The best chain cleaner???
A dirty chain really grinds my gears (did you see what I did there?) so I'm always looking at new products to get it as clean as possible. However, I've never really found anything that's amazing and does the job perfectly every time, does such a product exist? Any tips on getting your chain really dirt free?
I find the problem is that most of chain-cleaning devices on the market are basically one-use-only but don't admit it. Once you've cleaned a filthy chain with one of these chain cleaners you just have a filthy chain cleaner instead, and when you go to use it again the muck just seems to get spread around everywhere and you'll never get the same result again.
Are there any products which really do the trick? Or is it best to save my money and use some house-hold items to get the job done (sponges, scourers, tooth brushes, etc.)?
I find the problem is that most of chain-cleaning devices on the market are basically one-use-only but don't admit it. Once you've cleaned a filthy chain with one of these chain cleaners you just have a filthy chain cleaner instead, and when you go to use it again the muck just seems to get spread around everywhere and you'll never get the same result again.
Are there any products which really do the trick? Or is it best to save my money and use some house-hold items to get the job done (sponges, scourers, tooth brushes, etc.)?
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Check out this guide to cleaning your bike-
https://youtu.be/Sf80DnCgHRQ
ABCC Cycling Coach
I had the Aldi/Lidl one and it worked ok a few times but then something broke on it. Got the Park Tool one and it's much better and seems more durable and doesn't fall over when you put it down and spill degreaser everywhere.
I'm using it with the Halfords Citrus degreaser which does the job, haven't tried anything else yet.
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
Do you dilute it or use neat?
What lube do you use?
Cold water of course. A minimum of 3 degrees above freezing, assuming Peckham Spring Water isn't available.
Curious on this, OK it doesnt take long to do but still a chain lube that doesnt go black is always nice.
Easty commuter
Tripster AT
True, maybe it wouldnt be an issue if it didnt some out the bottle in other colours, make it black out the bottle an no one will care anymore!
Easty commuter
Tripster AT
Take off the chain.
Pour some petrol into a container.
Put the chain in.
Swish it around a few times with an old paint brush.
Remove and dry with a rag.
Refit to your bike and lube with your preferred lubricant.
A sparkling clean chain guaranteed everytime.
This. Either neat or diluted by a third. Best degreaser I've found and it's cheap. Also removes grease from clothes incl bike stuff. Apply to stain then wash
How often do you apply squirt? I switched to it a while back, and it is nice to see the chain not turning into midnight in a few miles. However, after 3 commute days I start getting some squeaks on some gears (say 50x14-11, but nowhere else). So I'm either missing something obvious/doing it wrong or expecting the impossible.
EDIT: I didn't do a full chain degrease with the last chain (assembled early April)
If dry riding around 150-200miles inbetween applications. As it happens I "Squirted" my chain today, done around 160ish miles and it felt a bit dry when I rubbed it(oo-er etc). Anyway, I just wiped chain and cassette with clean rag and literally just put one drop on each roller. That's all that is needed on subsequent apllications. The initial application after cleaning with kero etc I put one on liberally, allow to dry and then another lot so chain is well dosed. If chain gets wet during a ride then I dry with rag and reapply. It sounds a faff but it's not.
He`s on Rock N Roll
I use the chain cleaner, pour the remaining degreaser into a cup and use a brush to do the rings and cassette. Then wash the bike as usual and rinse the whole lot down. Dry the chain with a rag, let it air dry properly then use Weldtite wet lube, wiping off any excess. Works for me, nice and quiet for a weeks riding unless it's raining.
I always do it after a ride so the bike sits overnight to allow the lube to bond with the chain, don't get any lube flinging off this way.
By the way, how do we know if you are the real Imposter?