Road Cycling · Public discussion

precleaning new chains?

Started by Boatman · · Last activity · 27 posts · 1,037 views

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Road Cycling
Published
29 October 2004
Last activity
31 October 2004
Original author
Boatman
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  1. Leo Lichtman said:

    It seems to me if the manufacturers used preservatives that look
    like grease, but which need to be cleaned off to insure good chain
    life, the chains would come with instructions that say that.

    Besides that, can you imagine companies like Trek not asking chain
    manufacturers to ship them ready to install if that isn't what they
    are? SRAM chains in bulk packaging have the same greasy lubricant as
    all the others past and present brands. This is a religious issue.

    Jobst Brandt
    [email hidden]

  2. "Diablo Scott" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:1099067461.hSZS3MF66w1jv7mGf8AVEQ@teranews...

    Quoted message said:
    Boatman said:

    Does anyone clean the wax or whatever off new chains before installing


    them?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    What is that stuff?

    Boatman

    The stuff is called cosmolene. You can leave it on, but if you want to
    use your own brand of lube you're better off removing the cosmolene
    first so your stuff can get where it needs to go.

    This has been investigated & reported in this NG before. It's not
    cosmolene, at least not on SRAM chains.

  3. Boatman said:

    Does anyone clean the wax or whatever off new chains before installing them?
    What is that stuff?

    Boatman


    I just bought a new shimano chain it was covered the stickiest stuff I ever seen. I could not remove it, so I had to no choice. Now the chain is dirt magnet and greasy as hell.

    I really wish shimano didn't put such sticky [censored] on their chains

  4. velomanct said:

    I could not remove it

    You need a strong degreaser such as Simple Green, alternately you can
    remove and soak the sucker in kerosene.

  5. velomanct said:

    I just bought a new shimano chain it was covered the stickiest stuff I
    ever seen. I could not remove it, so I had to no choice. Now the chain
    is dirt magnet and greasy as hell.

    I hang a new Shimano chain vertically, spray WD-40 onto a clean rag, and
    wipe the excess grease off the exterior. It takes a while, but you can get
    rid of the sticky feel. But the inner sides of the plates will still be
    sticky and attract grit.

    I'm seriously considering changing sides on this issue, and giving my new
    chains a thorough cleaning in mineral spirits.

    Are SRAM or other brand chains as bad as Shimano in this regard?

    Art Harris

  6. Arthur Harris said:


    Are SRAM or other brand chains as bad as Shimano in this regard?

    Art Harris

    The SRAM PC-48 I just put on had what I think a very sticky dirt-attracting
    gunk all over. As I posted earlier, a quick clean in Simple Green (in a
    water bottle), then a spray down with WD-40 cleaned it up great! Of course,
    I oiled it up with my favorite oil (Finish Line Dry Lube) as well.

    Boatman

  7. "Boatman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:Og8hd.28406$HA.28282@attbi_s01...

    Quoted message said:
    Arthur Harris said:


    Are SRAM or other brand chains as bad as Shimano in this regard?

    Art Harris

    The SRAM PC-48 I just put on had what I think a very sticky


    dirt-attracting

    Quoted message said:

    gunk all over. As I posted earlier, a quick clean in Simple Green (in a
    water bottle), then a spray down with WD-40 cleaned it up great! Of


    course,

    Quoted message said:

    I oiled it up with my favorite oil (Finish Line Dry Lube) as well.

    I have used PC-48's for years exclusively on all dozen or so family bikes.
    I just wipe off the new chains to remove the surplus lube. I don't even
    bother cleaning them any more, just wipe & relube occasionally, always wipe
    down after riding in the rain. Heck, they're only $10 chains.

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