Help cleaning my chain

[Highlander Neil]

Hi all,

Quite new to cycling, extremely new to cycling in winter.

My road bike has done about 450 miles, as I haven't done any cycling in winter before, or the rain for that matter, its never needed alot of cleaning, I found water and some GT85 was enough for the chain and casette.

Anyway, its filthy after some cycling in the north of Scotland, can you give me some tips on what products I can get easily for a really good clean and lube before I take it out again, it got so dirty the last time i was out that the gear shifts weren't smooth.

I am new to all this maintenence business, just looking for some tips, thanks in advance.

 

[kishan]

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/misc-muc-off-chain-doctor-500ml-p99403

 

[Pat "5mph"]

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/misc-muc-off-chain-doctor-500ml-p99403

Aye, cool ... But £ 18.00???? We are in Scotland
I'd suggest: buckets of water, fairy liquid, wire brush, tooth brush, elbow grease, W40 and loads of cleaning cloths: it works every time!

 

[smokeysmoo]

Welcome, this is all you need to know about chain cleaning
http://www.cyclorama.net/viewArticle.php?id=349&subjectId=9

 

[mattsr]

Baby wipes. They work a treat!

 

[kishan]

Aye, cool ... But £ 18.00???? We are in Scotland

see http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/store-finder to find your local store

 

[Pat "5mph"]

see http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/store-finder to find your local store

That's not what I meant to say, I meant "£ 18.00 to clean a bike's chain???? We are watching the pennies here"
Nite, nite!

 

[Primal Scream]

I used a £1 Can of oven cleaner from Poundland, it did a fantastic job, just dont let it get on the bike parts, I removed the chain first, 5 minute job.

 

[Cubist]

Hi all,

Quite new to cycling, extremely new to cycling in winter.

My road bike has done about 450 miles, as I haven't done any cycling in winter before, or the rain for that matter, its never needed alot of cleaning, I found water and some GT85 was enough for the chain and casette.

Anyway, its filthy after some cycling in the north of Scotland, can you give me some tips on what products I can get easily for a really good clean and lube before I take it out again, it got so dirty the last time i was out that the gear shifts weren't smooth.

I am new to all this maintenence business, just looking for some tips, thanks in advance.

Buy a can of gunk green degreaser and dilute it 5:1 with water. This can be used as a general bike cleaner (works like proprietary bike cleaner) in an old pump spray botle.

First Aid: Spray it neat all over your chain and scrub with a nylon washing up brush, using an old toothbrush if necessary to get at all the surfaces.( It's easiest if you can split the chain and do this in an old washing up bowl, then rejoin the chain using a SRAM powerlink or similar.)

Once you've got the chain freed up and clean make sure you wash all the degreaser off with plenty of water. Wipe the water off with a rag and spray with GT85 to disperse any remaining water hiding in the crevices, and lube with a good quality lube like Finish Line.

If you ride on gritty terrain (like I do) I would recommend Finish Line Dry Teflon Lube. It lubes well and doesn't attract grit like the wet versions. You do however need to make sure you clean and lube the chain after every dirty ride in order to get the most benefit out of it.

Search this forum for the famous "Mickle Method"

 

[fossyant]

A rag - give chain a good wipe over (old cotton t-shirts are great), drop oil on rollers and spin, and then wipe again. I use this on my bikes, especially the fixed which is used in all weathers - never used degreaser on it. Little and often.

For the MTB if really bad, hose off grit from chain, GT85 or WD and let dry. Wipe off then repeat - rag, oil (Finish Line), wipe, wipe.

You don't need de-greaser for road bikes. Less is more (i.e. don't over oil).

 

[mickle]

Buy a can of gunk green degreaser and dilute it 5:1 with water. This can be used as a general bike cleaner (works like proprietary bike cleaner) in an old pump spray botle.

First Aid: Spray it neat all over your chain and scrub with a nylon washing up brush, using an old toothbrush if necessary to get at all the surfaces.( It's easiest if you can split the chain and do this in an old washing up bowl, then rejoin the chain using a SRAM powerlink or similar.)

Once you've got the chain freed up and clean make sure you wash all the degreaser off with plenty of water. Wipe the water off with a rag and spray with GT85 to disperse any remaining water hiding in the crevices, and lube with a good quality lube like Finish Line.

If you ride on gritty terrain (like I do) I would recommend Finish Line Dry Teflon Lube. It lubes well and doesn't attract grit like the wet versions. You do however need to make sure you clean and lube the chain after every dirty ride in order to get the most benefit out of it.

Search this forum for the famous "Mickle Method"

Gosh, a whole post about chain cleaning and you didn't mention WD40 once! Well done.

 

[Cubist]

Gosh, a whole post about chain cleaning and you didn't mention WD40 once! Well done.

You watch, someone will be along to recommend it in a minute

I'll just concentrate on getting subliminal references to WD40 into your "tip of the week" threads................

 

[Brommyboy]

A dry wipe with cotton rag (or bunched paper towel if on campsite) and then sewing machine oil! If very dirty, plenty of oil and then a second dry wipe. Have done this for years, now, and get up to 9000 miles per chain on touring bike, less on Brommy due to small rear sprocket in use.

 

[mickle]

You watch, someone will be along to recommend it in a minute

I'll just concentrate on getting subliminal references to WD40 into your "tip of the week" threads................

Oh shoot! Tip of the week! I forgot about them! Bugger.

 

[Highlander Neil]

Thanks to everyone for the help on this. Can't wait to get home and go mental with the WD40...just kidding.

Summary, wash with water and wipe. De-greaser if its filthy, wash this off and wipe it down, then if necessary disperse any remaining water with GT85 and finish up with a lube such as finish line. Dry is good as attracts less gunk but requires more applications than the wet version.

Then I guess when I get home after a dirty outing, a wash down and dry with wipe should be ok and another application of lube.

Correct me I'm wrong.

Cheers