Chain Care

[Jonathan Bond]

harvey wrote:
> "Bill Wheeler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>On Wed, 12 Mar 2003 20:17:29 +0000 (UTC), "harvey" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>I haven't but if you use Prolink and clean your chain regularly you really don't need a "Kit".
>>
>>Take if off and use Simple Green, Dry, Lube, put back on.
>>
>
>
> Is Simple Green lube for bikes? Can you use any lube - well, I'd call it oil, so can you use any
> oil really...because I'd guess that non-specialist stuff would be much cheaper.
>
> I got the olny 'lube' they had, which was £3 for some Fast Lane stuff - only make they seem to
> stock - and when I said I'd been advised on a web newsgroup that chain care kits were a waste of
> time and money - as someone here said - they said 'Then they can't be real cyclists then' - so
> there!
>
> Mind you, he failed to keep a straight face when he said it.

Simple green is a nontoxic degreaser/cleaner. I find citrus extract things work a lot better for the
nasty gunk you get on chains.

To clean a chain, I take it off (using a Sachs powerlink, if you dont' have one, don't take the
chain off!), throw it in a small soda bottle, add a bit o degreaser (enough that there's some at the
bottom), close the top, shake, let sit, shake, let sit, etc. If its REALLY gunky, you can take an
old toothbrush to it.

Rinse with water, and dry. If the water sits on it, it won't do nice things for the chain. After
it dries (completely, wait an hour or two), a bit of lube, let it dry if it says to, and you're
good to go.

I'd say use bike lube, some of the wax based ones are good. Oil attracts dirt like mad, which grinds
the shiites out of your drivetrain.

Jon Bond

 

[Westie]

"Jed Thompson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > > Hi.
> > >
> > > Anyone know anything of or ever used the Finish Line Bicycle Chain
Care
> Kit?
> > > Worth getting?
> >
> > Don't know about the chain care kit, but their red top lube is nice.
> >
>
> Why do people insist on commenting on something other than what the person asked about? I see this
> happen almost every day. Man is it annoying...
If
> this person wanted to know about the #$%^&*^ lube, they would have said "Anyone know anything of
> or ever used Finish Line lube?" But they didn't, they asked about the chain care kit. ARGGHHH
>
> Sorry, had to vent. Im done.

It's human nature. It's kinda like stating the obvious - like "It's a nice day, isn't it?" or
"Goodness, you're tall, aren't you?" or "It's wet today".

Westie

 

[Harvey]

"Jonathan Bond" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Simple green is a nontoxic degreaser/cleaner. I find citrus extract things work a lot better for
> the nasty gunk you get on chains.
>
> To clean a chain, I take it off (using a Sachs powerlink, if you dont' have one, don't take the
> chain off!),

Is it worth getting one of these links?

> throw it in a small soda bottle, add a bit o degreaser (enough that there's some at the bottom),
> close the top, shake, let sit, shake, let sit, etc. If its REALLY gunky, you can take an old
> toothbrush to it.
>
> Rinse with water, and dry. If the water sits on it, it won't do nice things for the chain. After
> it dries (completely, wait an hour or two), a bit of lube, let it dry if it says to, and you're
> good to go.

What do you mean by add a bit? you mean run a lube bottle all the way along the chain and over
the gears?

>
> I'd say use bike lube, some of the wax based ones are good. Oil attracts dirt like mad, which
> grinds the shiites out of your drivetrain.

OK. Cheers.

 

[Jonathan Bond]

harvey wrote:
> "Jonathan Bond" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Simple green is a nontoxic degreaser/cleaner. I find citrus extract things work a lot better for
>>the nasty gunk you get on chains.
>>
>>To clean a chain, I take it off (using a Sachs powerlink, if you dont' have one, don't take the
>>chain off!),
>
>
> Is it worth getting one of these links?
>
>
>>throw it in a small soda bottle, add a bit o degreaser (enough that there's some at the bottom),
>>close the top, shake, let sit, shake, let sit, etc. If its REALLY gunky, you can take an old
>>toothbrush to it.
>>
>>Rinse with water, and dry. If the water sits on it, it won't do nice things for the chain. After
>>it dries (completely, wait an hour or two), a bit of lube, let it dry if it says to, and you're
>>good to go.
>
>
> What do you mean by add a bit? you mean run a lube bottle all the way along the chain and over
> the gears?

For degreasing cogs/gears, spray on the degreaser and scrub scrub scrub, with a rag, toothbrush
(works real well!), or gear brush. For the chain, i put it in a soda bottle and let it sit in
degreaser.

Lubing, ONLY LUBE THE CHAIN! And only lube it at the rivet points - where the links meet each other.
technically you should lube each side where the plates overlap, but I find one or two drops in the
middle usually works fine. Then paper towel after it dries and penetrates for a few minutes to get
any excess off.

You want lube only where the chain grinds against itself. Anything else will just attract dirt.

>
>>I'd say use bike lube, some of the wax based ones are good. Oil attracts dirt like mad, which
>>grinds the shiites out of your drivetrain.
>
>
>
> OK. Cheers.

Hope that helps.

Jon Bond

 

[Bill Wheeler]

On Thu, 13 Mar 2003 20:00:05 +0000 (UTC), "harvey" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Bill Wheeler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>>
>> I once used my motor cycle lube on a bike chain....worked okay.
>>
>
>So you'd say anything goes?
>
No, no I wouldn't say that at all......I was trying to make a point about the previous venting rant
about answering questions that weren't asked.

You see you asked about a "chain kit" but some answers were about lube. That set in motion a rant by
someone. My response to the rant was about lube just to annoy the poster of the rant...Get it?

Peas and Rice! WTF?!

Bill The mind serves properly as a window glass rather than as a reflector, that is, the mind should
give an immediate view instead of an interpretation of the world.
:-]

 

[Jed Thompson]

> If this is the plastic container with three wheels and brushes I've got it and it works. The
> degreaser that came with it is expensive to replace but there are other products to use.
>
> Theres an arm thats held by the stay so you can demud and degrease insitu just by hand turning
> the crank, then washoff. You may be surprised at the amount of silt that settles in the
> container. Mike
>
> Just remember you need to remove the chain sometimes to give it the full monty.

This should have been the only post in this thread. This is what I was talking about. Holy ****.

Jed Thompson

 

[Jonathan Bond]

Jed Thompson wrote:
>>If this is the plastic container with three wheels and brushes I've got it and it works. The
>>degreaser that came with it is expensive to replace but there are other products to use.
>>
>>Theres an arm thats held by the stay so you can demud and degrease insitu just by hand turning
>>the crank, then washoff. You may be surprised at the amount of silt that settles in the
>>container. Mike
>>
>>Just remember you need to remove the chain sometimes to give it the full monty.
>
>
> This should have been the only post in this thread. This is what I was talking about. Holy ****.
>
> Jed Thompson

Because you know, you've given such great advice in this thread, too...

You ever notice how the original author has followed up to a lot of the posts about lube, asking
more questions? Just because its not _exactly_ what he asked, doesn't mean it doesn't pertain to his
question at all.

Jon Bond

 

[Slacker]

> > I've used both their wash & lubes. Personally, I don't care for their
> lubes, they just didn't work as well as White Lightning (I'm
> > in So Cal). Their wash is good, but I've since switched to Dawn dish
> detergent, which works amazingly well and is much
> > cheaper/versatile.
> >
>
> Well I got their lube coz its the only make they stock - but I suspect any old oil would do a
> reasonable enough job - no?

Sure, it's matter of your particular riding cond (dry, muddy, sandy...etc), what's available and
works for you.

BTW, I've used a couple diff. chain cleaning devices (Finish Line and Pedro's) without much success.
The plastic case cracks very easy and they simply don't clean the chain very well. I've since bought
a vegetable wash brush ($2) from my local grocery store and use it with a bucket of Dawn; works
better much better and cheaper.

--
Slacker

 

[Sorni]

"Jed Thompson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > If this is the plastic container with three wheels and brushes I've got it and it works. The
> > degreaser that came with it is expensive to replace but there are other products to use.
> >
> > Theres an arm thats held by the stay so you can demud and degrease insitu just by hand turning
> > the crank, then washoff. You may be surprised at the amount of silt that settles in the
> > container. Mike
> >
> > Just remember you need to remove the chain sometimes to give it the full monty.
>
> This should have been the only post in this thread. This is what I was talking about. Holy ****.

Well, buttmunch, the position of Moderator *is* open, apparently (since GT went all "establishment"
on us), so get to work on your posting guidelines and be sure to let the group know ASAP.

Bill "meantime, check out RBOR" S.

 

[Shaun Rimmer]

Jed Thompson <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > If this is the plastic container with three wheels and brushes I've got it and it works. The
> > degreaser that came with it is expensive to replace but there are other products to use.
> >
> > Theres an arm thats held by the stay so you can demud and degrease insitu just by hand turning
> > the crank, then washoff. You may be surprised at the amount of silt that settles in the
> > container. Mike
> >
> > Just remember you need to remove the chain sometimes to give it the full monty.
>
> This should have been the only post in this thread. This is what I was talking about. Holy ****.

Don't be a complete silly *** Jed. Your first rant was the first completely

Take the broom handle out of yer stupid **** and chill the hell out a bit, before you do yerself
an injury.

Shaun aRe - kids! They come in all ages........

 

[Spider]

"Jed Thompson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > If this is the plastic container with three wheels and brushes I've got it and it works. The
> > degreaser that came with it is expensive to replace but there are other products to use.
> >
> > Theres an arm thats held by the stay so you can demud and degrease insitu just by hand turning
> > the crank, then washoff. You may be surprised at the amount of silt that settles in the
> > container. Mike
> >
> > Just remember you need to remove the chain sometimes to give it the full monty.
>
> This should have been the only post in this thread. This is what I was talking about. Holy ****.

Are you as big an asshole in real life, Jed?

Spider

 

[Jd]

[email protected] (Spider) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> "Jed Thompson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
> > > If this is the plastic container with three wheels and brushes I've got it and it works. The
> > > degreaser that came with it is expensive to replace but there are other products to use.
> > >
> > > Theres an arm thats held by the stay so you can demud and degrease insitu just by hand turning
> > > the crank, then washoff. You may be surprised at the amount of silt that settles in the
> > > container. Mike
> > >
> > > Just remember you need to remove the chain sometimes to give it the full monty.
> >
> > This should have been the only post in this thread. This is what I was talking about. Holy ****.
>
> Are you as big an asshole in real life, Jed?

Lighten up dude. If you lived in Florida and thought yourself to be a mountain biker, you'd be
****** at the World too.

JD

 

[Harvey]

"Slacker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:dmdca.5950$S%[email protected]...
> > > I've used both their wash & lubes. Personally, I don't care for their
> > lubes, they just didn't work as well as White Lightning (I'm
> > > in So Cal). Their wash is good, but I've since switched to Dawn dish
> > detergent, which works amazingly well and is much
> > > cheaper/versatile.
> > >
> >
> > Well I got their lube coz its the only make they stock - but I suspect
any
> > old oil would do a reasonable enough job - no?
>
>
> Sure, it's matter of your particular riding cond (dry, muddy,
sandy...etc), what's available and works for you.
>
> BTW, I've used a couple diff. chain cleaning devices (Finish Line and
Pedro's) without much success. The plastic case cracks very
> easy and they simply don't clean the chain very well.

I overheard the salesman telling a custmore of exactly that.

> I've since bought a vegetable wash brush ($2) from my local grocery store
and
> use it with a bucket of Dawn; works better much better and cheaper.

I don't mind the lube because its very cheap(ish) - £3 - but the degreaser is pricey - £7 - so if
washing up liquid is as good then that's useful to know.

 

[Harvey]

Oh, so you only oil the chain. OK - wouldn't have guessed that.

Thanks.

Its running now anyway, after standing for three years in a like shed.

A Rock Rapids - ever heard of it? I can't find any mention of the make on the inetrnet.

One thing about the Shimano gears - 21 speed - it has always had problems staying in (I think) the
lowest gear, and always changes out of it after a few seconds. Is there something that I can adjust
to correct this? Or have I perhaps jumped too many gears at once?

Cheers Jon.

"Jonathan Bond" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> harvey wrote:
> > "Jonathan Bond" <[email protected]> wrote in
message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >
> >>Simple green is a nontoxic degreaser/cleaner. I find citrus extract things work a lot better for
> >>the nasty gunk you get on chains.
> >>
> >>To clean a chain, I take it off (using a Sachs powerlink, if you dont' have one, don't take the
> >>chain off!),
> >
> >
> > Is it worth getting one of these links?
> >
> >
> >>throw it in a small soda bottle, add a bit o degreaser (enough that there's some at the bottom),
> >>close the top, shake, let sit, shake, let sit, etc. If its REALLY gunky, you can take an old
> >>toothbrush to it.
> >>
> >>Rinse with water, and dry. If the water sits on it, it won't do nice things for the chain. After
> >>it dries (completely, wait an hour or two), a bit of lube, let it dry if it says to, and you're
> >>good to go.
> >
> >
> > What do you mean by add a bit? you mean run a lube bottle all the way
along
> > the chain and over the gears?
>
> For degreasing cogs/gears, spray on the degreaser and scrub scrub scrub, with a rag, toothbrush
> (works real well!), or gear brush. For the chain, i put it in a soda bottle and let it sit in
> degreaser.
>
> Lubing, ONLY LUBE THE CHAIN! And only lube it at the rivet points - where the links meet each
> other. technically you should lube each side where the plates overlap, but I find one or two drops
> in the middle usually works fine. Then paper towel after it dries and penetrates for a few minutes
> to get any excess off.
>
> You want lube only where the chain grinds against itself. Anything else will just attract dirt.
>
>
> >
> >>I'd say use bike lube, some of the wax based ones are good. Oil attracts dirt like mad, which
> >>grinds the shiites out of your drivetrain.
> >
> >
> >
> > OK. Cheers.
>
> Hope that helps.
>
> Jon Bond

 

[Harvey]

"Ken" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Bill Wheeler <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
> > I once used my motor cycle lube on a bike chain....worked okay.
>
> As long as you clean and relube regularly, any mechanical oil work fine. Many people swear by 60W
> motor oil, which is available everywhere and real cheap.

Its what I used on my bike as a kid. Certainly seemed to work OK then.

 

[Spider]

[email protected] (JD) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> [email protected] (Spider) wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
> > "Jed Thompson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:<[email protected]>...
> > > > If this is the plastic container with three wheels and brushes I've got it and it works. The
> > > > degreaser that came with it is expensive to replace but there are other products to use.
> > > >
> > > > Theres an arm thats held by the stay so you can demud and degrease insitu just by hand
> > > > turning the crank, then washoff. You may be surprised at the amount of silt that settles in
> > > > the container. Mike
> > > >
> > > > Just remember you need to remove the chain sometimes to give it the full monty.
> > >
> > > This should have been the only post in this thread. This is what I was talking about. Holy
> > > ****.
> >
> > Are you as big an asshole in real life, Jed?
>
> Lighten up dude. If you lived in Florida and thought yourself to be a mountain biker, you'd be
> ****** at the World too.

A point well taken.

But hey - if you had to ride Florida's "Alligator Trail," would you be worried that it had that name
for a reason???



Spider

 

[Westie]

"Jonathan Bond" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jed Thompson wrote:
> >>If this is the plastic container with three wheels and brushes I've got it and it works. The
> >>degreaser that came with it is expensive to replace but there are other products to use.
> >>
> >>Theres an arm thats held by the stay so you can demud and degrease insitu just by hand turning
> >>the crank, then washoff. You may be surprised at the amount of silt that settles in the
> >>container. Mike
> >>
> >>Just remember you need to remove the chain sometimes to give it the full monty.
> >
> >
> > This should have been the only post in this thread. This is what I was talking about. Holy ****.
> >
> > Jed Thompson
>
> Because you know, you've given such great advice in this thread, too...
>
> You ever notice how the original author has followed up to a lot of the posts about lube, asking
> more questions? Just because its not _exactly_ what he asked, doesn't mean it doesn't pertain to
> his question at all.
>
> Jon Bond
>

Am I gonna get in trouble if I butt in and say that 50-60ml of diesel and a chopped-short 3/4"
paintbrush does a really really great job of removing the crude before you wash it down with the
soapy water?? I guess someone's gonna burst my bubble and tell me that it's bloody terrible for me
bearings or something... sniff....

Westie :-(

 

[Westie]

"Spider" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] (JD) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > [email protected] (Spider) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > > "Jed Thompson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > > > > If this is the plastic container with three wheels and brushes I've got it and it works.
> > > > > The degreaser that came with it is expensive to replace but there are other products to
> > > > > use.
> > > > >
> > > > > Theres an arm thats held by the stay so you can demud and degrease insitu just by hand
> > > > > turning the crank, then washoff. You may be surprised at the amount of silt that settles
> > > > > in the container. Mike
> > > > >
> > > > > Just remember you need to remove the chain sometimes to give it the full monty.
> > > >
> > > > This should have been the only post in this thread. This is what I
was
> > > > talking about. Holy ****.
> > >
> > > Are you as big an asshole in real life, Jed?
> >
> > Lighten up dude. If you lived in Florida and thought yourself to be a mountain biker, you'd be
> > ****** at the World too.
>
> A point well taken.
>
> But hey - if you had to ride Florida's "Alligator Trail," would you be worried that it had that
> name for a reason???

Only if I saw the alligators on bikes...

Westie

 

[Spider]

"Westie" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Jonathan Bond" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Jed Thompson wrote:
> > >>If this is the plastic container with three wheels and brushes I've got it and it works. The
> > >>degreaser that came with it is expensive to replace but there are other products to use.
> > >>
> > >>Theres an arm thats held by the stay so you can demud and degrease insitu just by hand turning
> > >>the crank, then washoff. You may be surprised at the amount of silt that settles in the
> > >>container. Mike
> > >>
> > >>Just remember you need to remove the chain sometimes to give it the full monty.
> > >
> > >
> > > This should have been the only post in this thread. This is what I was talking about. Holy
> > > ****.
> > >
> > > Jed Thompson
> >
> > Because you know, you've given such great advice in this thread, too...
> >
> > You ever notice how the original author has followed up to a lot of the posts about lube, asking
> > more questions? Just because its not _exactly_ what he asked, doesn't mean it doesn't pertain to
> > his question at all.
> >
> > Jon Bond
> >
>
>
> Am I gonna get in trouble if I butt in and say that 50-60ml of diesel and a chopped-short 3/4"
> paintbrush does a really really great job of removing the crude before you wash it down with the
> soapy water?? I guess someone's gonna burst my bubble and tell me that it's bloody terrible for me
> bearings or something... sniff....

Some folks do recommend just that. Diesel because it has lubrication properties in and of itself.
But some say it forces dirt deep into the chain. I think Sheldon Brown's website discusses it IIRC.
I just wipe it down really well, lube each of the rollers, and wipe it down again - then put it
away. Well, I keep wiping in the first place until all the dirt is gone. My chains last a while, so
I'm not complaining. Hell, they're so cheap - you can buy one a year and never do much to it. No
worries about stretching or wear on the chain itself. Just keep an eye on your cogs/CWs.

Dunno. Everyone's got a different take. I've never put any of my chains in solvent, and I've never
had a need to. Maybe it's because I don't get a whole lot of **** in/on my chains - YMMV, of course.

Spider

 

[Nibbles]

anyone see "the soup nazi" on seinfeld................... say no more.

nibbles