front sprocket sludge

[jaxduc]

What is the insider trick to cleaning the sludge/gunk behind and around the front sprocket?
Maybe a recommended tool or brushes or cleaning spray or a special method?
It’s always inevitable that when I lube and clean my chain that there is some oil sling and it all gets “whipped off” right there. I took off my front sprocket cover the other day and it is embarrassing.
I want to use an aerosol carburetor cleaner but I know that would seriously mess up my chain… and I like my chain 
I already know that Google is my friend.
Thanks in advance guys …and gals.

[Cloner]

WD-40 disolves chain lube, asphalt, and just about any other hydrocarbon.

[MostroS2R]

I had so much, I had to scoop it out with a screw driver.

[jaxduc]

I had so much, I had to scoop it out with a screw driver.

It looks like I will be doing this... but I'm probably just going to take the sprocket and chain off all together, do a deep clean... and just try to keep it clean moving forward.

[Raux]

I took it out with brown paper bag as a rag.
sounds weird, but it did better than a regular rag

also i only use dry silicone wax now.

[jaxduc]

I took it out with brown paper bag as a rag.

see ^^ this is what I'm talking about!
and the paper bag is disposable.
I knew there was a good reason for saving all of those paper bags they keep putting my 40s in. My gf says I'm a hoarder (among other things)

[lethe]

let the rest of the bike get as dirty or better yet dirtier.
Then that spot won't stick out.
That's my secret, plus the fling onto the ExBox has burnt into some interesting shapes. A regular rolling modern art display. 

[Slide Panda]

Use a wood spoon handle, wood scrap, plastic handle etc for jobs like this. They are much less likely to damage anything. Your case is cast AL so a good bit softer than the steel of a screw driver

[jaxduc]

so yea... sorry for the bad picture.
This is actually the "after" picture.
wish I would have taken the before picture... cause there was about a half an inch of sludge EVERYWHERE!
so I pretty much used wd40 and rags and brushes.
I guess there really is no quick way to do this... just time and patience.
i decided not to take off the sprocket and chain this time.
looks ok for now.
next time I replace the chain.. I'll clean the sh!t out of it.
thanks for the input guys.

[Privateer]

i formerly used the PJ1 chain lube and had quite a build up of that same scudge.

I switched to the BelRay stuff based on recommendation from the local independent shop and it's much less now.  Unless you're in a committed relationship with your chain lube, try a different kind and see if that helps.

[jaxduc]

I've definitely switched to a new lube/wax... this sludge was from the previous relationship.

[Heath]

I recently cleaned off all of mine. It was from a couple years of gunk before I switched to chain wax or DuPont Teflon spray. 
I found the easiest way was to warm the bike up a little that way the cases are hot. I slid the front sprocket and chain off and the clutch slave. BE CAREFUL the area is hot remember!  Then I had a spray bottle of Purple Power Industrial Strength Cleaner/Degreaser, a spray bottle filled with water and a little bit of Dawn dish soap, and then a hose for clean water. I grabbed an old toothbrush and starting going to work. 
First with the Purple Power letting it work and scrubbing off the gunk.  The heat from the cases loosens it up. You have to work fast though because the heat also wants to dry your spray.  Once I got closer to the end it was Power Purple, use the Dawn to spray that away, then quick with the water to get that away.  If it wasn't clean enough I would repeat. 
I should of took pictures because the cases looked brand new in that area afterwards. Power Purple can be found at Walmart. It is very inexpensive and works great.

[jaxduc]

^this is by far the best advice.
I'll do this next time
I guess I was just too lazy this time to take off the sprocket, chain, and clutch slave.
It seems the only way to get it super clean is to take all of this off.

Is anyone here a fan of leaving the sprocket cover off? (I always wear boots with no laces)