Clean Chain

DonBike

Hi,

Please can someone recommend a (fairly) cheap chain cleaner.

Also, not used one before so I would like to know what you put in it! I assume a degreaser and then some kind of lube? Do you have to buy this sperately?

Would appreciate any advice on this.

Thanks

styxd

Dunno, not much point really. I just remove my chain, put it in a container with a little hot soapy water and white spirit mix. Give it a scrub with an old toothbrush, it comes up sparkling.

smidsy

Yes you buy the degreaser and lube separately.

Lubes come in either wet or dry but there are various types of each which is all down to marketing blurb and preference.

Personally I use Finish Line Dry Lube for no more reason than it is the one my LBS sell. Seems to work.

kim10

Hi - I have the one from Park Tools. Works fine a makes regular cleaning very easy. I use a normal degreaser but you can buy cycling specific stuff, although this is probably the same as the rest, but with a higher price tag.

sungod

fit a kmc missing link, then you can remove/refit the chain in a few seconds

chain cleaning gadgets don't do a very good job, and tend to leave the chain covered in dirty degreaser which is then dragged all round the drive chain, chain off and a cleaning tank or bottle work better

use the search function, you'll find a *lot* of threads on chain cleaning!

wilshawk

I use white spirit and a brush and/or rag to clean the chain. Then leave it to air/dry overnight. The next morning I lube the chain with standard 3 in1 oil, just squeeze the can so the oil is peaking out the end of the nozzle and put the nozzle in contact with the chain, then it will seep out as you run the chain backwards, should give you a nice even distribution but not dripping.

simon_masterson

Chain cleaning gadgets are probably effective, but not 'necessary' as such. I'm happy with a stiff brush and degreaser, as the former is also useful for the sprockets and jockey wheels, which are where the grime really accumulates.

As for what I use, it's Green Oil products for me. I'm somewhat of an environmentalist which is what drove my choice initially, but I've been very pleased with them; for both performance and value.

nevman

Wipe down after each ride with baby wipes and lube with Finish Line wet-will last a few rides but top up in heavy rain.White spirit is a good cleaner as well.

Raffles

I would love to know how to :

Remove a bike chain
Remove a rear cassette
Fit one of those links for taking your chain off
Put a chain back on


Sadly I dont have a clue how to do any of the above :oops:

rolf_f

sungod wrote:

chain cleaning gadgets don't do a very good job, and tend to leave the chain covered in dirty degreaser which is then dragged all round the drive chain, chain off and a cleaning tank or bottle work better

Funnily enough - my chain cleaner does a very good job. It's the Finish Line one. It's been cleaning my chains for 25000 miles but I don't rely on it entirely. The chain does come off regularly to be cooked in degreaser. The chain cleaner isn't as thorough as the cooking process but I bet 90% of people who don't use a chain cleaner don't clean their chains as often as those who do.

wishitwasallflat

Raffles wrote:

I would love to know how to :

Remove a bike chain
Remove a rear cassette
Fit one of those links for taking your chain off
Put a chain back on


Sadly I dont have a clue how to do any of the above :oops:

Search these terms on Workshop forum - check out Sheldon Brown and Park Tools and all will be revealed to you --

http://sheldonbrown.com/

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help

PS - Search for U-Tube videos as well loads of good ones on bike maintenance.
PPS - These are all easy jobs and I am sure you will be on to greater stuff in no time at all.

Bozman

Raffles wrote:

I would love to know how to :

Remove a bike chain
Remove a rear cassette
Fit one of those links for taking your chain off
Put a chain back on


Sadly I dont have a clue how to do any of the above :oops:

Neither did i.
Bought the cassette tools for a few quid off EBay and it's a doddle.
The chain is easy enough, you can buy a mini chain tool for around a tenner to remove your old one and to remove links to size the new chain, if you buy a KMC chain they come with a quick link and they're easy enough once you've tried it a few times.

It's purely down to confidence and if you are struggling use Park Tools or You Tube on the net.

jameses

I use this: http://www.find-your-business.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=170
in one of these:http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/280881448117?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&cbt=y
Wipe chain with a cloth afterwards, give it ten minutes or so and re-apply lube. Do this once a week or so and it keeps everything running smoothly. Perhaps not as effective as removing the chain and giving it a proper scrubbing, but less hassle.

lakeland

Cheap and effective: warm water and washing up liquid. If you can get it off the bike even better. You can wash it indoors, dry it off then lube it up quickly to stop it rusting you're sorted.

CiB

The cheapo bit of tat that Lidl sells as a chain cleaner for £3.99 is remarkably effective. I run my chain through that with some generic cleaning fluid to get it clean & shiny, then run it through again with water to wash away the cleaner.

Lightly grasp an oily rag round the chain whilst pedalling backwards to clear most of the residue away, leave to stand for a while, ideally in the sun, then lube. That highly specialised lube called Cycle Oil that comes in handy size cans at £1.50 a pop does an extremely effective job of keeping the chain going.

Amoger

Cleaned (little-used) MTB chain for first time in 15yrs the other day - never had a problem with it.

Extreme advice is "clean chain after every ride" but think it'll be an annual event for me! Got a Park Tool & some wet lube - a warning to the OP that the wet/dry debate is worth keeping away from!

Pross

Raffles wrote:

I would love to know how to :

Remove a bike chain - Good quality chain tool, push the pin most of the way through but not all the way, press with thumbs to break the link
Remove a rear cassette - Cassette locking tool for your make of cassette and chain whip, hold the cassette with the chain whip and unlock the locking nut
Fit one of those links for taking your chain off - I don't use them but I think you just remove a link from the chain and put one of those on instead
Put a chain back on - line the hole up with the pin that should just be sticking through on the inside of the chain following the removal above (you may have to press the plates apart to get them to fit). Make sure that the chain goes around the rear mech correctly and that the pin is facing outwards, push pin through with chain tool so that an even amount is showing each side. Make sure the link is moving freely, bend link backwards and forwards with fingers and thumbs until it is loose


Sadly I dont have a clue how to do any of the above :oops:

Pross

Meant to add - Sheldon Brown website is the best place for cycling maintenance tips together with Youtube. Definitely worth learning the basics if you can.

http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

http://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html

danmitch

Sheldon Brown and Park Tool are great but if you prefer a book, "Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance" by Lennard Zinn is brilliant and helped me through my first bike build.

simon_masterson

What I will say on this matter is that you should be thankful that you have a cassette freehub and not an old-style freewheel.