Cleaning a chain

[wannaberoadie]

Hi guys,

Interested in your thoughts on what you clean your chains with. I use mineral spirits on a rag and run the chain through my fingers. I told the LBS and they freak out about how that's bad for chains and your gear. Spending big bucks on a cleaning solution seems crazy.

What cleaning products do you use?

[g-boaf]

Torpedo7's degreaser is what I use. Had to take the chain off completely to clean it properly the first time.

And then re-lube the chain with Rock N Roll Gold.

[mitzikatzi]

I hope you wear Nitrile gloves. I can't see mineral spirits being good for your skin/fingers.

Oh Yippy! A chain lube thread. Bacon Fat for me. It's the best.

Type of Chain Lubricants (Polls)

what degreaser do you use when cleaning your chain and cassette

Thanks "search"

Sheldons view

The bottom line is that the best products for cleaning and lubricating bicycle chains are the simplest and cheapest, kerosene or mineral spirits to clean, and chainsaw oil or foaming chain lube to lubricate. Don't waste money on fancy cleaners and lubricants.

This is how I clean my chain
The ShelBroCo Bicycle Chain Cleaning System

[Mulger bill]

This is how I clean my chain
The ShelBroCo Bicycle Chain Cleaning System

Oh yeah! Hardcore!

Bacon fat makes a great lube for two reasons. 1, you get to eat the bacon. 2, it improves your fitness immensely because you have to outsprint all the dogs that want to lick your chain.

But seriously folks...

Connex link, kero, tub and an old toothbrush,. Scrub and swish. (filter and reuse the kero) Dribble Purple Extreme over the top and all is good.

[mitzikatzi]

3. Dogs lick chain. Voila clean chain
4. relube chain.

For a quick on bike chain clean this is the best method I have used.
Motorcycle Chain Cleaner and Degreaser

[HappyHumber]

If there's another thing certain in life besides death & taxes - there is the recurrence of chain maintenance threads.

Spending big bucks on a cleaning solution seems crazy.

It's not crazy to your LBS. "Profitable" is a better word, I'd say. Hence their feigned, though well practiced, horror.

Please, search and read on these and other forums. There's a myriad of difference techniques & potions (Both $$$ and DIY) for cleaning your chains all pretty well documented already. Read up, try a couple.... work out which ones best for you. Live and let live. Do unto others....

arrgh... it's like bringing up religion or politics at dinner parties.

time for a ride I think.

[usernameforme]

I've started using diesel, works brilliantly and is by far the cheapest Cleaning solution I've found, period

[yarravalleyplodder]

Kero & small paint brush for those hard to get areas

parktool chain cleaning tool and a 5l bottle of degreaser from auto barn does the trick

re-lube with R&R Gold

[arand18]

I use inox lubricant to clean the chain and cassette then use rock n roll lube

[mrs slocombe's pussy]

http://www.kmcchain.eu/?en/maintenance/

you'll find that chain manufacturers do not recommend the use of degreasers, solvents etc as it removes the manufacturers original lubricant from the rollers. in effect you are flushing out superior lubricant and replacing it with an inferior product.

simply use a rag to wipe down the chain, apply lube, wait a few minutes for it to soak into the rollers and then wipe away any excess form the chain surface.

it shouldn't take much more than 5 minutes.

[liquor box]

citrus degreaser from super cheap and then R&R Gold to lube

[human909]

Citris degreaser seems silly when a simply solvent degrease does the job far better. Don't fall into the trap in thinking that citris degrease is somehow more natural or better for the environment.

A simple wipedown and relube is generally all thats needed. Though if you have a gunked up chain from half a decade of use on and off road then degreaser does wonders!

[il padrone]

Recent approach.... I don't clean it

Ride the chain on the original manufacturer's lube for as long as possible. When it gets dirty or begins to squeal/grind I wipe it clean with a rag then give it a dose of Purple Extreme lube (this lube does not attract dirt, stays on during wet conditions and lasts for ~600kms). You only need to apply this very sparingly . When it begins to grind again I repeat this process.. Been good on two rotated chains for the past 7000kms or so.

[NhiTrac]

Recently purchased a can of that lightning cleaning thing (sorry can't remember exact name). It literally took less than a few minutes to melt the grime and gunk off the cassette/chain and dried within seconds.

However I had to use the whole can and at $20 a can, it'll be super expensive to keep it up. So while nice, I might just stick to the traditional cleaning methods

[usernameforme]

Recent approach.... I don't clean it
*SNIP*
Been good on two rotated chains for the past 7000kms or so.

What black magic is this? my chains only last me 5000km and I think I take great care of it...

[il padrone]

What black magic is this? my chains only last me 5000km and I think I take great care of it...

Two things:

1. 7000kms divided by two chains = ~3500kms each. I reckon I might get 6-7000kms each, more if I want to run the drivetrain till it's toast.
2. Running on a Rohloff IGH so no shift-related wear

[jacks1071]

Hi guys,

Interested in your thoughts on what you clean your chains with. I use mineral spirits on a rag and run the chain through my fingers. I told the LBS and they freak out about how that's bad for chains and your gear. Spending big bucks on a cleaning solution seems crazy.

What cleaning products do you use?

I havn't "cleaned" my chain since changing to the Rock N Roll oils.

With this stuff, you put it on until its dripping off the chain, then you wipe off as much as you possibly can. Clean and lube done in the one go - it works so well that even when I wash the bike I don't bother to get the kero and my paint brush out to clean the chain with.

[liquor box]

Citris degreaser seems silly when a simply solvent degrease does the job far better. Don't fall into the trap in thinking that citris degrease is somehow more natural or better for the environment.

A simple wipedown and relube is generally all thats needed. Though if you have a gunked up chain from half a decade of use on and off road then degreaser does wonders!

the environment is the least of my concerns, I use the citrus as I dont want a harsh degreaser to ruin the paint on my bike

[kb]

the environment is the least of my concerns, I use the citrus as I dont want a harsh degreaser to ruin the paint on my bike

This is going to sound strange but I find I get less mozzies around the bike with citrus degreaser.

[human909]

the environment is the least of my concerns, I use the citrus as I dont want a harsh degreaser to ruin the paint on my bike

Which any basic hydrocarbon solvent won't!

[wombatK]

With this stuff, you put it on until its dripping off the chain, then you wipe off as much as you possibly can.

That's just wasting it. Should take no more than 2 ml - or roughly 1 drop every two or three links, less if just re-oiling
rather than starting from a cleaned chain.

Cheers

[zero]

With this stuff, you put it on until its dripping off the chain, then you wipe off as much as you possibly can.

That's just wasting it. Should take no more than 2 ml - or roughly 1 drop every two or three links, less if just re-oiling
rather than starting from a cleaned chain.

Cheers

Unfortunately I've suffered from speedo failures that interrupted my experimental chain lifespans, but there seems to be no real drawback in terms of lifespan for chain caring for this way for one of my frequently wet in commuting chains, and its a hell of a lot less fussy than removing and kerobathing a chain. RRG doesn't crud up particularly thickly and the process gets rid of a lot of it, and leaves the chain well lubed.

[dungee]

Sometimes I'll clean the cassette with a brush and a little degreeso, never, never, never on the chain. Just a good hard rub with a clean dry rag until its shiny and then your favourite lube, wipe off excess and all done.

[jacks1071]

Citris degreaser seems silly when a simply solvent degrease does the job far better. Don't fall into the trap in thinking that citris degrease is somehow more natural or better for the environment.

A simple wipedown and relube is generally all thats needed. Though if you have a gunked up chain from half a decade of use on and off road then degreaser does wonders!

the environment is the least of my concerns, I use the citrus as I dont want a harsh degreaser to ruin the paint on my bike

Citrius degreaser is nasty stuff, I wouldn't put it anywhere near my bike.

[markrhino]

$1 stain remover spray from local supermarket. Spray on, wait 5 minutes, wipe off, re-lube, done.