Bike degreaser...

[idiotgap]

47p2 said:

Sorry but I have to ask...


How does your bike get dirty enough to justify washing to with a degreaser?

For me, it's all about the drivetrain.

While in use the lube on your chain, jockeywheels, chainrings, cassette and derailleurs collects gritty material. It's mostly dirt or swarf from the cogs and chain but it turns the helpful lube into an aggressive abrasive paste. It's common practice to remove it somehow or other before re-lubing to prevent premature wear and bad noises.

[Barchettaman]

47p2 said:

Sorry but I have to ask...


How does your bike get dirty enough to justify washing to with a degreaser?

Commuting year-round in all weathers (approx. 5000km/year)

[47p2]

Just wash it more often then you won't need to use harmful chemicals to clean the muck off

[bigdom]

I just use Parrafin on bike & bicycle to clean drivetrains, it's what the shops tend to all use.

[PH5121]

My kids drive trains needed a thorough clean as they always ride through every mud hole and puddle they see.

After rides at Dalby Forest over the last two weekends the chains were gritty.

[The_Jackal]

yellowjack said:

I've jacked the degreasers in now.

Started using "Squirt" dry lube on my MTB chain after getting a sample of it free at Battle On The Beach this year. Thoroughly degrease the chain one last time, rinse and shake to get the bulk of the water out of it, then hit it with the "Squirt".

Once it's treated, the water in the product evaporates, leaving a wax coating on the rollers/pins. It's dry, so any excess just solidifies and drops off. It's pretty good at not attracting dirt and grit. One wet, muddy ride this week got it gritty though, so I blasted the chain with a hose pipe and an old toothbrush, and re-lubed it. Top up the lube before each ride (or preferably when you get home after riding), and give it an occasional wipe with a dry rag or brush. Seems to be working well for me up to now...

I'm still using a traditional wet lube on my road bike, though. Ironically, I've run out of degreaser, so I can't start using the "Squirt" on that bike just yet...

That's exactly how I use Muc-Off Dry Lube, great stuff.
As you say, the way it dries to a wax stops it picking up too much dirt and grime to turn into a grinding paste.
As Others have said the best way seems to wipe your chain down after each ride and re lube.

[Banana Boy]

227bhp said:

Any engine cleaner will do.

Amen to that! I use 'Gunk Ultra' engine degreaser, it's awesome stuff, cleans the drivetrain brilliantly.

It also looks the same as Muc-off, feels the same as Muc-off, the only noticeable difference is the smell... and it only costs £10 for 5 litres from my local motor factors!

ETA: I'll be giving the Screwfix stuff a go next time at £6 all in!

Edited by Banana Boy on Monday 26th September 22:00

[funkyrobot]

WinstonWolf said:

Remove chain, throw in petrol bath (contaminated with diesel), use petrol soaked paint brush to clean sprockets and finish off with babywipes (Tesco economy ones, only 40p).

Brush nicely soaked chain down in the petrol bath, wipe with rag, lube and refit.

Job's a good un

But don't have a ciggy whilst cleaning.

[Barchettaman]

47p2 said:

Just wash it more often then you won't need to use harmful chemicals to clean the muck off

I generally use Surfex cut 10:1 with water.

When the chain is off, it comes up lovely with a 5:1 solution.

Surfex is a non-toxic degreaser anyway, you wouldn't want to drink it but it's neither bleach nor a hydrocarbon.

[Usget]

I use Gunk but I was impressed with the Crankalicious stuff when I gave it a try.

[funkyrobot]

Usget said:

I use Gunk but I was impressed with the Crankalicious stuff when I gave it a try.

How have you got on with Gunk it if ends up on things like tyres, paint, other areas etc? Or are you very careful and never have this problem?

I have read that Gunk is good, but is a git to get off rubber components.

[Silver940]

I use White Spirit in my chain cleaner tool, works fine and at £2.50 for 2 litres much cheaper then the other stuff.

Shame that Virosol isn't more readily available as that was great for cleaning the brake dust off car wheels too.

[Kell]

47p2 said:

Sorry but I have to ask...


How does your bike get dirty enough to justify washing to with a degreaser?

Commuting every single (work day) of the year, in all weathers, in London.

Last year I did just over 2,500 miles, but it will be more this year as I'm currently doing around 80 miles week on a Brompton - so the drive train is much, much closer to the ground.

As others have said, the stuff gets absolutely everywhere. The Brompton's gearing is archaic - using a chain pusher rather than a derailleur - and the jockey wheels on that I have to remove and physically scrape this paste from them.

As for 'harsh' chemicals, Virasol is a citrus degreaser:

Vira-Sol Citrus Based Cleaner/Degreaser 5Ltr

Citrus based cleaner and degreaser formulated for maximum cleaning power. A blend of naturally derived citrus solvents, Viro-Sol is petroleum-free yet boasts powerful cleaning power.

I've been happy enough with the performance of it, just wondered if anyone had other recommendations that don't cost the earth to deliver.

I've just found a company that will deliver two 5ltr bottles for £20. So I've gone for that. But I may well look at the Bilt Hamber stuff next time.

Finally - my commute involves four rides a day, so I'm certainly not going to wipe the chain down after every one. I currently degrease it (on the bike with a Park Tools Cyclone thingy) about once a month. Might step that up to twice a month so it's not such a chore every time.

Edited by Kell on Tuesday 27th September 10:20

[Usget]

funkyrobot said:

How have you got on with Gunk it if ends up on things like tyres, paint, other areas etc? Or are you very careful and never have this problem?

I have read that Gunk is good, but is a git to get off rubber components.

I'm the least careful person in the world so I will inevitably have gotten it on any/all of the above-mentioned parts at some point. I've never noticed any issues to be honest. But I do use it with a Park Tools handheld chain scrubber doofer, so it keeps most of the liquid contained.

[lufbramatt]

Barchettaman said:

I generally use Surfex cut 10:1 with water.

When the chain is off, it comes up lovely with a 5:1 solution.

Surfex is a non-toxic degreaser anyway, you wouldn't want to drink it but it's neither bleach nor a hydrocarbon.

+1 on the Bilt Hamber stuff

[Jimbo893]

I use Autosmart G101. It works brilliantly in a chain cleaner.

[JEA1K]

Fenwicks FS1 for me ... use it diluted as a bike cleaner and concentrated to clean the drive train every couple of rides in summer and after every ride in winter.