Cleaning chain/cassettes

[livpoksoc]

When I moved jobs last year, my colleagues had a whip round & got me a bike tool kit & muck off set, so I want to put them to some good use.

I had a connex link fitted recently & figured I should take advantage & clean up the chain/mech area of my bike as it looks a bit gunky.

How would you recommend going about it?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

More often than once a year for a start
Here's a video to start you off.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Firstly, try cleaning the chain using the Mickle Method: http://www.cyclorama.net/viewArticle.php?id=349&subjectId=9
Secondly, I'd recommend cleaning the chain, derailleurs and front and rear sprockets after about every 200 miles of use.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

or a quick wipe at the end of each ride, and lube as necessary.

 

[mangid]

Method I've settled on:

Run chain thru piece of paper towel to remove excess cruddy oil.
Run chain thru wet wipe (ones I use are surprisingly good degreasers) wipe chain ring and sprocket.
If it's one of the geared bikes then another wet wipe run thru each gap to make the cassette sparkle, and the wipe the jockey wheels.
Leave to dry (if in a hurry then another piece of paper towel).
Lube

Never bother taking the chain off anymore, will clean after a wet dirty ride, and after couple hundred miles otherwise.

 

[uclown2002]

Method I've settled on:

Run chain thru piece of paper towel to remove excess cruddy oil.
Run chain thru wet wipe (ones I use are surprisingly good degreasers) wipe chain ring and sprocket.
If it's one of the geared bikes then another wet wipe run thru each gap to make the cassette sparkle, and the wipe the jockey wheels.
Leave to dry (if in a hurry then another piece of paper towel).
Lube

Never bother taking the chain off anymore, will clean after a wet dirty ride, and after couple hundred miles otherwise.

+1
Pretty much my method too.

 

[JamesTaylor02]

Method I've settled on:

Run chain thru piece of paper towel to remove excess cruddy oil.
Run chain thru wet wipe (ones I use are surprisingly good degreasers) wipe chain ring and sprocket.
If it's one of the geared bikes then another wet wipe run thru each gap to make the cassette sparkle, and the wipe the jockey wheels.
Leave to dry (if in a hurry then another piece of paper towel).
Lube

Never bother taking the chain off anymore, will clean after a wet dirty ride, and after couple hundred miles otherwise.

Which wet wipes are these? I'm pedantic cleaning my cassette so it'd be nice to get into the niggly bits!

 

[summerdays]

I find paper towels disintegrate so I cut up old socks etc, and I sometimes put a bit of spray on Tf2 stuff on the rag.

 

[Big Nick]

I got one of them chain scrubber tools which wasn't cheap but is quite effective

I then remove the rear wheel, spray the cassette with degreaser and scrub, the whole process only takes a few minutes

Then a quick rinse with water, dry off and a chain relube

How often I do it varies on conditions and time of year and if it looks 'gunky'!!

 

[mangid]

Which wet wipes are these? I'm pedantic cleaning my cassette so it'd be nice to get into the niggly bits!

One of the benefits of having kids was discovering these ;-)

 

[summerdays]

I must admit I stopped buying them when they grew a little older and then realised I used them on other things too, just at a much lower rate.

 

[JamesTaylor02]

One of the benefits of having kids was discovering these ;-)

I don't care that I don't have kids, I will be buying some of these! Oh how I will love the fact I can have a properly clean mech!

 

[ianrauk]

I don't care that I don't have kids, I will be buying some of these! Oh how I will love the fact I can have a properly clean mech!

You cam clean a whole bike with just a few babywipes... awesome things.

Babywipes, followed by Mr Sheen.

 

[mangid]

You cam clean a whole bike with just a few babywipes... awesome things.

Babywipes, followed by Mr Sheen.

Mr Sheen, now that's just OCD.

Babywipes, even the muckiest days on the Busway are no competition, bike is sparkling in just a few minutes while the coffee brews.

 

[ianrauk]

Mr Sheen, now that's just OCD.

Babywipes, even the muckiest days on the Busway are no competition, bike is sparkling in just a few minutes while the coffee brews.

Mr Sheen put's a nice anti dust coating on the bike. help's repel muck .