Cleaning a chain

[Lavender Rose]

This has probably been documented so so many times on here. However, I am doing maintenance on my Specialized Globe so my boyfriend can use it till he has his own bike.

I have sorted the tyres but the chain looks caked in oil!! I have never noticed how bad it looks before. I am obviously aware I cannot wash it etc as it can then seize up. I am tempted to take it off completely. Wash the oil off and reoil it?

Any pointers or youtube video links would be super useful.

Much love xx

 

[MiK1138]

Type Mickle Method in the search box above,

 

[Rooster1]

Mickle does the trickle

 

[Welsh wheels]

Use plenty of bike-chain specific degreaser on the chain, wash the degreaser off with plenty of hot, soapy water (I use washing-up liquid), dry the chain with an old rag and finally re-lubricate the chain.

 

[Leaway2]

Take the chain off, put it in brush cleaner, wipe with a baby wipe until spotless. Put in the bin and fit a new one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KMC-Z7-6-...365715?hash=item2f090dda53:g:8HQAAOSw9LJZis0J

 

[Sharky]

Buy cleaning kit for boy friend's birthday or a special treat, and let him clean it himself for practice for when he gets his new bike. He will thank you.

 

[Tangoup51]

Take the chain off and clean the majority of it with a standard brush/sponge/cloth/ with soap and hot water.

Then after that, put it in any-old bottle with hot soap water and shake it vigorously. This works well for me without having to use any especial degreaser and/or tools.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

The Mickle method changed my life.

http://www.cyclorama.net/viewArticle.php?id=349&subjectId=9

 

[winjim]

Mickle's old rag method starts with a clean chain...

 

[ianrauk]

Mickle's old rag method starts with a clean chain...

Not necessarily.
A fresh coat of oil/lube can help lift off caked on gunk. Keep running the chain through a rag and it soon clears the mess.

 

[Profpointy]

To the OP, there are basically two schools of thought:

1) Clean the chain completely using solvents, degreasers, detergents, perhaps for extra inconvenience taking the chain right off as well. Then hoping that all the solvent, water, detergents are somehow gone, try and get new oil back in to replace the cleaned off oil.

Alternatively

2) oil the chain and wipe with a rag until somewhat clean and nicely oiled. Do this regularly and "somewhat" clean will become perefectly clean enough. Only pitfall is not catching your fingers betweem chain and chainrings - this hurts a lot and can even cause serious injury.

If not already obvious I favour the oily rag (aka "mickle") method.

 

[mickle]

You caaalled Maaaster? *blinks at the bright lights*

 

[mickle]

By the way. Do not ever lend your bike to your boyfreind. He doesn't know how to treat it right. He will wreck it because he's a clumsy oaf. And then it'll get it stolen because he'll forget to lock it up outside a pub and you'll never forgive him and your relationship will never recover. The trajectory of his life will take a downward turn and you find him years later eking out a sorrowful existence as a street hawker. You mark my words.

Don't ask me how I know.

 

[Profpointy]

Actually if you're lending the bf your bike surely the lazy git should oil it himself

 

[mickle]

Mickle's old rag method starts with a clean chain...

I doubt it.