chains of love

freddiegrubb
freddiegrubb Posts: 448
edited June 2013 in Workshop
Normally i remove the chain to clean & re-lube. but I am now considering a chain cleaner, is it worth the extra cash for Park or buy cheap & cheerful. Park is £20 plus compared to cheapo £ 5/6, is the chain any cleaner- will the more expensive item be better manufactured ? answers on a postcard please.

Comments

  • popularname
    popularname Posts: 173
    Have bought and broken (very quickly) two cheap ones. Now use rag and brush...

    So, IMHO, if you're gonna buy one, buy a Park one...
    __________________________________________
    >> Domane Four Series > Ridgeback Voyage
  • ed_j
    ed_j Posts: 335
    Nope, they're crap. Horrible messy things. Much better to take the chain off or just hold a rag around the chain, does the same job.

    I destroyed my driveside BB bearing from all the degreaser dripping off the chain and down into the bearings by using mine. No more.
    Principia RSL
    Giant XTC 26"
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Park are a company that have the image of being top quality whilst not actually being top quality. Very over-rated though some of the stuff is good. No idea about the chain tools - I think one advantage of the Park one is you can get spares. But I got a Finish Line one - as per this: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... 7000000000

    It has been regularly used to clean my chains over 30,000 miles near enough and I haven't yet needed any spares. It's not a substitute for taking the chain off and giving it a proper cooking in degreaser but as a quick means of taking the days crap off the chain it is excellent. I just can't see any rag doing anything more than cleaning the crud off the plates - you'll get a nice clean looking chain that probably isn't very clean.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Chain cleaners are like marmite. Personally I hate the things. Used one before a few times, seems futile to see the chain get clean then get dirty from the cassette and jocky wheels a split second later. I just wipe down and re lube after every ride and once a month (or more if its wet) remove chain and clean everything properly.

    Chain cleaners may clean the chain, but thats only half the story, the grit and dirt that can build up on the rear mech can so easily be ignored and a chain cleaner or the rub down and relube does not always mean all the dirt is removed. And the parts you miss are more likely to be the worst effected too.
  • freddiegrubb
    freddiegrubb Posts: 448
    Thanks folks, I think I'll give the chain cleaners a miss, when I remove the chain it's the back wheel out & a piece of purpose cut/shaped plastic sheet is slipped behind the cassette , then the de-greaser is sparingly applied then rinsed off with slightly soapy water. No point having a clean chain & a mucky cassette.

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