Best chain cleaning system + fluid

JimboPlob
JimboPlob Posts: 397
edited March 2011 in Workshop
What is the best chain cleaning system + fluid?

Ideally I want some good fluid that is pretty cheap. Also a reliable unit that will clean the chain.

I do remove the chain and degrease every few months, but want something I can use to clean on a weekly basis.

Thanks

Comments

  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    Park cleaner and paraffin

    costs pennies - in fact I had about 30 litres left over from a heating oil tank upgrade so I just use that.

    Clean it once a week, as you say. Chains last for ever.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • jermas
    jermas Posts: 484
    I've just started using Muc Off motorcycle degreaser-It's fantastic stuff! So much better than any citrus type degreaser. Biodegradable too. Just don't spray it near bearings as it strips waterproof grease
    .
  • JimboPlob
    JimboPlob Posts: 397
    Is it better to install a KMC quick link and do it off the bike, or use a park cleaner?
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    quicker and easier on bike. i use paraffin fairly cheap £4 odd for 5 litres. ive just switched to sthil chainsaw oil. its very good and cheaper than bike oil. it is anti fling so will stay on very long time and good consitency. the only slight thing is if you dont wipe the spare off its a bit stringey but it wont go so far as getting on the tyre or brake surface.
  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    Hi there

    Just invested in the Park cleaner + fluid a week or so back. Used it once so far and it does a great job with minimum fuss. Not sure I would want to be removing my chain every time I wanted to clean it. Have a KMC quick link chain but not sure how robust the quick link would be after several openings.

    Will use up degreasing fluid that came with the Park cleaner then switch to some of the suggestions I've read on other threads eg

    Cillit Bang Kitchen degreaser
    Proprietary Supermarket Citrus Degreaser eg Tesco's, Sainsbury's
    Gunk Motor Industry engine degreaser

    All of the above will be as good and much cheaper than the Park or any other cycling branded cleaner
  • Yossie
    Yossie Posts: 2,600
    Jizer/Gunk and a paintbrush. See posts passim for tecnique (ooooeeerrrr).
  • PhilofCas
    PhilofCas Posts: 1,153
    arlowood wrote:
    Hi there

    Have a KMC quick link chain but not sure how robust the quick link would be after several openings.

    it does not deteriorate with repeated opening and closing
  • dizzydane
    dizzydane Posts: 322
    Weekly clean:
    BikeHut Citrus Bike Degreaser 1L (£9.99) scrubbed on with a toothbrush and a lot of rubbing with an old rag.

    - Been doing this for years and as long as you stay on top of the cleaning, it'll never take more than 30mins to clean the chain.
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Auto Glym engine cleaner.

    Brush on and rinse off.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    dizzydane wrote:
    - Been doing this for years and as long as you stay on top of the cleaning, it'll never take more than 30mins to clean the chain.

    The Park machine takes less than 60 seconds on the bike, and maybe 3 minutes from start to finish
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • dodgy
    dodgy Posts: 2,890
    I use a rag and GT85 to help soften up the grime, takes about 50 seconds and it comes up like new. Do it after every ride and you'll never need (or want) to perform some of the shenanigans you see written about chain cleaning on forums.

    Note: I am NOT advocating GT85 as a lubricant, just as a fluid to help get the grime off.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    dodgy wrote:
    I use a rag and GT85 to help soften up the grime, takes about 50 seconds and it comes up like new. Do it after every ride and you'll never need (or want) to perform some of the shenanigans you see written about chain cleaning on forums.

    Note: I am NOT advocating GT85 as a lubricant, just as a fluid to help get the grime off.

    Definately a +1 for for rag, GT85, and a 50 second job. Then dribble on some lube(any will do) and ride.
  • sroberson
    sroberson Posts: 5
    I follow the Mike Burrows approach.

    Take the chain off, stick it in a bottle of solvent and shake. This works unbelievably well! Rinse with water and then heat up with air gun and drop in oil tub while still hot. This makes sure all the water is gone and the oil penetrates the chain. A recent discovery has been that SAE90 gear oil is about a quarter the price of heavy weight winter bike oil and does a better job.

    If you buy two chains you can use one while you leave the other to drain.

    I also agree that the magic link does nothing to affect chain strength, at least not on the scale of stresses coming from pedalling. Some of the things most likely to cause chain weakness are a direct impact from a stone, corrosion from salt and wear from grit. Cleaning will certainly reduce the impact of these last two factors.
  • chris281192
    chris281192 Posts: 189
    a microfibre cloth and fairy liquid works wonders for me
    It's not the will to win that matters...everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters.
  • fizz
    fizz Posts: 483
    I was a toothbrush and parafin man, but it started to get tedious when the weather was bad a while ago. i.e. I'd end up fiddling around with cleaning the chain in the back garden in the rain at weekends.

    So bought one of these from wiggle

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-cg-2 ... eaner-set/

    Its so much easier and cleaner and it does just a good a job as I did with the toothbrush if not better, plus I can use it indoors and its not so messy.

    I was also a bit worried about using parafin in the back garden as we have dogs and I didnt want them licking up any excess that I hadnt managed to hose or wash away when I was finished.

    The chainbrite stuff is good, I have two bottles now and I just pour the used stuff back into an old bottle and doing it that way you get two or three uses out of it.
  • redjeepǃ
    redjeepǃ Posts: 531
    Rake - is that the bar oil you use ? (the stuff for the actual chain ? ). I thought that may be a bit thick, may give it a try as I have a 5l bottle of it in my shed.

    Got to admit I use regular oil rather than bike oil, after all it's not such a demanding application really is it as long as it's kept clean.
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    Redjeep! wrote:
    Rake - is that the bar oil you use ? (the stuff for the actual chain ? ). I thought that may be a bit thick, may give it a try as I have a 5l bottle of it in my shed.

    Got to admit I use regular oil rather than bike oil, after all it's not such a demanding application really is it as long as it's kept clean.
    yes bar oil, not the 2 stroke. its seems ideal .
  • designman
    designman Posts: 405
    When you guys have cleaned your chains, what do you use to lubricate the chain?
    I'm looking for something which is easy to apply & keeps the chain looking clean, instead of making it black & full of oil.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    designman wrote:
    When you guys have cleaned your chains, what do you use to lubricate the chain?
    I'm looking for something which is easy to apply & keeps the chain looking clean, instead of making it black & full of oil.

    Let's see now. You want to lubricate your chain, but you don't want it full of oil(lube)?
    This makes perfect sense. Also you've decided that black is bad, for whatever reason.
    Just put some oil on your chain, wipe off the excess, and go riding or if you don't want a "dirty" chain DON"T ride at all. :roll: :roll: :roll:
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Having read about a thousand posts on chain care / lubrication, I'd suggest ProLink Pro Gold applied carefully / sparingly to each pin, and any excess wiped off.

    I have no personal experience of said product, but I see it reccommended time and again.

    I have tried everything else though, and they all have their downsides.

    Finish line Wet lube is very sticky, protects the chain from the wet, but attracts and retains all manner of crap. Very black very quickly.
    Engine oil is slightly thinner and much less sticky, and is my winter lube at the moment. It's also very cheap, which means I can completely submerge a chain in it and marinate it for a couple of days. However, regardless of much wiping I subsequently do, it still goes black quite rapidly.
    3 in one oil or similar is light weight and penetrates the chain well, but seems to need fairly frequent reapplication. Not so good for protecting the side plates against rust, but doesn't pick up too much dirt. Probably OK as a summer lube.
    Wax based potions (I have tried Squirt and a Halfords version) are IME best reserved for dry weather. They should initially only be applied to an already clean chain, and you need to leave it several hours after application for the carrier to evaporate. After that, they do give a quiet drivechain, and any dirt that accumulates is constantly shed as little flakes of wax so the chain / sprockets seems to stay shiny / clean. (watch out for it on the chainstay, and more importantly, on the rear wheel rim :shock:
    How well they lubricate the internals of the chain I do not know, but my original 105 chain wore out quicker than the cheapo mavic 10 sp that replaced it, and the latter has had none of the wax products on it.

    Trouble is, I have now amassed 6 or 7 different bottles, and feel compelled to use them all up before I can justify buying the ProLink!
  • on-yer-bike
    on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    designman wrote:
    When you guys have cleaned your chains, what do you use to lubricate the chain?
    I'm looking for something which is easy to apply & keeps the chain looking clean, instead of making it black & full of oil.

    Rock n Roll Gold.
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Could someone help me find a really nice Spring riding lube? Perhaps one with a nice lavender scent and floral colors? I will also be needing a Fall lube after the Summer is over. Prefferably one that really takes in the spirit of the season. Maybe one with falling leaves on the bottle and it should have just a hint of ripening berrys and a smooth finish.
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    dennisn wrote:
    Could someone help me find a really nice Spring riding lube? Perhaps one with a nice lavender scent and floral colors? I will also be needing a Fall lube after the Summer is over. Prefferably one that really takes in the spirit of the season. Maybe one with falling leaves on the bottle and it should have just a hint of ripening berrys and a smooth finish.
    but what will you use in summer.jobjoba oil?
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    rake wrote:
    dennisn wrote:
    Could someone help me find a really nice Spring riding lube? Perhaps one with a nice lavender scent and floral colors? I will also be needing a Fall lube after the Summer is over. Prefferably one that really takes in the spirit of the season. Maybe one with falling leaves on the bottle and it should have just a hint of ripening berrys and a smooth finish.
    but what will you use in summer.jobjoba oil?

    Perhaps a nice creamy lube the moisturizes, protects, and leaves the chain without that greasy feel. Plus it should contain some SPF to protect the delicate links from the damaging rays of the sun.
  • dieselgeezer
    dieselgeezer Posts: 231
    I've found the best cleaner to be 50% petrol & 50% diesel (although not exactly cheap anymore). For lubing, use chainsaw oil.
    -- "I am but a spoke in the wheel of life" -- Ghandi
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Rock n Roll lube is good,ProLink also but I've been using Motorex recently along with their spray degreaser. Review on PezCycling. re those seasonal lubes, Rapha are prob.working on something with a hint of Ventoux and Merino or a Tuscan lemon scent for summer riding :lol:
    M.Rushton
  • arthur_scrimshaw
    arthur_scrimshaw Posts: 2,596
    dizzydane wrote:
    Weekly clean:
    BikeHut Citrus Bike Degreaser 1L (£9.99) scrubbed on with a toothbrush and a lot of rubbing with an old rag.

    - Been doing this for years and as long as you stay on top of the cleaning, it'll never take more than 30mins to clean the chain.

    I have been using paraffin but tried this to try to improve my green creds, my normal process of putting the chain in an old coffee jar, shake vigorously made absolutely no impression on the muck. Then tried it on the cassette with a soft bristled brush to little effect. So it was back to the hard stuff!
  • marin_maniac
    marin_maniac Posts: 513
    This thread has motivated me to try the solvent in
    a bottle shake vigoursly method from my usual wipe till clean with microfibre cloth.

    I have to say using White spirit got the chain cleaner than I've ever seen it.

    I was a little apprehensive so I decided to try this method on a chain which is about to be replaced so If it all goes tits up I've got a new chain standing by.

    After shaking in a bottle with White spirit, I rinsed with clean water and fairy liquid. Dried the chain off by running through a clean rag and applied Pro Link and a Kmc quick link.

    I'll report back after a few rides.
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    better to use paraffin and just let it evaporate. fairy liquid is absolutely loaded with salt. i dont understand what seems like a mass avertion to using a chain cleaning device. no need to mess with bottles, joining links and shaking over the course of half an hour. clip it on turn pedals 20 seconds done.
    also after trying the afore mentioned chainsaw oil i can report back its the best stuff ive seen.it strings up and clings just like them fancy £100 a litre scented bike oils. if youve ever seen a chainsaw chain flying round you can understand why its good oil for this purpose.

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