Best way to get chain clean

andy83

debating whether its worth to get a chain cleaner or not??

also what is the best degreaser to get to do my chain clean??

was looking at this cleaner, anyone used one??

jpembroke

Here is my chain cleaning regime:

Remove chain, put chain in clean bucket or washing-up bowl, spray with good degreaser (I use Muc-Off's degreaser in the black aerosol can), leave for a few minutes, rinse off chain with hose, hold chain at one end and wipe chain down with rag until shiny. Then, and I kid you not, use cotton buds to push remaining gunk out of links. Replace and oil with quality chain oil.

That's how to clean a chain.

Larok

definately worth it. Use a citrus degreaser.

Salsa

Chain cleaners are good if you don't like removing the chain & for really filthy chains. I just use a SRAM power link so it's easy to remove mine. If you do it regularly it doesn't get too grimy anyway.
I tend to put the chain in a coffee jar with fairy liquid & hot water, shake it every few minutes then leave it for a while, I then take it out & rinse it off before a go with muc off spray degreaser & a stiff brush, then wipe it off as well as I can before leaving it hanging up to dry, then put it back on & coat it with White Lightning/summer wet lube/winter.

stubs

Put chain in old drink bottle with some hot water and fenwicks degreaser screw top on tight shake bottle for a couple of minutes tip out mucky water refill with hot water shake keep repeating hot water till it comes out clean wipe chain dry with rag hang chain to dry

starsky007

How often should you clean a chain, is there a set period of time,,, ie every week or month or year or just when it gets dirty?. just wondering has ive just got a new trance 2 weeks ago and ive been out 6 times and not yet cleaned chain.

Larok

I clean mine after every dirty ride or every two/three dry rides, then relube. Keeps it running smooth and hopefully problem free and for longer.

Sikora

Larok wrote:

I clean mine after every dirty ride or every two/three dry rides, then relube. Keeps it running smooth and hopefully problem free and for longer.

Same here. Although sometimes cleaning the chain is the last thing on your mind after a grueling ride :?

andy83

thanks for that, i obviously dont clean my chain enough lol, although hardly ever go off road.

im not overly keen on taking chain off as dont like to weaken it, think ill get myself a chain cleaner and a decent degreaser.

this may sound stupid but a spray degreaser aint going to work with a chain cleaner is it??

thanks in advance

Larok

no, the liquid degreaser goes in the cleaner

beski

thanks for that, i obviously dont clean my chain enough lol, although hardly ever go off road.

If you hardly ever go off road, maybe a routine of wiping the chain off with a rag, and lubing after every ride would keep the chain clean enough most of the time. The road/trail dust sticks to the lube so it's wiped off and replaced with clean lube for your next jaunt. Give it a good work over with degreaser etc when it gets really grimey

Johnny Napalm

Jpembroke, I do the exact same. Once clean, I tend to oil it while it's still off the bike, working the oil into every area with my hands.

I clean the chain after every ride too.

AndyTheRocketeer

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

shin0r

White spirit works absolute wonders, just don't let it sit on your paint for too long. It's also cheap as chips, £1.85 for 2 litres at asda.