Any suggestion on how best to clean a chain?

[Chris71]

...and the rest of bike for that matter, but I'm principally thinking of the chain and sprockets.

It took me ages to get it gleaming with Muc Off and a few brushes. I resorted to running it through a washing up liquid filled rag in the end.

[GingerWizard]

probably a parts washer, with parrafin in it.....

or cellulose thinners..... hehehehe

[Chris71]

What's a parts washer? Sorry, numptie alert...

How difficult is it to remove the chain on a Deore-equipped bike? I reoved the rear wheel, but apart from that I left it in place. Probably a very clumsy way of doing it.

One tip I got was to use (bike) brake disc cleaner on the chain?

[Parsnip]

If the chain has a powelink, undo it - if not, drive 1 link out wityh a chain tool and replace it with a powerlink.

once the chain is off, stick it in a old milk bottle with some degreaser and shake it, rinse, put back on and lube.

Trying to do it with the chain in place results in a crap job and a lot of mess - same with the chain cleaners you run the chain through - taking the chain off is the way to do it.

[Pints]

I used to soak the chain in petrol. Worked a charm for me.

[Chris71]

Chain tool sounds like the way forward. It wasn't just a crap job, doing it in-situ took me ages. I presume you can pop a chain link off in seconds if you know what you're doing?

...You may have gathered by now that I don't, so can someone give me an idiot's guide to what sort of tool I need and how I go about doing it?

Many thanks!

[Parsnip]

You want one of these : http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/26962/Gi... or similar.

Line it up with a pin in the chain and push the pin out - you will knacker the pin, so don't try putting it back in - take one link out and replace it with one of these: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Par... or similar

next time you can just pop the link out and clean it normally.

[Saddle bum]

If the chain has normal road dirt on it, diesel is one of the best cleaning agents. Splitting the chain is always the best option and less messy.

Soak off all the excess diesel with a cloth and re-lube with agent of your choice.

Thin road chains need a lot of cleaning.

[Rouleur]

I haven't taken a chain off to clean it in over 20 years! I'd suggest you use something like these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Either do it on grass or place some newspaper pages under the chain and up the side of the wheel. It's quick, easy, does a great job and there's hardly any mess.

[Parsnip]

Rouleur said:

I haven't taken a chain off to clean it in over 20 years! I'd suggest you use something like these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Either do it on grass or place some newspaper pages under the chain and up the side of the wheel. It's quick, easy, does a great job and there's hardly any mess.

Much messier and not as good a job as removing a powerlink and shaking the chain in a bottle - used one of those cleaners exactly once before it got relegated to the pile of useless gadgets that are more hassle than they are worth.

Takes no time to take your chain off, and you can do all of your chains at once, plus you can do it if you live in a flat and can't rinse the chain properly after cleaning it as it can be done in a sink rather than having to hose the chain down.

[Chris71]

I like the idea of the chain cleaners, but I've had one in the past that wasn't hugely good. It rather depends whether the current ones are any better. That said having the tools and the knowledge to remove and replace links is no bad thing - is there any skill to doing or is it fairly idiot-proof?

[walm]

I am afraid this is the only way to do it properly.
http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

[Chris71]

walm said:

I am afraid this is the only way to do it properly.
http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

I think disassembling every single link requires perhaps a little more commitment than I've got, but slipping one off and dropping it in a tin of parafin over the weekend sounds do-able.

I guess there's an argument that says one of the chain washer devices might be better if you could only be arsed to spend 5 minutes doing it mid-week. The idea is to commute 5 days a week in the summer (managing 2 or 3 now, which isn't bad for a fat bloke in February I don't think) and when I get home at 7 or 8 O'Clock I can't be arsed to spend more than a couple of minutes.

[walm]

Chris71 said:

walm said:

I am afraid this is the only way to do it properly.
http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

I think disassembling every single link requires perhaps a little more commitment than I've got, but slipping one off and dropping it in a tin of parafin over the weekend sounds do-able.

I guess there's an argument that says one of the chain washer devices might be better if you could only be arsed to spend 5 minutes doing it mid-week. The idea is to commute 5 days a week in the summer (managing 2 or 3 now, which isn't bad for a fat bloke in February I don't think) and when I get home at 7 or 8 O'Clock I can't be arsed to spend more than a couple of minutes.

Sorry, I should have added smilies. Check the date of the article.

[Chris71]

walm said:

Chris71 said:

walm said:

I am afraid this is the only way to do it properly.
http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

I think disassembling every single link requires perhaps a little more commitment than I've got, but slipping one off and dropping it in a tin of parafin over the weekend sounds do-able.

I guess there's an argument that says one of the chain washer devices might be better if you could only be arsed to spend 5 minutes doing it mid-week. The idea is to commute 5 days a week in the summer (managing 2 or 3 now, which isn't bad for a fat bloke in February I don't think) and when I get home at 7 or 8 O'Clock I can't be arsed to spend more than a couple of minutes.

Sorry, I should have added smilies. Check the date of the article.

Ahem. Sorry, I engaged mouth (or fingers to be precise) before brain.

I did wonder if it was a joke, but being a long time mountain biker who's only just started flirting with road riding I wouldn't put it past the zealous devotion of some of these lycra-clad roadie types.

[Gooby]

Jet washing chains works really well. I wont take my chain off to clean, the powerlink are usually a sod to remove. Jetwash then the Park chain cleaner tool.
The important part is to dry the chain and lube it properly before any rust sets in.

Dont jet wash all the bike as it tends to blow grit into bearings but chainrings, chains, modern mechs and cassets are screaming for a damn good squirt with the jet wash, massage with an autoglym alloy brush, good rince to remove remaing debris then dry and lube.

I use a wax based lube (white lightening), it is easy to remove and does not allow muck to build up. You have to use it more frequently but hey, I am washing the bike a couple of times a week so it gets a lot of lube anyway.

[Chris71]

Gooby said:

Jet washing chains works really well.

I'd love to have a jetwasher. It would be hugely useful for the car and stuff too, but unfortunately I live on the first floor and I have no ground level water supply! I did contemplate getting one of those pressure washers with the built in resevoir.

[Parrot of Doom]

I just run it through one of those plastic chain cleaners, filled with diesel. Takes about a minute, and works a treat.

Don't forget to also clean the cogs.

[bikemonster]

Another vote for the Poewrlink option.

To make reassembly easier, I have a piece of wire with a hook bent into each end. Thread the chain back onto the bike and then use the piece of wire to hold the chain together with two shortish lengths flopping in between, IYSWIM, which you join up with the Powerlink.

[caiss4]

Gooby said:

Jet washing chains works really well. I wont take my chain off to clean, the powerlink are usually a sod to remove. Jetwash then the Park chain cleaner tool.
The important part is to dry the chain and lube it properly before any rust sets in.

Dont jet wash all the bike as it tends to blow grit into bearings but chainrings, chains, modern mechs and cassets are screaming for a damn good squirt with the jet wash, massage with an autoglym alloy brush, good rince to remove remaing debris then dry and lube.

I use a wax based lube (white lightening), it is easy to remove and does not allow muck to build up. You have to use it more frequently but hey, I am washing the bike a couple of times a week so it gets a lot of lube anyway.

I was going to post a similar reply yesterday but thought purists might react! A good blast with the pressure washer - chain, cassette etc - and then lashings of wet lube. Works for me.