Chain Cleaner

[Noel]

Hi,

Has anyone any recommendations for these chain cleaning contraptions that
attach to the chain without having to remove it from the bike? They all
seem rather plastic and fragile but some must be better than others?

Also what chemical cocktails do people use them? Anything homemade or it
is best to use the ones proffered at the LBS?

Cheers
Noel

 

[Dave]

"Noel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> Has anyone any recommendations for these chain cleaning contraptions that
> attach to the chain without having to remove it from the bike? They all
> seem rather plastic and fragile but some must be better than others?
>
> Also what chemical cocktails do people use them? Anything homemade or it
> is best to use the ones proffered at the LBS?
>

I got a cleaner possibly from Halfords and use any Citrus type chain
cleaner. It works for me, but have only had it 12 months and used it 5 or 6
times.

Dave

 

[rothers]

On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:14:36 GMT, Noel <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Has anyone any recommendations for these chain cleaning contraptions that
>attach to the chain without having to remove it from the bike? They all
>seem rather plastic and fragile but some must be better than others?

The Park Tools one seems well made (but still plastic)

>Also what chemical cocktails do people use them?

"Orange" solvent

Cheers

Neil

 

[David Lloyd]

On 20 Jun, 15:14, Noel <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Has anyone any recommendations for these chain cleaning contraptions that
> attach to the chain without having to remove it from the bike? They all
> seem rather plastic and fragile but some must be better than others?
>
> Also what chemical cocktails do people use them? Anything homemade or it
> is best to use the ones proffered at the LBS?
>
> Cheers
> Noel

I have one from Baberi. I thought it was good until I stepped on it
and broke the location for the gear loop. Several urcers recommended
removing the chain to clean, using a Wipperman link. I dismissed this
at first, but due to the high cost of the proper Campag link tool for
hollow rivet Record chains I plumped for one of these and I can't be
more pleased.

I use Finish Line degreaser, followed by a rinse, a good drying and
finally oiling with the oil that came with my Baberi thing.

David Lloyd (at work)

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, Noel
('[email protected]') wrote:

> Has anyone any recommendations for these chain cleaning contraptions that
> attach to the chain without having to remove it from the bike?

Yes, don't use them. The Sheldon Shake is easier, quicker, more effective -
oh, and cheaper. Google for it.

> Also what chemical cocktails do people use them? Anything homemade or it
> is best to use the ones proffered at the LBS?

White spirits is (IME) best, but I'm not sure whether it is biodegradable.
The citrus cleaners, which are biodegradable, are much less effective.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; all in all you're just another click in the call
;; -- Minke Bouyed

 

[Moo]

Dave wrote:
> "Noel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Hi,
>>
>> Has anyone any recommendations for these chain cleaning contraptions that
>> attach to the chain without having to remove it from the bike? They all
>> seem rather plastic and fragile but some must be better than others?
>>
>> Also what chemical cocktails do people use them? Anything homemade or it
>> is best to use the ones proffered at the LBS?
>>
>
> I got a cleaner possibly from Halfords and use any Citrus type chain
> cleaner. It works for me, but have only had it 12 months and used it 5 or 6
> times.
>
> Dave
>
>
mmmm nice smelling chain!

 

[Alex Potter]

On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:14:36 +0000, Noel wrote:

> Anything homemade or it
> is best to use the ones proffered at the LBS?

White spirit - coke bottle - shake - dry - repeat - SAE90 Hypoid, sparingly
applied. Not very often.

--
Regards
Alex
The From address above is a spam-trap.
The Reply-To address is valid

 

[Paul Boyd]

On 20/06/2007 15:14, Noel said,

> Has anyone any recommendations for these chain cleaning contraptions that
> attach to the chain without having to remove it from the bike? They all
> seem rather plastic and fragile but some must be better than others?

It's much easier to have an SRAM chain with a PowerLink. No-tools chain
removal means you can pop it into a bottle of white spirit, jiggle it
about, let it dry overnight then re-lube.

> Also what chemical cocktails do people use them?

White spirit... Hope's Sh1t Shifter is quite good for general cleaning
of mucky drivetrains as well.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

 

[vernon]

"Simon Brooke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> in message <[email protected]>, Noel
> ('[email protected]') wrote:
>> White spirits is (IME) best, but I'm not sure whether it is
>> biodegradable.
> The citrus cleaners, which are biodegradable, are much less effective.
>
> --
> [email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
>
White spirits is not biodegradeable and shouldn't be poured down the drain.
However, it can be used for many washes after decanting it from the solids
after letting it settle after a cleaning session. There's usually a solvent
recycling facility at the local recycling centres.

FWIW I use paraffin to clean my chains.

 

[MSeries]

On 20 Jun, 20:28, "vernon" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Simon Brooke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...> in message <[email protected]>, Noel
> > ('[email protected]') wrote:
> >> White spirits is (IME) best, but I'm not sure whether it is
> >> biodegradable.
> > The citrus cleaners, which are biodegradable, are much less effective.
>
> > --
> > [email protected] (Simon Brooke)http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
>
> White spirits is not biodegradeable and shouldn't be poured down the drain.
> However, it can be used for many washes after decanting it from the solids
> after letting it settle after a cleaning session. There's usually a solvent
> recycling facility at the local recycling centres.
>
> FWIW I use paraffin to clean my chains.

I used Diesel, have done for years with no problems. Can be used over
and over.

 

[Nick]

vernon wrote:
> "Simon Brooke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> in message <[email protected]>, Noel
>> ('[email protected]') wrote:
>>> White spirits is (IME) best, but I'm not sure whether it is
>>> biodegradable.
>> The citrus cleaners, which are biodegradable, are much less effective.
>>
>> --
>> [email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
>>
> White spirits is not biodegradeable and shouldn't be poured down the drain.

Is this is because it blocks drains or because the small amount used
cleaning a chain poses an environmental hazard?

> However, it can be used for many washes after decanting it from the solids
> after letting it settle after a cleaning session. There's usually a solvent
> recycling facility at the local recycling centres.
>

Why not burn it? Surely better than driving to a recycling centre.

> FWIW I use paraffin to clean my chains.
>
>

 

[Clive George]

"Nick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>> White spirits is not biodegradeable and shouldn't be poured down the
>> drain.
>
> Is this is because it blocks drains or because the small amount used
> cleaning a chain poses an environmental hazard?

Same reason as why you shouldn't pour old motor oil down the drain - it
doesn't block it, but it is toxic and in the case of white spirits,
flammable. This applies regardless of amount.

> Why not burn it? Surely better than driving to a recycling centre.

With care, this is feasible.

cheers,
clive

 

[Ben C]

On 2007-06-21, Clive George <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Nick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>> White spirits is not biodegradeable and shouldn't be poured down the
>>> drain.
>>
>> Is this is because it blocks drains or because the small amount used
>> cleaning a chain poses an environmental hazard?
>
> Same reason as why you shouldn't pour old motor oil down the drain - it
> doesn't block it, but it is toxic and in the case of white spirits,
> flammable. This applies regardless of amount.
>
>> Why not burn it? Surely better than driving to a recycling centre.
>
> With care, this is feasible.

I burn it. Get a jam jar, drill a hole in the lid, put the paraffin in
it (only the bit you couldn't save after waiting for it to settle etc.),
make a sort of wick out of a bit of old cloth, thread it through the
hole, ignite, enjoy candlelit dinner.

Not sure if white spirit burns as cleanly as paraffin though, it seems
to give off rather a lot of black smoke.

 

[Paul Boyd]

Clive George said the following on 21/06/2007 17:40:

>> Why not burn it? Surely better than driving to a recycling centre.

Why not walk or cycle to a recycling centre? (No pun intended!)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

 

[Dave Larrington]

In news:[email protected],
Paul Boyd <usenet.dont.work@plusnet> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:
> Clive George said the following on 21/06/2007 17:40:
>
>>> Why not burn it? Surely better than driving to a recycling centre.
>
> Why not walk or cycle to a recycling centre? (No pun intended!)

Some of them won't let you in on foot or by bike...

--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk>
My only hope in life is to die before I get my comeuppence.

 

[Paul Boyd]

Dave Larrington said the following on 22/06/2007 10:35:

> Some of them won't let you in on foot or by bike...

Seriously?

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

 

[Dave Larrington]

In news:[email protected],
Paul Boyd <usenet.dont.work@plusnet> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:
> Dave Larrington said the following on 22/06/2007 10:35:
>
>> Some of them won't let you in on foot or by bike...
>
> Seriously?

Yep. Mine for one, and I think I've heard of one in Lancaster which is
similarly restricted.

--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk>
Never trust a man with more than one moustache.

 

[DavidR]

"Noel" <[email protected]> wrote >

> Has anyone any recommendations for these chain cleaning contraptions that
> attach to the chain without having to remove it from the bike? They all
> seem rather plastic and fragile but some must be better than others?
>
> Also what chemical cocktails do people use them? Anything homemade or it
> is best to use the ones proffered at the LBS?

The visible bits of a chain don't need cleaning & lubing. It is the pins
that really need it. The problem with trying to shift the dirt by bathing &
brushing is that the solvent just swishes the dirt into the delicate bits.

On the basis that thorough cleaning is either ineffective or possibly
counter productive I just dab on a thin mix of white spirit and engine oil
(about 3 or 4 to 1). My hypothesis is that the spirit works the oil in
leaving the dirt where it is and then evaporates out leaving a smear of oil
in the right places. A minimal amount of oil on the outer parts leaves it
less likely to pick up crud, leading to the need for further cleaning.

I have to say this is also the most successful way I have found of keeping
the chain running smoothly without attention after being washed by rain.
This suggests that thicker lubricants or waxes never properly reach the
places where it is really needed.