On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 16:25:32 +1100, Jack Russell
<
[email protected]> may have said:
>>If you have an SRAM chain, I'd advise against using it on
>>that part because it will strip the factory-installed
>>Gleitmo lubricant from inside the links. (The same caution
>>applies to solvents, and other harsh detergents and
>>degreasing agents.)
>>
>>
>So how do you clean SRAM chains, I have been doing mine in
>petrol and have not noticed any problems but ....
Several months back, one of the regulars on
rec.bicycles.tech did a running test comparison of cleaning
regimens for chains, and the rather surprising result seemed
to indicate that solvent cleaning of an SRAM chain was a bad
idea. SRAM advises just using a brush to get the external
crud off, and then applying oil. They use a rather costly
and apparently quite persistent lubricant during assembly,
and they advise against the use of degrasing cleaners on
their chain. Given the results of the (admittedly not
extensive) test that was run, it appears that the Gleitmo
lube is best left in place; the chain from which it was
stripped wore *faster* than the one that was just lubed as
per their instructions. I concluded that they really aren't
kidding when they say to just brush it and re-lube. Once the
Gleitmo has been removed, though, there is no longer any
reason not to use solvent cleaning methods for subsequent
maintenance.
I checked on the price of the Gleitmo lube. It runs about
$24 for a 400 ml can. That's comparable to the costliest
boutique chain lubes, and would probably be worth it if it
was not for the fact that it has to be bought by the
case...of 12 cans.
Until that surprising test, I'd been solvent-washing all of
my chains. I still do, for the ones that either are not SRAM
or which have already been stripped by a prior degreasing or
solvent cleaning...but I've decided that any new SRAMS I
install going forward will be cleaned as per the SRAM spec.
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