Do I need to degrease my chain!?

rchip

Hey, my free sample of squirt turned up today : ) ... I've only had my bike for about a week, it's been on about 7 rides so far, only getting the bike dusty. the chain still looks clean really. It says to degrease before a apply the lube, should i nip over to halfords now and buy some degreaser or would this be a waste as there's not really any gunk on it!?

thanks rich.

submityournentries

i bought a brand new chain, and the first thing i did once i fitted it was degrease it, cause i found that the oil that manufacturers use is like glue for anything and everything but that might well just be me. i then used some pedros oil and then gt85 too

supersonic

The stuff that comes with chains is the best chain lube there is, though wiping it of the outer plates can be beneficial.

rchip

Okay! thanks for replying. I think I'm going to go for a ride in about an hour, clean my bike afterwards. Should I give the chain a clean with a damp rag and dry thoroughly? Then apply the lube!?

jairaj

technically its good to clean the chain before a re-lube to get any censored off it so the oil/lubricant can do its job. But if you've only had a short while and the chain is still clean there is probably no need.

Also read what Sheldon Brown has to say about cleaning manufacturers lube from a chain.

Thread8

For squirt, yes you do because otherwise it binds with the other oil which just makes a sticky dirty mess that falls off the chain and does'nt do a lot

Also with squirt, make sure you relube after every ride

blister pus

Squirt you do need to make sure there's no contaminants on the chain when you start. So clean chain.

It varies how much you need to relube using Squirt. I relube when the chain starts making noise. Which can work out fairly sparingly and works out pretty economical. Start using it in bad conditions then forget it.

rchip

Okay! I shall clean the chain! I've only just realised, I work in Subway part time, where we have little packets of degreaser which we dilute to clean the oven etc! Would this be suitable to clean the chain!? If so, I shall bike over now! I think it's only mild.

blister pus

Get yourself a bottle of white spirit and two jam jars with screw lids. Fill one jar up half full with white spirit and drop chain in , screw lid down and shake for 5 minutes, 10 if it's dirty.

Take chain out and drop it in the other jar. put a small squirt of fairy liquid in and half fill with water, screw lid down and shake for 3 minutes. Drain. Fill with clean water. Repeat. Rinse. Repeat. Rinse. Repeat. Take chain out - smell it - should smell of chain. Towel dry thoroughly. Put on warm radiator for a half hour.

Apply Squirt as per instructions.

Northwind

Or paraffin, works just the same way and generally cheaper. Though white spirit is easier to find in smaller quantities, a 5 litre tub of paraffin lasts forever.

blister pus

I'm such a tight censored me. I'm still on the first jar of WS I poured 18 months ago or so because I let it settle on a shelf till the next round of chain cleaning comes round. I carefully drain the separated and clear WS off into the other jam jar and rinse the residue shite at the bottom away. I think I've maybe topped up the original level with a splash or so maybe 3 times.

Northwind

I do that too I've even got a special slops jar, that I pour the bottom wee bit with all the censored in, into then every so often drain off the clear stuff