Chain Cleaning

[destrago]

So I have a dirty, DIRTY chain on my commuter. I sat and ran it through towels for about 20 minutes yesterday and that did very little. So here I'll ask, what's a good way to clean a chain, how does everyone else do it? Do you take it off and soak it in degreaser? Please advise. Thanks!

-Tony

[Paul Swenson]

1. best tires
2. 26 or 29
3. gears vs. ss
4. What best to do with a chain?

My current method is to soak, wipe, reoil, let it sit over night, and wipe it down. I like Boeshield.

The more I read the more I think I'm doing it wrong. I think I'm pushing dirt into it. My next chain will be oil and wipe.

[bigwheel]

I keep an old gallon jug from winshield washer fluid. I leave about an inch of old gasoline (or other solvent) in the bottom. When my chain gets really bad, I take it off and toss it in the jug, then shake it for about a minute or so. Then, use an old spoke or wire to fish it out. Nice and clean.

[MisterClaw]

So I have a dirty, DIRTY chain on my commuter. I sat and ran it through towels for about 20 minutes yesterday and that did very little. So here I'll ask, what's a good way to clean a chain, how does everyone else do it? Do you take it off and soak it in degreaser? Please advise. Thanks!

-Tony

I take it off, soak in degreaser, preferable something non-toxic, and then scrub it with a brush. Rinse in water to get rid of degreaser, dry with towels, air dry, and lube and reinstall.

If it's stretched more than 1/16" over 12", replace it.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

Don't use gasoline indoors unless you want to burn down your house.

[destrago]

Don't use gasoline indoors unless you want to burn down your house.

There goes my weekend plans. :D

Thanks guys!

-Tony

[OCary]

Tony, see Rich and Dave's posts in this thread:
http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25941

I'll be doing the degrease / shake combo on the new chain tonight or tomorrow.

[kikinik]

Cleaning, and re-lubing the S.B way.

It tried this once, got half way through, and decided its way cooler to just read about someone doing this.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

[Tex]

I just had the same issue with my commuter bike. I had neglected it all winter and it was looking in pretty rough shape. So I decided to give the old girl (yes, my commuter is a female) a "spa day" for treating me right all winter long. I removed the chain, cassette, both deraillers, even the front chainring/crank and took it to my local bike shop (Tonka Cycle) for a real cleaning. Tonka recently invested in a new parts washer that's basically a big dish washer.
I can't even tell you how clean it all is, it looks like new. It was so clean I feared it wasn't going to work right, as I figured it was the dirt that was holding it all together, but no it works great. I actually did all my bike's drivetrains and they all came out awesome. I would highly recommend it. I know Freewheel used to have one of the big washers, other than that I'd say call around.

[Danimal]

So I have a dirty, DIRTY chain on my commuter. I sat and ran it through towels for about 20 minutes yesterday and that did very little. So here I'll ask, what's a good way to clean a chain, how does everyone else do it? Do you take it off and soak it in degreaser? Please advise. Thanks!

-Tony

Tony, I bought a Park Tools chain cleaner and it works sweeet. You can borrow it if you want, I'll throw in some orange degreaser as well. PM me and I'll give you my address you can swing by anytime Sat afternoon and we'll knock it out.

[Adam Hjelle]

Cleaning, and re-lubing the S.B way.

It tried this once, got half way through, and decided its way cooler to just read about someone doing this.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

There is no way I would invest that much time in a chain, I would much rather buy a new one than do all that...crazy.

[MisterClaw]

I just had the same issue with my commuter bike. I had neglected it all winter and it was looking in pretty rough shape.

On my commuter I had 1/4" of chain stretch, the surly steel cog had hook shaped-teeth, and was getting close to wearing out the front chainring.

When your are biking through ice, slush, salt and salt, there's no reason to replace anything until winter is over or something breaks.

Even the chrome electroplating on my cranks flaked off.

[batjerk]

I just use Simple Green Automotive. Works great and doesn't kill the grass.:D

[batjerk]

There is no way I would invest that much time in a chain, I would much rather buy a new one than do all that...crazy.
Um, you realize that's a joke, right?

[Ish]

Um, you realize that's a joke, right?

and place an order for yes tubes (http://paradigmhosting.net/yes_tubes/)at the same time!

[Paul Swenson]

Anyone use/have opinions on Prolink?

[bigwheel]

Anyone use/have opinions on Prolink?

Pro-link is the only lube I use now.

I have Simple Green in my basement in a squirt bottle, but haven't had very good luck with it for chains (or clusters). I only use gasoline/shake method outside in the driveway. (it sets off my gas detector in the basement) I try to not do the deep grunge cleaning indoors anyway. When the gasoline gets too dirty to use, it gets recycled as starter for campfires at my cabin.

All that said, I still recommend the chain-in-the-jug shake method. It really works well, is easy to do, gets the chain nice and clean, and doesnt get without getting grease and cleaner all over the place. Plus, you don't end up with a dirty store-bought chain washer that's full of solvent.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

[Paul Swenson]

Pro-link is the only lube I use now.

I have Simple Green in my basement in a squirt bottle, but haven't had very good luck with it for chains (or clusters). I only use gasoline/shake method outside in the driveway. (it sets off my gas detector in the basement) I try to not do the deep grunge cleaning indoors anyway. When the gasoline gets too dirty to use, it gets recycled as starter for campfires at my cabin.

All that said, I still recommend the chain-in-the-jug shake method. It really works well, is easy to do, gets the chain nice and clean, and doesnt get without getting grease and cleaner all over the place. Plus, you don't end up with a dirty store-bought chain washer that's full of solvent.

Have a good weekend, everyone.


Thanks for the info. I'm thinking that many of the cleaning methods end up pushing dirt into the chain. I may try prolink.

[Cars-R-Coffins]

I use dish soap in a chain cleaner for about 30 revolutions, then switch to water for another 30. Let air dry, then lube.