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dudleybloke
Original Poster
6,793 posts
55 months
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whats the ph recommendation for keeping my mtb chain and gears in good nick?
i do about 80% road use and the rest is off road nastyness.
cheers.
dudleybloke.
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Chicken Chaser
3,335 posts
93 months
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I generally clean using GT85, and then have some engine oil which I dab on a rag and run the chain through. Makes the transmission quieter and seems to last a while. Just make sure you dont put too much on and end up with chain fling.
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son of a vette
380 posts
84 months
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Get yourself one of these Sram Power LinkThen, once a month or as needed, chain off, into a cup of degreaser, or diesel, shoogle and shake, bit of scrubbing with a toothbrush, leave overnight. Then out, rinse under water, dry chain on washing line (give it a skoosh with WD40 to get all that water out) wipe all remaining crap off, then pop it back on the bike and lube with good proper bike lube. Best I've used recently are Finish line ceramic wax and my favourite, Purple extreme, both work best when the chain is spotless before applying. When the chain is off the bike, clean the cassette, chainrings and jockey wheels using a good degreaser too. It seems like allot of work, but is completed within 24 hours, and the chain runs so smoothly afterwards.
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andynic
40 posts
18 months
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son of a vette said: Get yourself one of these Sram Power LinkThen, once a month or as needed, chain off, into a cup of degreaser, or diesel, shoogle and shake, bit of scrubbing with a toothbrush, leave overnight. Then out, rinse under water, dry chain on washing line (give it a skoosh with WD40 to get all that water out) wipe all remaining crap off, then pop it back on the bike and lube with good proper bike lube. Best I've used recently are Finish line ceramic wax and my favourite, Purple extreme, both work best when the chain is spotless before applying. When the chain is off the bike, clean the cassette, chainrings and jockey wheels using a good degreaser too. It seems like allot of work, but is completed within 24 hours, and the chain runs so smoothly afterwards. This /\/\/\/\ Power link makes it very easy. I run two chains so one is always clean and soaking in a tub of lube.
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MadDad
2,280 posts
130 months
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As has already been said a chain with a powerlink is the way forward! After grubby rides I take the chain off and drop it in a pot of petrol then forget about it until my next ride! The best all round lube I have found so far (which I use on my MTB's, cross bike and road bikes) is Purple Extreme, works really well, lasts for ages and does not seem to attract crap from the road!
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Gazzab
15,115 posts
151 months
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I find my chain needs a good clean after every ride. If I don't then my next ride will mean horrid changes. I live in the white peak which I believe is acidic and increases wear.
I tend to use degreaser and one of those rubbish chain clean devices from halfrauds. I then run the device with water, hose down, rub with a rag, leave to dry and then oil well (wiping off excess).
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zebedee
3,415 posts
147 months
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MadDad said: As has already been said a chain with a powerlink is the way forward! After grubby rides I take the chain off and drop it in a pot of petrol then forget about it until my next ride! The best all round lube I have found so far (which I use on my MTB's, cross bike and road bikes) is Purple Extreme, works really well, lasts for ages and does not seem to attract crap from the road! I have never ever been able to open a powerlink once it has had a good bit of use on it. Maybe my problem is I leave it too long, but all I ever end up with when trying is dirty and bloody hands and the chain just concertinaing up. What is the knack!?
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MadDad
2,280 posts
130 months
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zebedee said: I have never ever been able to open a powerlink once it has had a good bit of use on it. Maybe my problem is I leave it too long, but all I ever end up with when trying is dirty and bloody hands and the chain just concertinaing up. What is the knack!? Thin flat head screwdriver, and a pair of long nosed pliers! 
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Gren
740 posts
121 months
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Clean the chain with a cloth and toothbrush every few rides. Drop of lube every week (every 30 miles or so). Wet lasts longer but gets gunked up quicker.
Every few months run it through a chain cleaner thingy full of degreaser.
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andynic
40 posts
18 months
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zebedee said: I have never ever been able to open a powerlink once it has had a good bit of use on it. Maybe my problem is I leave it too long, but all I ever end up with when trying is dirty and bloody hands and the chain just concertinaing up. What is the knack!? Get an old spoke or other stiff wire and bend a hook on each end hook this to, your chain to give you 6 ot 7 slack links with no tension, you may need to clear the link with a tooth brush first then remember to squeeze and hold the side plates together whilst you push the links in. This should work.
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andynic
40 posts
18 months
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zebedee said: I have never ever been able to open a powerlink once it has had a good bit of use on it. Maybe my problem is I leave it too long, but all I ever end up with when trying is dirty and bloody hands and the chain just concertinaing up. What is the knack!? Get an old spoke or other stiff wire and bend a hook on each end hook this to, your chain to give you 6 ot 7 slack links with no tension, you may need to clear the link with a tooth brush first then remember to squeeze and hold the side plates together whilst you push the links in. This should work.
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zebedee
3,415 posts
147 months
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andynic said: Get an old spoke or other stiff wire and bend a hook on each end hook this to, your chain to give you 6 ot 7 slack links with no tension, you may need to clear the link with a tooth brush first then remember to squeeze and hold the side plates together whilst you push the links in. This should work. so detension the chain then push the plates towards each other and push the power links towards each other? To answer the OP every 150 miles in winter (longer in summer) I put the chain through my park tools chain cleaner with some washing liquid and water in it, whizz it round until it foams up, rinse off, leave, dry with paper towel, add chain lube link by link (where the power link is also useful as you know where you started!)
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offendi
242 posts
16 months
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Fenwicks foam degreaser / end of
20 odd years of cleaning the cr@p off bike drivetrains and nothing comes close in terms of ease of use and effectiveness
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zebedee
3,415 posts
147 months
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offendi said: Fenwicks foam degreaser / end of
20 odd years of cleaning the cr@p off bike drivetrains and nothing comes close in terms of ease of use and effectiveness well it can't be the end of, because degreasing is all very well to get it clean but lubrication is probably more important than cleanliness!
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nogsk
347 posts
37 months
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As recommended, use a power link in your chain ( carry a spare link when riding, they do sometimes go AWOL, and easy to fix a broken chain with one). Citrus degreaser is wonderful and smells nice, and is handy for getting oil out of fabrics and carpets too.
For MTB I used to use a wax lube in the dry and for winter/wet conditions you can't go wrong with chainsaw oil, cheap and low 'fling'
For my road bike moly based motorcycle chain lube.
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dudleybloke
Original Poster
6,793 posts
55 months
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cheers folks.
il be getting a couple of powerlinks at the weekend and doing the full soak method i think.
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cjs
4,308 posts
120 months
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andynic
40 posts
18 months
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zebedee said: so detension the chain then push the plates towards each other and push the power links towards each other? Yep sometimes gets a lot of sand and dirt stuck in the keyways on the links so they need a scrub first but that's it.
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