Chain cleaning

[Dogtrousers]

There and then. If you leave the chain damp from cleaning, without lubing iut, then you will get surface rust.

Unless you cleaned it with white spirit.

But yeah, why would you not lube it there and then? You have dirty hands and rags and stuff, so finish off the job while you're on a roll.

 

[JackStraw]

Unless you cleaned it with white spirit.

But yeah, why would you not lube it there and then? You have dirty hands and rags and stuff, so finish off the job while you're on a roll.

is this a philosophical difference between white spirit and WD40 for cleaning the chain?

 

[presta]

I used to clean my chain every 1500 miles or so, and put a drop of oil on if it looked a bit dry after rain, and with that regime I seemed to get component lives as good or better than those who go to great lengths over chain cleaning.

keep a microfibre cloth on hand and run the chain through it at the end of each ride to clear the gunk off

The dirt that the cloth wipes off the outside is not what's doing the damage, what's wearing the chain is the dirt trapped in the capillaries where the cloth won't reach.

My view is that the main effect of cleaning chains is that it makes people feel better.

 

[JackStraw]

I used to clean my chain every 1500 miles or so, and put a drop of oil on if it looked a bit dry after rain, and with that regime I seemed to get component lives as good or better than those who go to great lengths over chain cleaning.

The dirt that the cloth wipes off the outside is not what's doing the damage, what's wearing the chain is the dirt trapped in the capillaries where the cloth won't reach.

My view is that the main effect of cleaning chains is that it makes people feel better.

That's why without the ultrasonic weapon this cannot be removed. I cleaned the chain thoroughly and I still see (under a magnifying glass) some grime in those tight spaces.

 

[si_c]

I used to clean my chain every 1500 miles or so, and put a drop of oil on if it looked a bit dry after rain, and with that regime I seemed to get component lives as good or better than those who go to great lengths over chain cleaning.

The dirt that the cloth wipes off the outside is not what's doing the damage, what's wearing the chain is the dirt trapped in the capillaries where the cloth won't reach.

My view is that the main effect of cleaning chains is that it makes people feel better.

I agree completely, but my rationale is that by cleaning the chain after each ride you're removing any surface dirt/grime and that will prevent it from working its way into the rollers over time, hence it's preventative. Properly lubricating the chain and cleaning it after is similarly important - any lubricant working it's way into the rollers will likely displace some grit/grime and wiping the chain properly afterwards helps remove this.

Both these also help remove surface residue on the chain which doesn't help the chain work and just attracts dirt - I try to keep all my chains dry to the touch.

 

[Punkawallah]

is this a philosophical difference between white spirit and WD40 for cleaning the chain?

I think it falls under ‘freedom of religion’ :-)

 

[Dogtrousers]

I clean my drivetrain (gears, cassette and chain) when I do my general regular bike clean. It may be a futile activity but it looks clean afterwards. And this is also when I do my general checks that everything else is safe and working OK.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I don’t clean my chain

 

[C R]

I don’t clean my chain

Me neither, I do occasionally clean my bikes chains, though.