Chain cleaning and degreasing

[swee'pea99]

People clean chains?

 

[pawl]

Don't use a thong, they get stuck in the front mech....apparently.

GOAB

I can think of worse places for thongs to get stuck

 

[Drago]

People clean chains?

I used to use people but the Vicar was quite vocal about being left covered in grime, so I use rags now.

 

[tyred]

Stop messing about with dirty rags and do the job properly as described by the expert in this link:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

 

[Tin Pot]

Stop messing about with dirty rags and do the job properly as described by the expert in this link:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

Wow

 

[Scoosh]

Stop messing about with dirty rags and do the job properly as described by the expert in this link:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

After every ride too.

 

[mickle]

People clean chains?

You are a bad person.

 

[swee'pea99]

You are a bad person.

That's what they say, but I don't believe them.

 

[confusedcyclist]

Step 1. Buy this or similar http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-LITRES...042417?hash=item360836ca31:g:4~YAAOSwFV9Xxpk2
Step 2. Dilute 1 part in 3 to 5 parts water depending on how band the chain is and pour into a Park Tool Chain Cleaner.
Step 3. Save shoot tonne of money on GT85 or WD45.

20L should last forever if you clean montly, this way it costs peanuts. Citrus degreaser is biodegradable, not as toxic as most of the crap on the market. I wouldn't advise drinking it though. Doesn't taste like lemonade... hicup.

 

[Tin Pot]

Did mine today.

1. Spray the chainset with degreaser, then go off and clean the wheels.
2. Come back wipe the chain thoroughly with a rag and spray with lube
3. Remove rear wheel, use rag to floss between the cogs
4. Scrub cassette with degreaser, scrape out gunk with a flat head screwdriver, then hot soapy water. Then spray with lube.

It's winter, so wipe down the chain every day and add a small amount of wet lube as appropriate.

 

[Gixxerman]

Mickle method - nuff said.

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/mickle-link.203309/#post-4343207

 

[Blue Hills]

Don't degrease it. Just wipe it dry then re-apply lube and maybe wash your bike a little bit less unless its winter.

but what about all the grit and muck that builds up between the links?

 

[Blue Hills]

Did mine today.

1. Spray the chainset with degreaser, then go off and clean the wheels.
2. Come back wipe the chain thoroughly with a rag and spray with lube
3. Remove rear wheel, use rag to floss between the cogs
4. Scrub cassette with degreaser, scrape out gunk with a flat head screwdriver, then hot soapy water. Then spray with lube.

It's winter, so wipe down the chain every day and add a small amount of wet lube as appropriate.

But if you degrease the chainset (am assuming you include the chain in this) and then apply lube without having washed off the degreaser, aren't you going to cause problems for the new lube?

 

[Ajax Bay]

IMO 'spraying' lubrication onto a chain is a route to ineffectiveness. One's lubrication of choice needs to be dripped on (if the chain stays on), and excess wiped off (ideally with time in between).

 

[fossyant]

So long as you keep on top of it. chainsets, cassettes and chains don't take too much work. Quick wipe with a rag (old cotton t shirt)