Whats the best way to clean my chain

[Katharine & Paul]

I use an on-bike cleaner.

It does a reasonably good job, and is useful if you use Shimano chains that
cant be removed easliy (I use Dura-ace chains)

Paul



"Mick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Bikesoiler" <[email protected]> wrote in
> message news:[email protected]...
>>
>> I've got one of those "on bike" chain cleaner. It does an OK job.
>> better than just running the chain through a rag. Not as good as
>> removing the chain & taking it for swim in solvent though. IMO, if you
>> have a quick-link in your chain it's better to remove the chain &
>> clean.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Bikesoiler
>
> Do many other people use the on bike cleaners?
>
> I had a look at one in the LBS the other day. Looked kind of
> cheap and nasty. Are some better than others?
>
> It's got to be better than my current chain maintenance
> regime - a wipe over and some lube now and then.
>
> Mick
>

 

[bubelrocks]

The "Finish Line" chain cleaning machine gets very good reviews on mtbr.com:

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Tools/product_23426.shtml

They say the Park machine is a POS.

Does anyone know if the "Finish Line" chain cleaning machine can be bought in Oz? I can only find it on US websites.

 

[byron27]

1. take to bike shop.
2. give bike to bike shop mechanic.
3. go shopping and get some new CD's.
4. go back to bikeshop and pay for cleaning.
5. laugh at how black the mechanics hands are.

remember to always do step 4 prior to step 5 or the price of said cleaning may increase

 

[hippy]

"byron27" <[email protected]
> 1. take to bike shop.
> 2. give bike to bike shop mechanic.
> 3. go shopping and get some new CD's.
> 4. go back to bikeshop and pay for cleaning.
> 5. laugh at how black the mechanics hands are.
>
> remember to always do step 4 prior to step 5 or the price of said
> cleaning may increase

You are evil and lazy...

we'd get along great! ;-)

hippy

 

[byron27]

You are evil and lazy...

we'd get along great! ;-)

hippy

let it not be said that i didnt perservere for about 3-4 years with cleaning my own chain!!

i then learnt a valuable lesson "money saved is stress gained"......

we can watch bike vids while everyone else is outside playing with kero!

 

[bmacleod]

I saw Finishline chain cleaners at K-Mart ages ago - I struggled with them
for a while but now do it the manual way. For the record (I got this from
Audax Checkpoint mag - sorry, cant remember the author but he's a lubricant
specialist for Shell or Esso or someone):

1) Break the chain and remove (I've got a wipperman, so it's easy)
2) Immerse in kero and swish it around until it runs clean - usually takes
3-4 changes of kero
3) Polish chain with a lint-free rag (T-shirt material is best)
4) Clean the cranks, derailleurs, cassette et al.
5) Put the chain back on
6) Oil with 5w synthetic motor oil - I use a 5ml syringe for this

The whole process takes about 30 mins.

Regards,

Bow

"bubelrocks" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
>
> The "Finish Line" chain cleaning machine gets very good reviews on
> mtbr.com:
>
> http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Tools/product_23426.shtml
>
> They say the Park machine is a POS.
>
> Does anyone know if the "Finish Line" chain cleaning machine can be
> bought in Oz? I can only find it on US websites.
>
>
> --
> bubelrocks
>

 

[till!]

let it not be said that i didnt perservere for about 3-4 years with cleaning my own chain!!

Now Im tempted to ring sachs up and ask him to clean the chain on the bmx I dropped off yesterday, just to see what happens ...

till

 

[Alan Walker]

"Tazza" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> What should I use ?
>
> Thanks again, T

You must have an old bike. Modern chains, designed for 10 speed
cassettes, are much better - they never need cleaning! They wear out
before an old-fashioned chain would have been due for its first clean.

Caution: this post may be contaminated with troll manure.

 

[suzyj]

Alan Walker wrote:

> You must have an old bike. Modern chains, designed for 10 speed
> cassettes, are much better - they never need cleaning! They wear out
> before an old-fashioned chain would have been due for its first clean.

Not true! As long as you keep is submerged in warm tea (I find earl grey works well) each night, a modern 10 speed chain can last as long as three weeks. By that time, most people are bored with their current bike and have bought another anyway.

Regards,

Suzy (in a slightly silly mood)

 

[ritcho]

Alan Walker wrote:

> You must have an old bike. Modern chains, designed for 10 speed
> cassettes, are much better - they never need cleaning! They wear out
> before an old-fashioned chain would have been due for its first clean.

Not true! As long as you keep is submerged in warm tea (I find earl grey works well) each night, a modern 10 speed chain can last as long as three weeks. By that time, most people are bored with their current bike and have bought another anyway.

Regards,

Suzy (in a slightly silly mood)

You'll also find that the cassette wear out faster as well - especially if you tend to use some ratios more than others. That's why I replaced the 14T and 16T with another two 15T cogs.

Ritch

 

[Meeba]

You'll also find that the cassette wear out faster as well - especially if you tend to use some ratios more than others. That's why I replaced the 14T and 16T with another two 15T cogs.

Ritch

Hey Ritch, thats a great idea !!! One of the best for this yr l reckon
Can l just get the worn cogs replaced,or will l need to get whole new cassette and adjust ratio at purchase.
What about the cost?
(l do try to spread the wear thru out cassette though,really)
thanks
M

 

[Meeba]

I got biodegradable stuff

But being water soluble you've then gotta really mega dry your chain and
get plenty of oil onto it, so maybe I should just go back to kero...[/QUOTE]



Hi T (the prototype)
oh no What.... mega dry chain???
The LBS guy told me to use orange oil, l try to wipe it all off before oiling chain again ,but is this bad to leave wet O/oil residue on my chain?
thanks M

( new to cleaning greasy components, rather than just polishing the nice shiney chromey bits n logo on frame!)

 

[Weisse Luft]

While I am new to 10S, I measured my old 9s stuff and the cogs are the same thickness. Rollers on the new chain are the same so wear should be identical to 9s.

On 9s, I lubed with WL after a complete cleaning, meaning both cogs and wheels were spotless and chain was soaked/agitated until paint thinner came out visibly clean, usually 3 "washes". Chain was then dried in the sun until no paint thinner odor was noted, where it was lubed off the bike and allowed to dry fully before reinstalling.

My chain life? Well over 10,000 miles before the 112 links had stretched 1/8", or roughly a pin diameter. That is about 30 thousandths over a 1 foot span, significantly less than the recommended change interval of 1/8" over a foot. Needlessly, I replaced chains at 10,000 mile intervals but I never wore out chainwheels. I did notice some slop in my 11-23 cassette after 20,000 miles and replaced it with a 12-21 and a 12-23.

Now I am in 10s and hope to see life similar because I NEVER lube a dirty chain and I always remove the chain to clean, then lube it.

 

[byron27]

Now Im tempted to ring sachs up and ask him to clean the chain on the bmx I dropped off yesterday, just to see what happens ...

till

your talking about sachs at quantum yeah??

how is he and aldo going?

i havent been past there in a while, though used to love hanging aroundthere after work and dribbling on about bikes.

 

[till!]

your talking about sachs at quantum yeah??

how is he and aldo going?

i havent been past there in a while, though used to love hanging aroundthere after work and dribbling on about bikes.

I was in there, Sachs is fine, Aldo is OS and has been for awhile, probably nearing the end of his tether by now =)

My sister's bmx was shamefully dirty so I didnt ask them to clean it =)

till