What to put in my chain cleaner?

windsock07
windsock07 Posts: 26
edited February 2011 in Workshop
I am lookin fior something cheap and freely available to put in wee chain cleaner thingy.
Degreaser isnt so cheap and my LBS isnt so local. Is there anyhting i can get from local supermarket/petrol station that is cheap and effective? I'd like to use my chain cleaner every week as routine but i don't have enough stuff.

Cheers

Comments

  • rhext
    rhext Posts: 1,639
    Perhaps not as cheap as it could be, but I put neat Fenwicks in mine. You can buy a litre bottle for about £8-9. You only need a little for the chain cleaner. And if you have a spray bottle you can also dilute it 1 part fluid to 10 parts water to make a good general bike-cleaning spray. I reckon a litre lasts me over a year, and I'll be cleaning the bike every week in winter, every other week in Summer.

    Run the chain through the cleaner filled with Fenwicks, leave to stand for a minute or two. Refill the cleaner with hot soapy water, run the chain through again...and repeat until the water comes off clean.
  • I have a split link on the chain and it is easy to remove. I just put the chain into a used and clean plastic Chinees take-away box with a snap on lid and cover with a little white spirit. A few shakes and the chain comes out all sparkley and new looking!!

    Hope that helps
    Would get down on the drops more if the gut wasn't in the way!
  • andy_f
    andy_f Posts: 474
    Remove chain and put in 3ltr Robinsons cordial bottle, pour in enough Comma degreaser(any good motor factors) to fully cover chain, put lid on and give bloody good shake then pour degreaser back into container through coffee filter. been using the same 5ltr can of degreaser for about 8 years and its still going strong.
    "Let your life rule your job, not your job rule your life"

    Born to ride, forced to work.
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    dont faff about removing it. give it a quick wiz in the gadget. parrafin works well.
  • Diesel - its cheap and (probably) offers some lubrication. I take the chain off and shake it in a bottle of the stuff. Can reuse after decanting.
  • antlaff
    antlaff Posts: 583
    I use mr muscle citrus degreaser £1 for 1l in poundland - works a treat!
  • carrock
    carrock Posts: 1,103
    Citrus is the stuff.

    £1 a litre is good value
  • Yossie
    Yossie Posts: 2,600
    Jizer degreaser - £10 for 5 litres from any good motor factor. The bigger container you buy the cheaper it is.

    Keep the chain on bike. Pour Jizer into plastic container. Get paintbrush. Paint Jizer liberally over absolutely anything you want (its ok for paintowrk and brakes by teh way), make sure that you give the sprockets, chain and cranks a good seeing to (oooeeer). I gently push the p'brush covered in Jixer into the chain and cassette while spinning the cranks to get a deep clean. Leave for two mionutyes or so while you slurp some coffee. Hose down.

    The Jizer will clean absolutely anything off leaving it all sparkly and nice and shiney. Dry with towel, apply chain oil.

    Job jobbed.

    Takes 5 minutes, do it once a week and you'll double the life span of your chain and it'll be all sparkly and shiney too.

    Jizer also has rust inhibitor in it so that's a good thing as well.
  • TuckerUK
    TuckerUK Posts: 369
    Try industrial citrus degreaser, used by hotels and the like, from you local supplier or eBay.
    "Coming through..."
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Well if you can get citrus degreaser for £1 a litre in Poundland that makes it cheaper than diesel (unless you live on a farm and use the red stuff)

    I feel a shoppin trip coming on. Must remember to get wifey a valentine's card too. Not in Poundworld though; more than my testicles are worth!
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    paraffin here

    I've got a 50 litre tub of it, left over from when we fitted a new heating oil tank.

    Should last me for the next 10 years
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • antlaff
    antlaff Posts: 583
    keef66 wrote:
    Must remember to get wifey a valentine's card too. Not in Poundworld though; more than my testicles are worth!

    try this cheaper than poundland!!

    value.jpg
  • Twostage
    Twostage Posts: 987
    antlaff wrote:
    keef66 wrote:
    Must remember to get wifey a valentine's card too. Not in Poundworld though; more than my testicles are worth!

    try this cheaper than poundland!!

    value.jpg

    Hope your sofa is comfortable.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Although on a positive note, she'd benefit from the Clubcard points :lol: