shop in my city has one that can fit up to a whole frame. Had a complete cleaning on my Aluminum bike. I swear after everything went into the ultrasonic cleaner and was rebuilt with new cables and brake pads the bike felt way better than brand new and looked like I had just pulled it out of the box.
So if you think that bike started out dirty I'm afraid to show you my mountain bikes! HAHAHA! That parts cleaner is very nice and I might have to get one soon. Enjoyed the video and sub'd so I can watch more! Thank you :-)
Muc Off is the best stuff I have ever used for cleaning my bike. The LUBE is defiantly #1.
Ben Patterson Which Muc Off lube do you like best?
Great content ... thanks for the tips ... keep em coming
Love the ultrasonic cleaner 👍
I've used oven cleaner spray in the past, best instant clean ever although I'm sure it's not good for the environment, all I do now it GT85 the chain and rear cassette and wipe with an old rag once a week or after every wet ride and I've never suffered any premature wear or bad shifting - Chain is cleaner than it has ever been
Having just cleaned an oven last week... I concur. That stuff is toxic! :)
LOL @ OCD. Glad I'm not the only one who needs consistent spacers!
lol, I have the same spacer OCD. Glad its not just me.
Subbed! Happy New Year Shane!
great vid, the ultra sonic cleaner is awesome. have you tried a hot wax onto the chain? its awesome and dry as well, so attracks less dirt than a wet lube.
Thanks for posting and sharing.
Never known anyone to jet wash a ultrasonic cleaner. Electronics and water don’t mix. Put the stuff in a zip lock bag with water and solution then drop the bag in the water. Keeps it clean.
When I visit Australia I'll be sure to drop my bike off with you! Great video Shane! :)
Unless you're my wife... you're not getting your bike cleaned by me! :)
- Water
- degreaser
- bike wash
- water
- rag
With that you don't need ultrasonic cleaner. Just put components in and wait for 10 minutes. Same thing. That UC is not strong. Proper UC will do the magic but that model cost too much for chain cleaning.
I do not use degreaser. It is bad for the chain.
For basic cleaning - soapy water
For dirt chain - diesel
For relly dirt and rust chain - WD40
For long life of chain - No degreaser, no cross chain. My last Shimano chain lasted for 20k km.
The cleaner used is well strong enough to breakdown the oil and grease so it washes off easily. Cost is all relative. If the chain is oiled correctly after cleaning this will prolong the life, a lot. But, everyone rides in different conditions, so has different experiences with wear. CX racing is a total component killer.
Safety Note: Never stick your hands in a running ultrasonic cleaner... The bubbles can pass through the skin and into the blood stream. Air bubbles in your blood is dangerous.
read the instructions and warnings.
Thank you! Upvoted and hearted this comment.
HOW can air go though the skin into the blood stream? Any examples? Medical notes? Anything?
@@olioli8745 They have to tell people, otherwise they will get sued for people being dumb. Like the don't microwave your cat to help its fur dry faster etc...
Brilliant idea!
Good job! I'll drop mine round later😅
I can always tell a fellow OCD biker when I see their tire lettering center with the valve stem lol love it
Wow I need one !!! 😁
I'm liking that yellow cap muc off. I was using T9 but the wax properties make it a pain to clean.
great tip on putting boiling water in first! thanks
2:40 So that's what that tool is for. I've had one in a kit of bike tools and never used it... not that I've given it much thought up till now. But I have cursed a few times when splitting chains with my bare hands.
Hi. Great videos. One question. I have seen that you use quick links for your chain(s). Which brand do you use, and how many times do they manage to be opened and closed again before you have to replace them?
There's reusable ones from KMC (I believe). I use them 3-4 chain lives.
Many thanks for the video Shane. I've heard about people using Ultrasonic cleaning but will now investigate further. What Quicklink do you use and what tool was that to undo it so easily ?
My local bike shop has one and they swear by it. Not sure what brand quick-link is on Von's bike... the removal tool was some $5 job from Wiggle "Quick link removal tool" should bring it up in the search results.
believe it or not chain grease is the best cleaning agent for bicycle parts. In military they use something called CLP (cleaning, lubricating and protecting) to clean their rifles. any grease or carbon build up just get dissolved into chain lube and it doesn't corrode your components. ofc chain lube is expensive but for the long run chain lube preserves your component better so you will be saving lot's of money. i leave a thin film of lube on my bike regardless if it's drivetrain or not. it acts as an anti oxidant which protect your aluminium parts and top coat of your carbon frame. i recommend prolink progold 16oz spray bottles, they aren't that expensive yet thin and easy to use as a cleaner.
That cassette and chain looked better than mine even before you cleaned it
that cassette, crank, and derailleur retail for more than my whole bike.
It's relative. Head over to any car racing channel and get blown away by the cost of a racing engine. Or how much they spend on tyres for each race meet.
Saw a 600ml tank on Amazon. It might be too small?
Shane; Thank you for all your videos - what a great jobb! The joy you have, goes through the screen. :-) Now, a question about the cleaner; how many watts do you recommend? There are many different out there.... Keep the good work up and stay blessed!
The user manual says: Ultrasonic: 65W. Heating power: 100W.
I feel this is like a fancy gadget, but nothing more. I regularly clean my drivetrain with some worn textile and those fancy chaincleaners, and when I take the chain-chainrings-cassette off approximately after every 7-800 km, I use a dishwasher cream ultraderm (~2usd in HUF) it's enough for a season.
Is olive oil okay to use?
I thought that I was the only person who wanted the 11sp on the spacers in the same place!🤣
i could be wrong but water and oil products dont normally dont mix.... putting kerosene in boiling water while inside an electrical appliance is a big fire hazard. That kerosene will just float on top and evaporate away as an explosive gas. Good thing you did that outside.
Gotta get me one of those ultrasonic cleaners
I thought they said this plastic ultrasonic cleaners aren't good? by the way how many watts is the device?
Shane, nice vlog as usual with great detail. Yes. Festive 500 begins tomorrow, though here in the northern hemisphere it will not likely be so sunny and nice, expecting a dry day here where I live, in the Seattle WA area, with temps in the 0-3 C / 32 - 36 F range. Is this your standard cleaning process for the drive train, or do you only go to the extent of the ultrasonic cleaner a couple of times a year or when particularly dirty?
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
We just rolled in at 8pm and it's 32degC. Brilliant weather here today. :) I use the ultrasonic cleaner every 6-8 weeks on the chains, but it does depend on the riding conditions they've been through.
I half expected to see Von give you a hard time about the job you did!
I'll cop that after today's ride if I missed oiling a link or two! ;)
Shane, do you use a chain-lock to re-open, re-close the chain? If yes, which chain and which lock?
+Frank Wechsel Shimano chain, KMC quicklink (I think), and a quick link tool from Wiggle or PBK (got it years ago, can't recall which one)
This made me realize what I consider clean on my mtb is very different than yours on your bike
Yeah... It was spotless before he even cleaned it! Lol
what kind of oil do you recommend? o use the wax based stuff. is that sufficient if I clean my chain using this method?
Dinosaur based. Wax based works nice, and it's clean, but needs reapplication every few rides.
Tried to take advantage of 25% off store-wide at Super Cheap today....sold out at every WA store apparently!
Bugger!
after that chain dries melt some paraffin wax in that ultra sonic cleaner, drop that chain in. You'll have a very clean and super fast chain. Especially good for mtb because you can get away with dry Teflon or silicone lubes that don't build up or collect dirt for a couple months before needing to retreat with wax. It's also fast, did I mention that?
H Masters waxing the chain is the way to go.
It’s better if u use a cheap crockpot/rice steamer for waxing instead of this expensive cleaning machine. “GCN” CZcams account did this
The ultrasonic cleaner isn't necessary. Secondly, paraffin along isn't much of a lube because it flakes off after it cools. It needs to be paired with motor oil: 1 pound of canning paraffin and 9 ounces of motor oil. The motor oil holds the paraffin in place and the paraffin keeps the lube from being so sticky it picks up dirt. The two lubes must be heated up to the point where they have almost the same viscosity as water. Then the chain should be lowered into the solution and left there a few minutes. There are video that demonstrate the procedure.
Shane what degreaser are you using, I bought an ultra sonic cleaner, put the hot water in and some degreaser and it didn't clean, I put it down to the degreaser being a cheap Bunnings brand
Kero. See the comments below for more ideas of what might work just as well.
Have an ultrasonic at work but don't think the boss would be to happy with me using it to clean bike parts. Lol
So it IS supposed to sound like that when it's running. I just got one and I fired it up to see make sure I didn't get a dud unit and was a bit alarmed by the noises it made.
Yes
My Shimano RD F8050 DI2 front derailleur is very sticky when shifting and recently stopped going to the big chainring. I have repeatedly used cleaner spray to get into the big chainring but it has difficult. The derailleur will work for a while and then will not work from small to big, until I respray the cleaner again. Can I submerge or dangle the front derailleur in an ultrasonic cleaner to get rid of the build-up. Will this short out the solenoid?
Shimano Support is your best bet here.
I've cleaned cassette sprockets with Biozet. You can soak them overnight. And I guess since it's enzymic, rather than alkali / acidic you won't dissolve the metal. Do take care of your hands though.
Great video👍
What chain break link do you use?
I'm not sure, maybe a KMC.
Do you still use the ultrasonic cleaner?
Is this a Shimano chain with a SRAM link? Being able the chain the SRAM way looks convenient. Is it as robust as the Shimano link?
I think it may be a KMC link. I'm not sure.
How many parts have you lost in the grass?
Just the quick-link for about five minutes today..... the wonders of video editing to cut part out! :)
not shure but: first raw dirty off and than put in ultrasonic bath?
Love the idea. However bike washing takes long enough and this seems to just add another step
YO was that "cleaner" Kerosene? If so How does it work with a biodegradable cleaner? If I use Diesel fuel everything comes off regardless of the contraption, but hey....is that allowed?
Michael Gallagher try to use vinegar or citricacid for that
Hey shane, i picked up a cheaper ultrasonic cleaner but my chain still sounds kinda gritty despite running it through about 2-3 cycles. Any tips of possibly making that clean even better?
+ryan singh Use a degreaser in the cleaner. Blast it clean after with water and/or a soapy brush.
Shane Miller I dumped a bunch of degreaser in it actually. I'll try brushing it down too, thanks for the tip
how fresh is that?!? I'm gonna get me a Ultra Sonic thingy right meow
Hey, just watched the video, specifically the way you cleaned the ultrasonic cleaner afterwards. I just purchased an identical cleaner but wondered how waterproof the electronics are. Can I clean mine the same way you soaked yours with a hose? (Minute 6:00)
It might not be the recommended way to clean it, but it hasn’t caused any issues for me to date. Just don’t spray water directly in the power socket or on the button panel.
What brand of rear light is that on Von's bike? Also, what is your opinion on waxing a chain, or using wax based lubricants such as Squirt. I've tested but the wax seems to get gunky and definitely harder to clean, and strip from the chain if you want to go back to oil based lubricants again.
Knog. Waxing is super clean stuff... but I had to keep applying it every three rides or so. Maybe it's better these days?
Shane Miller thanks! Yeah it wears off quickly. I've had it pickup quite a bit of gunk from the road which is harder to get off than just de-greasing a chain, and it seems like once a chain is waxed it's hard to switch back to grease as the wax is somewhat oil phobic. I sure like how clean it stays though compared grease. I wonder if an ultrasonic cleaner would help with a waxed chain... maybe with hot water?
You can clean the cassette really easy just by passing a piece of old choth between the gears. I don't even use any solvent and after I clean it looks brand new !
Should ultrasonic increases the chain looseness???
No. It'll strip oil from it, so that has to be re-applied well.
Bought an ultrasonic cleaner from Amazon and tried it last night to clean a couple of cassettes and a chain. The first cassette I tested was done in a mixture of water and Finish Line citrus degreaser, mixed at a ratio of about 3:1. I started with cold tap water and then heated up using the ultrasonic cleaner's own heater. Can't say the cassette came out cleaner than just using degreaser and a brush because I still had to use a brush and several sprays of Muc Off. For the second cassette and the chain, i used a mixture of water and Pedro's Oranj Peelz citrus degreaser. I didn't have a whole lot of the degreaser left so the water to degreaser ratio was much higher. The cassette and chain definitely did not come out cleaner than the previous attempt. They were cleaned in multiple 480-second cycles. I am a bit disappointed with the outcome. Did I not use the right kind of degreaser for the ultrasonic cleaner to do its magic? I did use the plastic tray that come with the cleaner (accordingly to the manual, using the tray to reduce the cleaning effect by about 20%).
I use Kerosene with good results. The parts don't come out sparkling, but they wash clean with water (and a little soap to remove the left over kero).
Apparently kerosene is not as readily available as I thought it would be. I could not even find it in the chain hardware store Home Depot. I bought Simple Green instead and it works way better than the citrus degreaser I used previously. I used a 1:1 Simple Green / Water ratio. The cassette didn't even need to be brushed or sprayed with Muc-Off after the ultrasonic treatment. I simply rinsed the cogs in water.
simplegreen.com/products/all-purpose-cleaner/
what is the quick and easy chain removal tool you used?.
This tool: amzn.to/3erngB3 along with a quick-link on the chain.
One thing to add: Before reassembling and greasing the chain I’d recommend to liberally spray it with water displacement (e.g. WD40, yes this is the one time where putting WD40 on a chain is useful) and let it dry completely to make sure no water is left inside the links.
OK, so how do you know where the spacers in the cassette go? I.E. how do you know which gears they go between?
Jensen Healey they go between the ones that don't have integrated spaces, it'd be really obvious where a spacer should go if you didn't put one in
Jensen Healey you can once you start to remove then just lay out in order as everything came off! Job done you'll soon see how it works and goes back together ;)
Would you recommend putting an entire break caliper or deraileur in one of these things?
No. Not unless they're stripped down and bearings/etc removed first.
@@gplama i figured. Thanks for the reply.
What quick link do you recommend for the chain? Yours seems super easy to install or take off
I can't recall what specific that one is... KMC maybe.
Great thank you! Will buy an ultrasonic cleaner and a quick link too
What’s wrong with that gear cable
very cool! i went to Wal Mart right away but couldnt find this bike?!?
+soapboxearth Maybe the bike shop next to Walmart? ;) 👍🏼
i ended up buying a Doesnt-Works and saved thousands!!
dont forget lemishine @walmart, best grease cut in n america. But iam trying wax pariffin and pariffin oil 1:1. If that dont work i'll use oil. My chain is inside in velomobile.
Shane is that straight kerosene or a degreeser that's kerosene based?
Stock standard kero.
I think Yvonne craves some new wheels. Maybe Dura Ace C50s to match the gruppo. :-P
Cleaning the chain, chainrings and cogs for roadies is usually unnecessary provided a proper lubricant is used. There is no drip-on lube on the market that comes close to hot-soak in a combination of canning paraffin and motor oil. This combination picks no dirt, shift feel almost buttery smooth and a lube lasts at least 300 miles.
Goddam, in Aus you're bikes are so minty. (im from UK)I got a new bike 2 weeks back and taped it to holy hell with copter tape but already there are stone chips on some parts i missed out :( Not to mention how much grit there is over here the bike gets full of black gunk in the jockey wheels and the brake calipers
Looks like the inner chain ring might be installed in the wrong orientation, Could be wrong as not used to that Power meter/crank setup but may be worth a check.
nice little cleaner though!
Yep. It's off by one... but the right direction. No issue for the inner ring as there's no ramp pins or anything on it. (Installed by an Specialized dealer when Von purchase the Quarq spider..... pretty poor effort on their behalf imo)
what happens if you put your finger in the water?
Not advised.
Shane Shane Shane. What can I say, didn't your mum ever tell you that oil and water don't mix ;) Kero is oil, drop some in a clear container with some water and see how well your "degreaser" gets on!
Few topics seem to be as contentious in the cycling world as chain cleaning. Personally I use my ultrasonic cleaner for some jobs but not for chain cleaning. Cassettes etc on the other hand by all means. If you want to use one, don't worry about the kero, it's floating on top and just stinking up the show, instead drop some ordinary dishwashing detergent in there, just a small amount will do it. Hot water and you're done. If buying specialist ultrasonic cleaner be careful of some of the ultrasonic cleaning powders available as they're caustic and can mar aluminium components. Don't ask me how I proved that!
The reason I don't use U/S cleaners on chains is, well firstly because most of my bikes don't have master links, but also because the water will stay within the chain when you try to lube it. I guess you could put it in an oven to dry it first, but even I'm not that anal! If the water is still within the chain you then have the same issue of water and oil not mixing. The water wins every time, and the lubricant won't displace the water. Later your chain will run dry (ie won't be properly lubed) once the water finally dries out. Again, you could displace the water with a water displacing fluid like WD-40 (which is a crap lubricant BTW) before properly lubricating the chain, but it's just another step.
Personally I tend to use kero only (don't try to mix it with water, it doesn't mix). I run kero in my parts cleaner so just pump some into either a chain cleaner or a ice cream container with a brush. Some may claim you could even run straight kero in an ultrasonic cleaner, ignoring all warning labels not to do that. The world may end if you try that. It may not too ;) The chain cleaner is fast but my current Park Tool one isn't the best I've used. Kero is actually a very light oil, so a lubricant in its own right (a squillion jet engine parts will testify to that), albeit not a great one. However being an oil based solvent, unlike water it won't prevent wax or oil based chain lube from getting in there and doing its thing, although it may dilute them a tad. I must admit I don't clean my chain as much as I should, but I have just under 4K on my current chain and measured it not too long ago. It still looked like it had another 2K at least in it just by cleaning with lubricants.
Hope that helps.