Question about Chain Maintenance

nilla

I just got done cleaning my chain and i was wondering if there is a consensus on how often to clean the chain. Is it as simple as 'clean it when it gets dirty' or do some of you clean it on a routine schedule? Along the same lines i was wondering the same kind of question about waxing the chain. How often (if at all)?

First.Aspect

nilla wrote:

I just got done cleaning my chain and i was wondering if there is a consensus on how often to clean the chain. Is it as simple as 'clean it when it gets dirty' or do some of you clean it on a routine schedule? Along the same lines i was wondering the same kind of question about waxing the chain. How often (if at all)?

Clean when dirty.
Apply lube when noisy.

drlodge

As a general rule, clean when needed.

I clean my chains and re-lube after every or every other ride, just a wipe over with a rag sprayed with WD40 or GT-80 and then relube. Occasionally I'll do a more thorough clean but little is the best way to keep it clean.

First.Aspect

I sometimes clean mine part way through a ride. In bad weather I stop every 10km or so and wipe it down and then re-wax. For long rides I carry a spare.

Record11Ti

I never clean my chain. As has been known for years and years, there is only one right way to clean a chain. First, read this site

http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html


Then take your chain into more "cleanable" pieces...

nilla

Record11Ti wrote:

I never clean my chain. As has been known for years and years, there is only one right way to clean a chain.

Well, it seems i unwittingly asked a question along the lines of whether God really exists. :oops:

I read the article all the way through and there's lots of good information in there. I don't know if the link you provided really supports your statement though. It directly contradicts DrLodge's response as well (in terms of frowning upon aerosol oils being sprayed on). Additionally, cleaning the chain after every ride seems extremely excessive (IMO) though i don't know how long each ride is for him.

I guess the best answer at least in terms of the frequency question is when it seems like it needs it or when it is dirty. As for the how to clean it it seems, like faith, that is best left to the individuals personal preference.

First.Aspect

Chains, chainrings and cassettes are all disposable items. Its just a question of how quickly they wear out.

I have a best bike. It has a chain which gets wiped down every few hundred km, even though I ride it only in dry weather. The attention it gets isn't really necessary.

I have a rather nice commuter, but its a working bike. Its used 8-10 times a week in all weathers. It has a black chain 99% of the time, because I'd rather bring forward the £12 spend on a new one than waste my evenings eeking out its service life by an extra 1000km.

capt_slog

First Aspect wrote:

Chains, chainrings and cassettes are all disposable items. Its just a question of how quickly they wear out.

I have a best bike. It has a chain which gets wiped down every few hundred km, even though I ride it only in dry weather. The attention it gets isn't really necessary.

I have a rather nice commuter, but its a working bike. Its used 8-10 times a week in all weathers. It has a black chain 99% of the time, because I'd rather bring forward the £12 spend on a new one than waste my evenings eeking out its service life by an extra 1000km.

I think that's a good working method.

mmacavity

http://www.ultimatebikesolution.com/

Matthewfalle

Paint the whole lot with Jizer once a week and hose off then dry with compressor. Re apply lube when dry.

Takes 5 minutes. Adds thousands of k's to chain/cassette life.

Jobs a fish.

sloppyschleckonds

When it gets a bit gunky give it a wipe with a damp cloth then lube it up.



































Same for the chain.

jgsi

Chain stretch can be alleviated by squeezing each link with mole grips.

RideOnTime

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

When it gets a bit gunky give it a wipe with a damp cloth then lube it up.



































Same for the chain.

If this gap is a picture of your pen1s its invisible.

philwint

To get the caveat out of the way: I like to have a clean bike!

So for drivetrain I'll wipe it down after each ride and give it a good clean after every other one.

With modern cleaning sprays this is a completely trivial task. A couple of years ago I discovered Morgan Blue chain Cleaner. This has made having a shiny clean drivetrain a less than 10 min job.

My method is:

- Climb off bike after ride
- Give the whole thing a gentle spray from the hose
- Spray on enough chain cleaner to soak both chain and cassette
- Go inside and unload jersey pockets & put the kettle on and fill a washing up bowl with hot soapy water
- Back outside and put the chain through the chain cleaning machine thing for 30 sec
- Stiff brush on the cassette & chain
- Sponge down the whole bike - paying especial attention to rims & brake pads
- Rinse off drivetrain with soapy water
- Spray down with hose
- Drip dry & re-lube
- Tidy up, make cuppa

15 mins max for the whole thing

The result - my last chain lasted 6,000 miles, and could have probably gone more. I only really changed it because I felt it was getting long in the tooth, it was still within 'stretch' limits. With the cost of chains and cassettes these days I think its time well spent. And also of course you have a shiny clean bike to get onto next time.

Rode cycle tracks and muddy towpaths from Wakefield to Roundhay yesterday to watch the TdY start & end. 10 mins after getting home I took this picture (Having spent the day berating a couple of my riding companions for their 'filthy' bicycles)

supermurph09

Just get a chain cleaner tool, park tools, muc off or similar. I put my bike on a display stand, fill the reservoir up, spin it round 30 odd times and the chain is sparkly new. Dry chain, apply some lube. I also put a bit of cleaner in a jar and brush it quickly over the cassette, that process takes about 10 minutes and keeps things in good order. I'll then do a more thorough job of cleaning the bike if it gets gunked up.