Cleaning Chains.
Dave_Pucknell
Posts: 10
Have I cleaned my chain correctly?
Firstly I cleaned the chain with WD40 and then wiped off the access oil. I applied a 2nd coating of WD40 as my chain was looking pretty grubby from the rain we had, and did the same wiped off the access oil..... After that I applied some Finishline Ceramic Wax.
Is this the correct way to clean chains so they run smooth?
Firstly I cleaned the chain with WD40 and then wiped off the access oil. I applied a 2nd coating of WD40 as my chain was looking pretty grubby from the rain we had, and did the same wiped off the access oil..... After that I applied some Finishline Ceramic Wax.
Is this the correct way to clean chains so they run smooth?
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Comments
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I think you'll find that this - http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html - shows the correct way to clean a chain.0
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nwmlarge wrote:did you scrub it with a tooth brush ?
No, just applied the WD40 using a cloth wrapped around the chain.0 -
Isn't WD40 the chain cleaner's sworn enemy?0
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i would scrub it just to make sure you are getting the crud out from between the links.
my procedure is normally
old water bottle half full with degreaser,
dunk the chain in put the lid on and shake,
leave it for half hour while doing the rear cassette or something,
pour out the dirty degreaser,
rinse with warm water a couple of times,
scrub the chain on all 4 sides in an old washing up bowl,
rinse again a few times,
hang and dry the chain,
hang the chain up the other way and dry again,
lube from top to bottom,
hang chain up the other way and lube again,
wipe excess lube,
refit to bike.
might seem long winded but it is effective.0 -
Depends: do you want it to look nice, or do you want it to just work?0
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I use the parks tool chain cleaner - but with generic white spirit, rather than expensive bike degreaser. Then hose down, dry with a rag and re lube.0
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Unfortunately I'm not experienced enough to remove my chain and clean it that way - I just clean it whilst on the bike.0
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lol get experience it takes two mins, especially if you get a powerlink to join it back up.
have a look on park tools website they have excellent tutorials0 -
i wouldnt of used wd40 on the chain0
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c0ugars wrote:i wouldnt of used wd40 on the chain
Why not? What's wrong with using WD40?0 -
its crap.0
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It cleaned all the crap off my chain ok.
What do you suggest as an alternative to use?0 -
Dave_Pucknell wrote:c0ugars wrote:i wouldnt of used wd40 on the chain
Why not? What's wrong with using WD40?
Well, it's not a lubricant for a start. I don't use p!ss or water for similar reasons.0 -
P_Tucker wrote:Dave_Pucknell wrote:c0ugars wrote:i wouldnt of used wd40 on the chain
Why not? What's wrong with using WD40?
Well, it's not a lubricant for a start. I don't use p!ss or water for similar reasons.
I do have some "Pedros Oranj Peelz Citrus Degreaser" if thats any good to use on chains?0 -
I use Johnsons baby wipes. Unbeliveable result on a road chain. A quick backpedal through one after every ride and re-lube using White lightning epic. Got 4070 miles out of an Ultegra 6700 chain last year with this method.
Cheers0 -
I use Johnsons baby wipes. Unbeliveable result on a road chain. A quick backpedal through one after every ride and re-lube using White lightning epic. Got 4070 miles out of an Ultegra 6700 chain last year with this method.
Cheers0 -
Dave_Pucknell wrote:c0ugars wrote:i wouldnt of used wd40 on the chain
Why not? What's wrong with using WD40?
Doesn't it do nasty things to the stuff that keeps the bearings in your wheels moving?0 -
P_Tucker wrote:Dave_Pucknell wrote:c0ugars wrote:i wouldnt of used wd40 on the chain
Why not? What's wrong with using WD40?
Well, it's not a lubricant for a start. I don't use p!ss or water for similar reasons.
Surely it depends what you use it for? Yes, it'll take crap off. Yes, it'll help protect the metal from rust. Yes it'll help free stickly links. Yes it'll displace water prior to putting proper lube on. As long as you lubricate it properly afterwards. It's not crap, you just need to use it for the right purposes!0 -
Phil_D wrote:Dave_Pucknell wrote:c0ugars wrote:i wouldnt of used wd40 on the chain
Why not? What's wrong with using WD40?
Doesn't it do nasty things to the stuff that keeps the bearings in your wheels moving?
If you spray it into your hubs, it'll dissolve the grease! So don't do that!0 -
No, no, no, no, bno, no, no.
Jizer degreaser - £10 for 5 litres from any good motor factor. The bigger container you buy the cheaper it is.
Put bike on workstand/turbo trainer. Keep the chain on bike. Pour Jizer into plastic container. Get paintbrush. Paint Jizer liberally over absolutely anything you want (its ok for paintwork and brakes by the way), make sure that you give the sprockets, chain and cranks a good seeing to (oooeeer).
I gently push the p'brush covered in Jizer into the chain and cassette while spinning the cranks to get a deep clean (remember to clean inside and out and the jockey wheels).
Leave for two minutes or so while you slurp some coffee. Hose down.
Also paint the Jizer on the cranks and front chain rings, inside and out.
The Jizer will clean absolutely anything off leaving it all sparkly and nice and shiney. Dry with towel (hold chain in towel and spin furiously - this will dry the chain very nicely), apply chain oil: fold small piece of towel in 4, apply lube to towel, run chain (top bottom and sides) over the lubed up towel.
Only apply enough lube so that when you run it over a finger you leave a line of lubbe: any more and it'll clog with clag.
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.
WD is fine if you get stuck mid week and you need something to get you around for a couple of days (penetrating fluid is actually better if you need an emergency fix) but it flicks off after about 37 seconds so its pretty much useless really. Its a water displacer, so feel feel to spray onto stuff, but it won't actually lubricate like a chain lube.
GT 85 smells better as well.0
